Nanami Haruta - Trombone
Trombonist Nanami Haruta made the move from her native Sapporo to Tokyo as a teenager, and quickly established herself as a dynamic & inspired player. Master trombonist Michael Dease heard her at a festival when she was 17, and later convinced her to make another move, to pursue her degree with him and Rodney Whitaker at Michigan State University. With professional affiliations now including Whitaker's Sextet & drummer Ulysses Owens Jr's Big Band. Her latest release, The Vibe documents the respect she's garnered from her mentors and showcases her significant musical voice. With her quartet - including Whitaker, Owens, and Xavier Davis on piano - along with guest appearances by producer Dease and guitarist Chris Minami, Haruta unveils an assertive posture and a compelling, robust tone on this set of five originals, two pieces by co-producer/executive producer Gregg Hill, and four covers, including Curtis Fuller's "Algonquin."...
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Nanami Haruta - Trombone
Trombonist Nanami Haruta made the move from her native Sapporo to Tokyo as a teenager, and quickly established herself as a dynamic & inspired player. Master trombonist Michael Dease heard her at a festival when she was 17, and later convinced her to make another move, to pursue her degree with him and Rodney Whitaker at Michigan State University. With professional affiliations now including Whitaker's Sextet & drummer Ulysses Owens Jr's Big Band. Her latest release, The Vibe documents the respect she's garnered from her mentors and showcases her significant musical voice. With her quartet - including Whitaker, Owens, and Xavier Davis on piano - along with guest appearances by producer Dease and guitarist Chris Minami, Haruta unveils an assertive posture and a compelling, robust tone on this set of five originals, two pieces by co-producer/executive producer Gregg Hill, and four covers, including Curtis Fuller's "Algonquin."
????www.nanamiharuta.com
Chris Minami - Guitar
Christopher Minami is one of the finest archtop guitarists of the current generation. Minami has won national competitions, grants, tours and has shared the stage with greats such as Rodney Whitaker, Michael Dease, Geoffrey Keezer, Bobby Floyd, and Camille Thurman. A native of Florida, Minami completed his undergraduate degree in both classical and jazz guitar at Florida State University’s College of Music in the studio of Bruce Holzman. While at FSU, Minami was a member of the Jazz Honors Band under the direction of Marcus Roberts. Minami recently completed his master's in jazz studies at the Michigan State University College of Music in the studio of Randy Napoleon. Minami is featured on Napoleon’s latest record “Waking Dream” set to be released on August 22nd on Origin Records. “Chris Minami is another exceptional player and person. While he can certainly burn, the element that stands out to me about his playing is his lyricism.” - Randy Napoleon
Minami maintains a private guitar studio and has taught at prestigious institutions such as the Interlochen Center for the Arts, Brevard Music Center, and Michigan State University.
????www.christopherminamimusic.com
Jon Muir-Cotton - Bass
a multi-award winning young, up and coming double bassist and bassist trained in both the jazz and classical traditions; playing many genres including jazz, funk, gospel, blues, R&B and neo-soul. Under the mentorship and tutelage of great Detroit bassists like Marion Hayden, Robert Hurst, Rick Robinson, Rodney Whitaker, and Ralphe Armstrong, Jonathon is working towards making his own mark in the music world. Jonathon has continued to garner great opportunities to perform internationally, with consistent rotations in Detroit, New York, Ann Arbor, and many other venues across the state of Michigan and around the country. Jonathon is a student at Michigan State University pursuing his Bachelors in Jazz Studies.
Muir-Cotton has performed with various renowned artists both locally and nationally, including Karriem Riggins, Kris Johnson, Dwight Adams, Curtis Taylor, Christian Sands, Joe Farnsworth, Vincent Chandler, Ali Jackson, Esperanza Spalding, Ian Finkelstein, Soul Science Lab, and Kamau Kenyatta. He has his own talented and versatile extended band Expressions, and is an often sought out bassist for other artists, their bands, and for studio work. Jonathon continues to hone his craft, hopes to tour the world, and eventually become a music educator, teaching jazz at the collegiate level as well as be an inspiration and give back to the next generation of students and aspiring musicians.
????www.jonathonmuircotton.com
Fukushi Tainaka - Drums
1980 Moved to New York City.
Studied with Philly Joe, Louis Hayes, and Joe Jones Jr.
1991 US and European tours with Lou Donaldson.
1982 Recording debut on flute player Kent Eanes’ album, Fresh Air.
1983 Played at New York jazz clubs with Kenny Garret and Junior Cook.
1984 Played drums on bass player Shintaro Nakamura’s album, Evolution.
1985 Joined organ player Dr. Lonnie Smith’s group.
1986 Started longtime association with Lou Donaldson.
Concert appearance in the US, Japan and Europe.
1987 Gigs at New York jazz clubs and frequent Japan tours with Shizuko Yokoyama.
1992 Attended the recording of album Birdseeds by Lou Donaldson.
1994 Played at Japan’s most prestigious jazz festival, Mt. Fuji Jazz Festival.
1995 Featured on Lou Donaldson’s album, Sentimental Journey.
Also appeared at Montreal Jazz Festival with Lou Donaldson.
2001 Recording of Shizuko Yokoyama’s album, To My Mother.
2002 Norwegian Sun Jazz Cruise with bass player Rufus Reid and the all-star saxophone super group of Lou Donaldson, Jimmy Heath, James Moody, David “Fathead” Newman.
2003 Appearances with Frank Wess, Randy Johnston, and the Lou Donaldson Trio.
2004 Attended the recording of Too Damn Hot by Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio.
2007 Played at Carnegie Hall.
2019 Best Drummer 2019 / the 6th New York City Readers Jazz Awards presented by Hot House Magazine, in partnership with Jazzmobile
2024 Jersey Jazz City Festival as Champian Fulton Trio
????www.fukushitainaka.com
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