Results for "Japan"

Michiyo Yagi

Born: November 21

Michiyo Yagi studied koto under the late Tadao Sawai, Kazue SawaiandSatomi Kurauchi, andgraduated from the NHK Professional Training School for TraditionalMusicians. Between 1989 and1990 she was Visiting Professor of Music at Wesleyan University inConnecticut, U.S.A. During hertenure she premiered numerous modern compositions for koto andcameunder the influence ofmaverick American composers such as John Cage, Conlon Nancarrow,andJohn Zorn.

Her solo koto CD "Shizuku" was produced by Zorn and released on theTzadik label in 1999. In 2001she recorded "Yural" with her koto ensemble Paulownia Crush for theEastWorks label. Under theauspices of the Japan Foundation, Michiyo toured Russia withPaulowniaCrush in the fall of 2004.Subsequent CD releases include "Seventeen" (Zipangu, 2005), entirelyrecorded on the giant 17-stringbass koto, and "Live! at SuperDeluxe" (Idiolect/Bomba, 2006), a trioperformance with bassistIngebrigt Håker Flaten and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love. A studiorecordingwith Dresser andRothenberg, a duo album with Sharp, a “Nordic” session with EivindAarsetand Raymond Pellicer, andlive recordings of the touring trio Brötzmann/Yagi/Nilssen-Love areforthcoming. An eclecticperformer who continually challenges conventions, Michiyo has madefrequent appearances onJapanese TV and has performed at the Kongsberg Jazz, Moers Jazz,Punkt,Musique ActuelVictoriaville, Archipel, Bang on a Can, Tokyo Summer, and VisionFestivals.

Satoko Fujii: Composing Beyond the Jazz Spirit

by Lawrence Peryer
August 17, 2024

Today, the Spotlight shines On pianist and composer Satoko Fujii, an incredibly unique and prolific artist.Satoko works at the intersection of jazz, contemporary classical, rock, and traditional Japanese music, composing for ensembles of many sizes and configurations. However, she is especially adept with the jazz orchestra format. For all of her efforts, Satoko is ...

The Joy of Kissa

by Peter Jones
June 4, 2024

Just before a recent visit to Japan, essential reading arrived at home in the form of Philip Arneill's book Tokyo Jazz Joints (reviewed by Ian Patterson). Well, we all know that jazz is big in Japan, right? Certainly, jazz is a common backdrop to many everyday experiences in that country. You hear it in ...

Tokyo Jazz Joints: Capturing An Old Love Story

by Ian Patterson
December 28, 2023

Could you imagine coffee shops in any North American or European city that played jazz non-stop all day, or bars where, variously, as you quenched your thirst, you heard only Blue Note Records, free-jazz or the music of, say, Miles Davis, according to the bar owner's tastes? Could you imagine such places where speaking is not ...

Seiki Yukimoto

Born: July 6, 1963

Seiki "Yuki" Yukimoto is an internationally acclaimed trumpet and quena play with a forty year career marked by sold out shows and collaborations with prominent musicians.  In addition to his original recorded compostions, Mr Yukimoto has written music for and appeared in several movies including the award winning  "Chasing Train."

After spending his early adult years on the lower east side of New York City playing at local clubs incluging the original Knitting Factory with his mentor and bandmate legendary trumpeter Don Cherry, Mr. Yukimoto returned to Osaka Japan with a renewed musical vision. His inspiration led him to form the  successful group Soulbleed.  He and the band released four critically acclaimed live albums and are famous for their improvisational style and the passion they infuse into each performance.

Kiyo & Sen

Active since: 2013

Kiyo*Sen is the name of a Japanese fusion jazz duo created in 2013 with a core collaboration between Kiyomi Otaka, the keyboard player of Japanese fusion group Casiopea 3rd and the Japanese drummer Senri Kawaguchi often accompanied by guest artists playing guitar and bass guitar. To date, they have released 5 CDs: Chocolate Booster, Duology, Trick or Treat; Organiser and Drumatica and one DVD Chocco Boo Live!

Blue Note Tokyo: Still Holds Praise From Jazz Musicians & Fans Alike

by Doug Hall
February 4, 2023

Opened in 1988, the Blue Note Tokyo nightclub has a long-established history of providing top-tier jazz performances and holds a special place in the veins of many renown jazz artists. Over several decades, the A-list of jazz performances include Sarah Vaughan, Oscar Peterson, Tony Bennett, Chick Corea, Stan Getz, McCoy Tyner, Dizzy Gillespie, Joe ...

Walter Clark

Born: February 7

Born in Brooklyn, New York

 With a repertoire of over 500 songs spanning multiple genres and decades he has been able to excite and satisfy listeners of varied backgrounds and maintain a career exclusively as a full-time performing artist since 1980. Unique and non- traditional in his approach to harmony and arrangement.  Sometimes called "the singer with the bedroom voice," he covers music that has a positive message timelessness and staying power. Through a wide variety of musical genres and original arrangements Walter imbues every performance with a jazz ambiance delivering relaxing renditions of ballads and love songs. Latest CD Night And Day,  a collection of recordings made from 2001-2020, some from old CDs live and studio recordings. lounge, new age, ethnic, jazz, rock, pop and gospel music.  Born in Brooklyn New York, he studied classical music for 10 years in Philadelphia, but took a U turn in his studies in the mid- sixties and decided to pursue more popular music, learning by ear some of his favorites by such greats as Ramsey Lewis, The Beatles, McCoy Tyner and Quincy Jones.

The Jazz Artist: Takao Fujioka

by B.D. Lenz
June 2, 2022

Although music is an auditory art form, for some, there has always been a strong visual component to it, particularly when album covers were at a high point. It's hard to imagine some of the most famous albums without simultaneously visualizing their iconic covers. At their best, they contribute to the ambience of the experience and ...

Masayoshi Sukita: A Higher Place

by Nenad Georgievski
February 5, 2022

Japanese photographer Masayoshi Sukita is a giant of 20th-century photography, and his contributions are immeasurable. His work ranges from documenting urban life, fashion and travel to taking celebrity portraits and film sets. Born in Nogata Shi, Japan, in 1938, his photo career began when he received his first camera as a present from his mother and ...