Bud Powell, John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Bobby Timmons, Bobby Watson, Louis Armstrong, Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland, Marcus Roberts, and many others.
Started playing classic piano at the age of three, and started writing music at the age of fifteen by self-education. Won a prize (second place of 4400 works) from Composition Department of The National High School Student Music Award in 1991. Studied jazz vocal and piano with Ms. Chieko Sogawa and Mr. Zenshow Otsuka from 1992 to 1998.
Started residing in San Diego,CA in May 1998 and studying with Mr. LaMont Johnson. Entered Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA in September 1998. Studied with Mr. Ray Santisi, Ms. JoAnne Brackeen, etc. Graduated from the college in August 2001. Moved to New York City in January 2002.
Has played with Howard Johnson, Patience Higgins, Jimmy Lovelace, Jason Brown, William Ash, among others, continuing studying with Ms. JoAnne Brackeen. Returned to Japan in 2004. Since then, has played with Yoichi Tanaka(tp), Yoichi Kobayashi (ds), Hisatsugu Suzuki(ts), Hironobu Saito(g) etc. Returned to NYC in 2007.
I've never heard your playing before, very nice. Let me know when you have a gig. How are you!!!! You should come and hang out at Nabuko Kiryu's gig at Showmans ..h, it is always a great vibe and Nabuko is very generous at having musicians sit in. We could finally get together....... Hope all is well, Deb
