Music Videos | Directory | Search | Top Artists | Shows | Music Forums | Music Classifieds | Artist Signup 

Akiko Tsuruga
Jazz / Blues / Jam Band

"She can swing!"

New York
United States

Profile Views:  9776




Last Login:  7/5/2008
View My: Pics | Videos

   Contacting Akiko Tsuruga

 MySpace URL: 
  http://www.myspace.com/akikotsuruga  

   Akiko Tsuruga: General Info
Member Since11/27/2006
Band Websiteakikojazz.com
Band MembersEric Johnson - Guitar, Vince Ector - Drums, Wilson "Chembo" Corniel - Percussion
InfluencesJimmy Smith, Dr.Lonnie Smith, Brother Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff, Larry Young
Sounds LikeAkiko@Pearl’s, San Francisco, CA Carl Lockett-guitar, Akira Tana-drums, Mel Martin-sax Akiko@Priory, Newark, NJ Bill Easley-flute,sax, Eric Johnson-guitar, Don Williams-drums, Butch Johnson-conga Akiko@Blue Note, NYC Eric Johnson-guitar, Vince Ector-drums
Record Label18th&Vine, M&I Lable(Japan)
Type of LabelIndie








   Upcoming Shows ( view all )
Jul 12 2008 10:45P
Akiko Trio@Garage NYC, New York
Jul 15 2008 7:00P
Akiko Quartet@Jazz Mobile NYC, New York
Jul 18 2008 7:00P
Jazz Mobile w/Lou Donaldson NYC, New York
Jul 19 2008 5:00P
St. Albans Jazz Festival w/Jackson Brothers Queens, New York
Jul 19 2008 9:30P
Akiko Quartet@Showmans New York, New York
Jul 22 2008 7:00P
Akiko Quartet@Jazz Mobile Roosevelt Island, New York
Jul 31 2008 8:00P
Jazz Cruise w/Lou Donaldson Quartet New Yokr, New York
Aug 7 2008 8:00P
Jazz Showcase w/Lou Donaldson Quartet Chicago, Illinois

Akiko Tsuruga's Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

Akiko’s award  (view more)

Belles of the B3: Scott, Tsuruga & Dennerlein  (view more)

"Sweet and Funky" Downbeat Magazine review  (view more)

Sweet and Funky review by jazzreview.com  (view more)

Sweet and Funky has been doing great!!!  (view more)

[View All Blog Entries]

   About Akiko Tsuruga
New York City based Hammond Organist and pianist, Akiko Tsuruga, has established herself as an ’in demand’ player since arriving from her hometown of Osaka, Japan in 2001. Akiko began organ lessons at age three, and starting performing professionally throughout Japan after graduating from Osaka College of Music. While performing in Japan, she met and played with many noted American musicians, Roy Hargrove, Jeff “Tain” Watts and Grady Tate to name a few. She credits Grady Tate as being the biggest influence in her career. He played on her debut CD, “Harlem Dreams” and encouraged her to move to New York. After arriving in New York, Akiko established herself as one of the area’s top organist /pianists. Her trio featuring guitarist Eric Johnson and drummer Vincent Ector has been one of the area’s top groups, working at many jazz nightclubs including Dizzy’s (at Lincoln center) and The Blue Note. Her trio also plays private parties and summer outdoor concerts. Her long awaited debut CD, “Harlem Dreams” featuring Grady Tate and Frank Wess was released in Japan on the M&I Company label on May 19, 2004. Akiko’s CD is so popular in Japan she has returned twice to perform. Her CD release tour in August 2004 featured Grady Tate on drums and guitarist Satoshi Inoue. In September 2005, she returned to Japan with guitarist Eric Johnson and drummer Fukushi Tainaka. It was this trip that caught the eyes and ears of Hammond Suzuki officials. The group was invited to the factory and Mr. Suzuki personally awarded her a Hammond XK-3 organ and endorsement. Among her accomplishments is a jazz organ instructional book “Hammond Organ Complete” (Berklee Press) which was translated from English to Japanese and has been published in Japan. When she’s not leading her trio, she still enjoys working as a featured sideman in Grady Tate’s vocal group and with saxophonist Lou Donaldson among many others.Akiko’s new CD “Sweet and Funky” is now finished and will be released in both Japan (M&I Company) and in the United States and Canada on 18th & Vine. Akiko was also featured playing piano in the Japanese movie “Last Love”. 2007 was an especially fruitful year for Akiko. Highlights included performances with the Lou Donaldson Quartet at Birdland, the Village Vanguard, and Carnegie Hall. She also performed at various jazz festivals and on jazz cruises throughout the US. "Sweet and Funky", Akiko’s first release in the US and Canada and her second in Japan, has been receiving rave reviews. It has reached 13 on the jazz radio charts and received a four-star review from Downbeat magazine. In October, Akiko released her third album in Japan, "St. Louis Blues", featuring Bernard Purdie on drums and Houston Person on saxophone. After the CD release, Akiko embarked on a highly-acclaimed tour of Japan with her regular working trio. This recording received Swing Journal magazine’s New Star Award, a first for an organist, which is truly a remarkable achievement.

MySpace Layouts
Get free MySpace Layouts at MySpaceLayoutSupport.com
MySpace Layouts | MySpace Backgrounds | MySpace Codes

Cute MySpace Layouts

MySpace Layouts
Get free MySpace Layouts at MySpaceLayoutSupport.com
MySpace Layouts | MySpace Backgrounds | MySpace Codes

Cute MySpace Layouts

   Akiko Tsuruga's Friend Space (Top 20)
Akiko Tsuruga has 710 friends.
 LOU DONALDSON 


 Grady Tate 


 Dr. Lonnie Smith 


 Allegro Distribution 


 Jimmy Smith 


 Reuben Wilson 


 Alvin Queen 


 Lewis Nash 


 www.doodlinrecords.com 


 Nate Lucas 


 Jerry Weldon 


 Sir Earl 


 Bill Saxton 


 Showmans 


 LONNIE GASPERINI 


 Radam Schwartz 


 Jeanie Bryson 


 Coleman Mellett 


 Chembo Corniel 


 JC and the JazzHoppers 





Akiko Tsuruga's Friends Comments
Displaying 50 of 131 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Vadsmother





Jul 4 2008 6:31 AM

 Cool Graphics at RevolutionMySpace.com
MySpace Layouts & MySpace Graphics
Espace Musical des Accates





Jul 1 2008 5:36 PM

merci d'etre notre amie
J-Pop World





Jul 1 2008 2:27 PM

Thanks for the friendship.

J-Pop World is dedicated to promoting Japanese music and related artists from around the world.

Checkout our Featured Artist Sites for Puffy AmiYumi, Kaela Kimura and GO!GO!7188 and our latest interviews with the Yoshida Brothers, Hiko Suzuki, Kaila Yu and many more.



Girl Power!





Jul 1 2008 8:31 AM

Hi, thanks for the add
Evrim Turgut & Relax





Jul 1 2008 8:19 AM

Hello Akiko... Thanks for the add. Welcome to Evrim Turgut's Relaxing and full love world... Wishing you happiness and a positive life...:)
Tim Cheatle





Jun 18 2008 2:14 PM

Create your own banner at mybannermaker.com!
Holger Weber





Jun 11 2008 4:42 PM

thanks for being a friend on myspace.
hope to hear you in europe one day (and please bring along the fabulous eric johnson, pretty please ;))
Vadsmother





Jun 6 2008 10:07 AM

Hello Akiko!
Nice to meet you.
So glad to have you as a friend.
Love from St.Petersburg
Vera
and


Girly Comments & Graphics

SODERTULL





Jun 5 2008 2:05 PM

Hi
We had to listen to your swingin' music. Nice performance!
Regards from SODERTULL
Roberto Cati





Jun 4 2008 2:46 PM

Hi Akiko, Thanks for the add!!
Compliments for your music!!
Best regards
出口誠





May 27 2008 10:11 PM

Thank you for approval of a friend.
We are looking forward to hearing from you!
TONY





May 27 2008 2:38 PM

You were absolutely GREAT last night!
What a GREAT performance!!!!
See you again soon!!!!!
Best Wishes, Tony
Atsuko Hashimoto





May 26 2008 10:08 PM

Thank you for adding me.
Wishing you all the best.
Warm regards,

Atsuko
MR. RICHARD





May 26 2008 9:24 AM

JUS' STOPPED BY TO SAY HEY & ALWAYS "THANX" FOR THE ADD.
GREAT RESPECTS FOR YOUR WORK ...

ROCK ON !

MR.
RICHARD
TONY





May 22 2008 11:10 AM

Hi Akiko
"The Garage" has you listed in their schedule for May 26, but I don't see it on your schedule. Just wanted to know if you will be playing there that night.
Thanks, and Best Wishes!
Tony
ikumi





May 22 2008 8:11 AM

承認ありがとうございます!
何年か前にハモンドコンクールで聴いた演奏がとても印象的です。
ぜひ東京でコンサートしてください!
Walter





May 22 2008 4:00 AM

Photobucket
Jarek





May 17 2008 9:44 PM

Hello Akiko,

Greetings from Poland.

Jarek
nozomu ito





May 12 2008 10:39 PM

Addありがとうございます。
Funky!! I love it!!
NICKEL - THE JOURNEY OF PLATO THE ORPHAN (MHB®)





May 4 2008 1:19 AM

HEY AKIKO - I HOPE ALL IS GOOD WITH U.

Thank you for your continued support... My new album, "The Journey of Plato the Orphan," is NOW AVAILABLE on time for you to bump this summer! CHECK OUT THIS PROMO VIDEO, SEE IF YOU'RE FEELIN' IT.


http://www. youtube. com/watch?v=KLg-wadyj8c

SUPPORT INDIE HIP HOP MUSIC. SHOW THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS, PUT IT ON YOUR PAGE, BE PART OF THE MOVEMENT... PEACE – 5
KAZZ





Apr 27 2008 9:13 AM

Thanks so much for adding me!
Greetings from JAPAN.
Rolando Sanchez Band





Apr 22 2008 1:20 PM

Aloha!
Best wishes to you always!
Rolando
TONY





Apr 18 2008 11:07 AM

Check out this video: AKIKO TSURUGA video by Tony Sabbarese

..

Add to My Profile | More Videos
Monise Ambrosio





Apr 15 2008 6:35 PM

Thanks for your friendship Akiko, I hope you have a wonderful night , with sweet and love

glitter-graphics. com
Monise
TONY





Apr 14 2008 3:04 PM

Hi Akiko. You were absolutely GREAT last night at The Garage!!!!!!
I am going to have to keep an eye on your schedule and see you perform more often. I REALLY loved it. I forgot to buy a CD from you, but I'll either order one on line, ro buy one next time I see you perform.
Best Wishes, Tony
THE JAZZXPRESS CARAVAN Internet & Community Radio





Apr 9 2008 3:33 PM

Welcome aboard the JazzXpress Caravan.
Love that B3 sound.
Cheers
Helen
D@nielSounD official


Is Online


Apr 4 2008 1:54 PM

HELLO AKIKO....
THANKS 4 FRIENDSHIP

Jonathan Smith & Friends





Mar 31 2008 10:24 PM

Akiko, Sorry I could not make it to Pearl's in SF, just too far to drive, but don't forget to try Jimmy Mak's club in Portland.
They have a B3 ready for you!
Sumac Pacha





Mar 26 2008 3:40 PM

Una amistad mas, que bonito es la musica une naciones.
Sumac Pacha(el zurdo)
Roccoco