Junko Onishi

Junko Onishi has long been one of the most popular pianists in Tokyo. Her years backing famed jazz masters in the States along with her vibrant attitude to the music have earned her respect and fans. This new release comes nearly a decade after her last one, 1999’s rock groove outing “Fragile.” This recording is entirely different from that one, with several self-penned numbers, three Eric Dolphy tunes and three standards. Recorded in New York, except for a live medley at Tokyo Blue Note, it is a vital new work that finds Onishi’s forceful playing unbridled. The result is much more of her as the accomplished and powerful musician she truly is.

With the release of her 1993 Blue Note debut, pianist Junko Onishi arrived as one of the most promising of Japan-born jazz musicians. Growing up in Tokyo, Onishi received classical piano lessons but became quite interested in jazz. She considers her style to be based on Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, and Ornette Coleman; her other recordings from the '90s include 1994's Live at the Village Vanguard. "Tea Times" was recorded and released in 2016 on Japanese Village Records label.

Akihiro Yoshimoto Tenor sax, Soprano sax, Clarinet, Flute Player / Composer ​Tokyo-based Saxophonist / Composer Akihiro Yoshimoto graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2006, studied with George Garzone, Joe Lovano, Frank Tiberi. ​ He won an excellent prize in the yokohama jazz competition 2007. As a composer, he has received "FINALIST AWARD" at the "International Songwriting Competition 2014". As a bandleader, He has released, "Blending Tone" (2012) , "Moving Color" (2015) and "Oxymoron" (2017) also his playing was featured on various groups and recordings including Aaron Choulai Quintet, Junko Onishi Sextet, Kei Kobayashi Quintet, Junko Moriya Big Band and many others. ​

What an astonishing idea: Couple the sensational, genre-defying Japanese pianist Hiromi Uehara with the spellbinding Colombian harpist Edmar Castenada, who proves that his traditional Andean folk instrument is as unlimited as his musical imagination. Both these people are charmers: Since her 2003 debut recording "Another Mind", Hiromi has dazzled listeners with her explosive keyboard technique and performance style. She is classically trained, but clearly loves the spontaneous and unbound aspects of jazz. Castenada, whose father was a famed harpist, hails from Bogota. He emigrated to New York City in 1994, quickly attracting attention. In his hands the harp’s strings ring forcefully, adding unusual counterpoint to jazz’s encounters with all the world's possibilities. What do Hiromi and Castenada sound like in collaboration? Only a few audiences know - this is their first tour together. Bet on their music being fresh and lively.

What is Project NAYUTA? The two vocalists sometimes snuggle up and sometimes provoke. The baseline sounds like an earthquake. A guitar that mixes hot rock spirits with cool fractional chords. Rhythm is a fusion of effort and groove at a high level. Keyboard volume is always criticized for being loud. We are pursuing new expressions in a new era. And it will be called progressive.