Yuko Yoshida

Yuko Yoshida began studying electronic organ at the age of three, laying the foundation for her musical development. After graduating from high school, she entered Yamaha Music Academy Osaka, where she studied a wide range of subjects, including music theory, harmony, composition, and orchestration, as well as various musical genres such as classical, pop, R&B, and jazz.

After graduating, she switched to piano, captivated by its limitless expressive possibilities. A profound encounter with live jazz performances sparked her passion for the genre, and she has since devoted herself to jazz.

In 2009, she traveled to New York for a short-term stay, where she received instruction from Jason Moran. The music she encountered there became a cornerstone of her musical identity, inspiring her to pursue composition and develop her own band sound more seriously. She continued to receive lessons from Moran during his visits to Japan, further deepening her musical perspective through his influence.

In 2012, she was selected as a semifinalist in the Bucharest International Jazz Competition and performed at Europe Fest. In 2013, she received the Second Grand Prize at the Kanazawa Jazz Competition.

In 2014, she released her debut album, Yuko Yoshida Trio – Tickle, on Forward Record. The album was featured in the Japanese jazz magazine Jazz Critique, and she embarked on a release tour across Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka, followed by performances in France and South Korea.

In 2015, Tickle was selected as a semifinalist in the International Songwriting Competition, one of the world's largest songwriting contests. In 2017, she performed at the Pinneberg Jazz Festival in Germany. She also made a short-term visit to the UK to further explore British jazz, a scene she had long been interested in.

In 2024, she released Dazz Dazz – Blue Glow, a quintet album on Forward Record. Following a release tour throughout the Kansai region, the album was featured in CD Journal, Jaz.in, and JazzTokyo. It was also introduced on Yoshihide Otomo's radio program Jazz Tonight, as well as on France's Jazz Box and the UK's Jazz London Radio.

Currently based in the Kansai region of Japan, Yoshida performs with various groups, including Yuko Yoshida Trio, Dazz Dazz, Ryo Hatakeyama Group, and MFAS. Alongside her duo performances with bassist Michihiro Morishita and her involvement in free improvisation, she also explores ambient music through compositions for composition of knots, continually seeking new possibilities for musical expression across diverse forms and genres.

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