The Japan-America Society of Greater Austin (JASGA) presents a jazz concert in Austin with three Japanese jazz players, alumnae of the Berklee College of Music, on Monday, March 21, 2016.
They are currently living in Tokyo, New York, and Austin. JASGA is delighted to host their concert of creative, organic, and relaxing jazz music.
Takana Miyamoto (P), Noriko Ueda (B), and Masumi Jones (Ds) formed a jazz piano trio called G.G. (Groovin’ Girls trio) in Boston. After the release of their first album, Piece of Cake, the group separated, making their way to Georgia, New York and Texas. After 15 years building their careers as musicians, the three members reunited at a studio in Tokyo in the summer of 2014. Rather than having lengthy conversations, they instantly started recording, reuniting and bonding together through their music. Their new album Ruby Road is a precious compilation; although each track has a theme, the recording focuses more on the trio's performance and sounds. ...
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The Japan-America Society of Greater Austin (JASGA) presents a jazz concert in Austin with three Japanese jazz players, alumnae of the Berklee College of Music, on Monday, March 21, 2016.
They are currently living in Tokyo, New York, and Austin. JASGA is delighted to host their concert of creative, organic, and relaxing jazz music.
Takana Miyamoto (P), Noriko Ueda (B), and Masumi Jones (Ds) formed a jazz piano trio called G.G. (Groovin’ Girls trio) in Boston. After the release of their first album, Piece of Cake, the group separated, making their way to Georgia, New York and Texas. After 15 years building their careers as musicians, the three members reunited at a studio in Tokyo in the summer of 2014. Rather than having lengthy conversations, they instantly started recording, reuniting and bonding together through their music. Their new album Ruby Road is a precious compilation; although each track has a theme, the recording focuses more on the trio's performance and sounds.
Takana Miyamoto (P)
Takana Miyamoto was born in Yuki, Japan. She has lived in the USA (Boston, NYC, Atlanta) and the UK for 18 years, and has expanded her career in over 30 countries through concerts, recording, producing, composing, arranging, film scoring and educational activities. Takana graduated from the Berklee College of Music with a dual degree in Film Scoring and Jazz Composition, and has a master's degree in Jazz Pedagogy from Georgia State University. She is the winner of the Randy Edman Jazz Piano competition, Atlanta's Best Jazz Act ('05 & '06), and received many other notable awards, including being one of Georgia's Most Powerful and Influential Women. She was awarded permanent residency in the U.S. due to her contributions to the musical industry.
Takana traveled the world with vocalist Nenna Freelon. Freelon's album"Sou/call", which Takana directed and participated in as a pianist, received two Grammy nominations in 2001. The CD she co-produced with Kirk Whalum, Promises Made, ranked fifth in the USA jazz chart in Billboard magazine. In 2013, Takana returned to Japan and released her debut CD On My Way, which was selected Album of the Year by Jazz Life magazine.
Besides her active career as a leader, her collaborative projects include an acoustic duo with guitar phenom Yosuke Onuma, WA-OTO with Keizo Nakanishi and Yasukazu Kano and more. Many vocalists have enjoyed making music with Takana and she has collaborated with Allan Harris, Rene Marie, Irene Cara, Daniel Ho, Lexi Walker, Keiko Lee, Chikuzen Sato, among many others. Takana arranged and produced albums for TOKU (Flglhn/vo), Kimiko Itoh(v) and more. She has scored for several films and TV shows, including Marching to Tomorrow, where she appeared in the film as a jazz pianist.
Noriko Ueda (B)
Noriko Ueda was born in Takarazuka, Japan. She learned the piano at the age of 4 and started playing the electric bass at 16. After developing an interest in jazz music, she switched to the upright bass. In 1995, she enrolled in Berklee College of Music's Jazz Composition Department to obtain a scholarship. After graduating from Berklee, she moved to NY and performed in live shows while composing at the same time.
In 2002, she won the BMI Charlie Parker Award for a Big Band composition. She has been performing as a sideman for the Frank Wes Quintet, the Ted Rosenthal Trio, the Grady Tate Band, Big Band DIVA, FIVE PLAY, the Inoue Satoshi Band; she also leads the Noriko Ueda Jazz Orchestra. She has appeared in New York jazz clubs and concert halls. She has been involved in many jazz festivals across America, Japan and Europe. In May of 2009, Ueda was introduced as a NY jazz musician on the daily broadcast system, Music Edge - Gutto Chikyūbin. In November 2011, the Ted Rosenthal Trio's CD Out of This World earned number 1 on the National Radio chart. Her hobbies include tennis, traveling, and eating delicious meals.
Masumi Jones (Ds）
Masumi Jones focused her career as a drummer-composer in Austin TX. She started performing as a drummer at age 14. She graduated from Waseda University and Berklee College of Music with a degree in Professional Music. She began working in Boston and moved back to Japan in 2000.
She debuted as a member of The Blue Aeronauts Orchestra to obtain a contract with major recording company Avex in 2004. In 2008, she returned to the US and worked in Texas. In October 2011, she participated in the Shanghai International Arts Festival, playing drums for the American Jazz Tap Show for a month as a member of the official American culture & art ambassador. In 2013, Jones won the Best Jazz Band and also the Best Drummer in the Austin Chronicle Music Awards. It was the first time in 32 years that an Asian woman was ranked #1 in all categories.
Currently Masumi is a member of the Jitterbug Vipers, the Rich Harney Trio, the Jon Blondell Trio, the Tapestry Dance Company, and 35mm, in addition to working as a freelance jazz drummer.
For Tickets/Info
Phone: 512-656-4731
Email: [email protected]
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