Renowned pianist, JVC Victor Entertainment Recording Artist and 2012 Boston Phoenix Best Music Poll winner Yoko Miwa comes to Blue Note, 131 West 3rd Street, NYC on Sunday, March 23. Playing as part of the East Meets West Brunch Series, Miwa, a native of Kobe, Japan, performs with her trio featuring Will Slater on bass and Scott Goulding on drums. Sets at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Cover: $29.50 (cost includes brunch and a drink). For more information go to http://bluenotejazz.com/ or call 212-475-8592.
Miwa, who has spent the past decade honing the most musical trio sound on the Boston jazz scene, is an artist with a unique sound, style and meaning to her fans. The Yoko Miwa Trio was voted Best Jazz Act by the Boston Phoenix in the 2012 Best Music Poll. In 2012, her trio released their major label debut CD in Japan titled Act Naturally on the JVC Victor Entertainment label and she toured Japan with her trio to rave reviews. "She is one of the best jazz pianists in Japan." — Yozo Iwanami, Jazz Hihyo Magazine. Appointed as Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music in 2011, Miwa also released Live at Scullers Jazz Club, her trio’s fifth and most accomplished CD, that year to rave reviews....
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Renowned pianist, JVC Victor Entertainment Recording Artist and 2012 Boston Phoenix Best Music Poll winner Yoko Miwa comes to Blue Note, 131 West 3rd Street, NYC on Sunday, March 23. Playing as part of the East Meets West Brunch Series, Miwa, a native of Kobe, Japan, performs with her trio featuring Will Slater on bass and Scott Goulding on drums. Sets at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Cover: $29.50 (cost includes brunch and a drink). For more information go to http://bluenotejazz.com/ or call 212-475-8592.
Miwa, who has spent the past decade honing the most musical trio sound on the Boston jazz scene, is an artist with a unique sound, style and meaning to her fans. The Yoko Miwa Trio was voted Best Jazz Act by the Boston Phoenix in the 2012 Best Music Poll. In 2012, her trio released their major label debut CD in Japan titled Act Naturally on the JVC Victor Entertainment label and she toured Japan with her trio to rave reviews. "She is one of the best jazz pianists in Japan." — Yozo Iwanami, Jazz Hihyo Magazine. Appointed as Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music in 2011, Miwa also released Live at Scullers Jazz Club, her trio’s fifth and most accomplished CD, that year to rave reviews.
Live at Scullers was described as “picture perfect” by Marc Myers on JazzWax, who went on to say, “Also worth noting are Miwa’s originals Mr. B.G. and Silent Promise which build with passion and grace.” The CD was also chosen as among the Best CDs of 2011 by JazzTimes.
A native of Kobe, Japan, Yoko Miwa was classically trained and didn’t pursue an interest in jazz until she met and studied with Minoru Ozone, a popular television organist and nightclub owner who is the father of pianist Makoto Ozone. Miwa worked at Ozone’s club and as an accompanist and piano instructor at his music school until the great Kobe earthquake of 1995 destroyed both facilities. Then, while continuing to take private lessons from Minoru Ozone, she also pursued musical studies at the Koyo Conservatory in Kobe. From there she won first prize in a scholarship competition to attend Berklee. Miwa quickly began playing with a host of talented students and teachers, and she formed a strong bond with vocal great Kevin Mahogany, who chose the pianist to serve as accompanist in his classes and on his gigs.
Miwa has performed and/or recorded with Slide Hampton, Arturo Sandoval, George Garzone, Jon Faddis, Jerry Bergonzi, Esperanza Spalding, Terri Lynne Carrington, Sheila Jordan, Kevin Mahogany, John Lockwood, and Johnathan Blake. After graduating from Berklee, she started recording: In the Mist of Time, from 2000, with a guest appearance by tenor saxophonist Tim Mayer; Fadeless Flower, recorded in 2002, Canopy of Stars recorded in 2004, The Day We Said Goodbye, recorded live at the studios of WGBH-FM in 2006, 2011’s Live at Scullers, and 2012's Act Naturally. On each CD you hear Miwa’s distinct and powerful musical personality.
“Pianist Yoko Miwa displays unpretentious melodies, elegant phrasing, and the lyrical sensibility of a jazz poet.” — Jazziz Magazine
“Miwa plays with the confidence and fluidity of a seasoned jazz musician. She has the enviable ability to play in any context with authenticity, clarity, and spontaneity…” — Wilbert Sostre, JazzTimes
“Simply a first class, straight up, straight ahead player whose sole mission is to step up and deliver the goods.” — Midwest Record Review
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http://yokomiwa.com/
EPK: http://yokomiwa.com/epk/
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