Noriko Ueda

Biography

Noriko Ueda is originally from Hyogo, Japan. Her musical background consists of studying classical piano since the age of 4, playing electric bass since the age of 16, studying classical voice at the Osaka College of Music where she received a diploma, and at age 19, learning the double bass, which is currently her main instrument.

Noriko was a B.E.S.T. scholarship recipient and majored in Jazz Composition at the Berklee College of Music in Boston where she graduated in 1997, relocated to Brooklyn, New York in 1998.

Noriko Currently performs and tours with various groups including the legendary singer Grady Tate Quintet, Ted Rosenthal Trio, the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, DIVA Jazz Trio, Five Play and she also leads her own big band “ Noriko Ueda Jazz Orchestra”. Some of the venues that she has appeared include Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Apollo Theatre, Blue Note, Dizzy's Coca Cola and Birdland. She has also performed with Frank Wess, Kenny Barron, Victor Lewis, Gary Bartz, Nancy Wilson, Roy Haynes, Joe Chambers, Steve Nelson, Junior Mance, Larry Willis, Lew Tabackin, Gregory Hutchinson and many others.

Noriko is the winner of the third annual BMI Foundation/Charlie Parker Jazz composition Prize for her original big band piece "Castle in the North" (2002).