Take Five With Chie Imaizumi

Meet Chie Imaizumi: Capri Recording Artist/Composer/Arranger/Conductor/Pianist Chie Imaizumi started her musical career at the age of four. Continuing with the instrument all through her early years, Chie went on to win the Yamaha Electone Competition for outstanding performance on the electric organ at the regional and national levels several years in a row.

At 18, she began her jazz career in Kanagawa, Japan, graduating at the top of her class. She enrolled at Berklee in the fall of 2001 and shifted her focus from performance to composition and arranging. In 2003, she was awarded the Herb Pomeroy award for Jazz Composition.

Her new CD Unfailing Kindness (Capri Records) is produced by world-renowned jazz trumpeter/recording artist Greg Gisbert, who is also featured on the date. There are amazing solos by trumpeters Gisbert and Ron Miles, saxophonists Gary Smulyan and John Gunther, pianist Jeff Jenkins and others.

Instrument(s): Composer/Arranger/Conductor

Your sound and approach to music: My goal as a composer is to create music that brings happiness and joy to my listeners. My intention is to inspire moods and emotions within my audience that can range from tears of sadness to leaps of joy and laughter.

When I create music I want it to represent a person, place, idea, or feeling. I tailor my melodies and harmonies to fit the moods I want to create. I am not finished with a composition until I can listen to it and honestly feel the emotions that inspire the music.

Your favorite recording in your discography and why? Unfailing Kindness

What do you think is the most important thing you are contributing musically? There are many bumps on the road through life. I myself have traveled over a quite few and am sure there will be more to come. If my music can help my listeners to overcome their obstacles, give them strength, or even just make them a little happier and put a smile on their face, then there is no better way to make me smile and be happy!