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| EAST MEETS WEST JAZZ BRUNCH - AYAKO SHIRASAKI TRIO | ||||||||||||||
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Journal. Extremely versatile, Ayako majored in classical music at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and performed as a classical pianist for several years after graduation. But the love of the jazz idiom instilled by her father from the age of five won out, and Ayako soon returned to her first love, winning in 1995 second prize in the prestigious First Annual Heineken Jazz Competition. In 1997 Ayako moved to New York City where she currently resides. Her talent won her a scholarship in the masters program at the Manhattan School of Music where she studied performance with such noted teachers as Kenny Barron and Ted Rosenthal and composition with Mike Abene. Ayako is fast making a name for herself as one of the most exciting and inventive pianists on the New York jazz scene. She has been heard at the Blue Note, Sugar Hill Bistro, Swing 46, Copeland's, Cleopatra's Needle, and Metronome. Her unique style and strong rhythmic sense have made her much in demand. She has played with Lewis Nash, Kalil Madi, John Benitez, Steve Kirby, Kengo Nakamura, Kenny Garrett, Kit McLure and Harold Ousley. Ayako released a self-produced album, gLive in New Yorkh in 2002, and also has recently completed her first studio recording with Lewis Nash (drums) and Marco Panascia (bass) on the gWhatfs New Recordsh label. |
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