Results for "Akiko Tsuruga"

Akiko Tsuruga

She’s “Sweet and Funky,” she’s “Cute and Bad”. A Composer. A Performer extraordinaire. The legendary Dr. Lonnie Smith describes her this way: “Akiko's playing is like watching a flower blooming, a bird spreading her wings in the music world. Akiko is here to stay. ” Raised in Osaka, Japan, this talented musician began studying the organ at the age of three, at the famed Yamaha Music School. After discovering her passion for jazz very early on in her musical journey, Akiko launched her career immediately after graduating from the Osaka College of Music. While living and playing in Osaka, she had many opportunities to perform with world-renowned jazz musicians from the United States

Excuse My Dust- -Dorothy Parker Returns to New York

By MARY FOSTER CONKLIN

To celebrate the return of Dorothy Parker's ashes to her native New York, we open with a new version of Mrs. Parker's classic “I Wished On The Moon," performed by Diana Krall, along with new releases from saxophonist Teodross Avery, vocalist Elisabeth Lohninger, drummer Cindy Blackman Santana, violinist Tomoko Omura, pianist Maggie Herron and the Flying ...

Music Is Forever - Farewell to Annie Ross

By MARY FOSTER CONKLIN

In the first hour, a special tribute to Jazz Master Annie Ross (who sadly passed days before her 90th birthday), plus new releases from Mark Masters, Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers (a 1959 never released studio recording!), Jimmy Heath, Eva Cortés and Bettye Lavette, with birthday shoutouts to Margaret Whiting, Joanne Brackeen, Lisa Maxwell, Rufus ...

Akiko Tsuruga Quintet at William Paterson University

By DAVID A. ORTHMANN

Akiko Tsuruga Quintet Shea Center the the Performing Arts William Paterson University Summer Jazz Room at Home Wayne, NJ July 23, 2020 New York City area jazz venues have begun to make their first steps toward recovery through the vehicle of live streaming. While a band and audience sharing ...

Gemini Jazz - Birthday Celebrations for Irene Higginbotham, Hazel Scott, Geri Allen and More

By MARY FOSTER CONKLIN

Included are mid-June birthday shoutouts to Irene Higginbotham ("Good Morning Heartache"), and pianists Hazel Scott, Kenny Barron, Monika Herzig and Geri Allen, along with new releases from La Lucha, Dena DeRose, Sara Serpa and a final recording from Larry Willis. Thanks for listening and please continue to support all of these fine musicians -buy their recordings ...

50th Anniversary Blue Notes for June

By MARC COHN

Blue Note 50th anniversaries from June 1970, just two though: Horace Silver (That Healin' Feelin') and Lou Donaldson (Pretty Things). There was also a Reuben Wilson session, but it was never released, and only the 'vault gods' know if it was any good. But you know there's more (don't you?). 21st century music from the Posi-Tone ...

Something Cool - Celebrating Carol Sloane

By MARY FOSTER CONKLIN

Women's History Month continues with new releases from saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, vocalist Jay Clayton, pianist Nuphar Fey and guitarist Pat Metheny, with birthday shout outs to vocalist Carol Sloane in the first hour (pictured), along with Nicki Parrott, Rachelle Garniez, Billy Childs, Carole Bayer Sager, Tomoko Ohno, Anat Fort and Eric Comstock, among others.

Lioness: Pride and Joy

Label: Posi-Tone Records
Released: 2019
Track listing: Mad Time; Sunny Day Pal; Jelly; Down for the Count; You Don't Say; Think; Ida Lupino; Identity; Mocha Spice; Hurry Up and Wait; Sweety; Funky Girl

Never Forget to Say Thank You

By MARY FOSTER CONKLIN

This week we feature Grammy nominees and finalists from the Hot House/Jazzmobile NYC Readers Jazz Awards, a new release from Alice Ricciardi and Pietro Lussu, plus birthday shout outs to June Christy, Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mandel, Etta Jones, pianist Geoffrey Keezer and Michelle Ann May of Musique Noire, among others. Playlist Musique Noire “Pretty ...

Blue Note Review 2 & Play a Game with DrJ, Newk & Lady Day

By MARC COHN

It's Gifts and Messages show No. 400 from the studios of WHYR—how did that happen? To celebrate (but let's face it, we celebrate every week), we have a game for you: tunes written by famous saxophonists 'reimagined' in 2019—name the composer. We also have a start on listening to the Blue Note Review #2 collectors' box ...