MP3 Akiko Tsuruga - Sweet and Funky

Funky Jazz featuring New York City-based, Japanese Hammond organist Akiko Tsuruga.

10 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Bebop, BLUES: Funky Blues



Details:
New York City based Hammond Organist and pianist, Akiko Tsuruga, has established herself as an 'in demand' player since arriving from her home town of Osaka, Japan in 2001.

Akiko began Organ lessons at age three, and starting performing professionally throughout Japan after graduating from Osaka College Of Music. While performing in Japan, she encountered and played with many noted American musicians, Roy Hargrove, Jeff âTainâ Watts and Grady Tate to name a few. Grady Tate has been most influential in her career. He played on her debut CD, âHarlem Dreamsâ and encouraged her to move to New York.

After arriving in New York Akiko established herself as one of areaâs top organist / pianist. Her trio featuring guitarist Eric Johnson and drummer Vincent Ector has been one of the areaâs top groups, working many jazz nightclubs including, Dizzyâs (at Lincoln center) and The Blue Note. Her trio also plays private parties and summer outdoor concerts. Her long awaited debut CD, âHarlem Dreamsâ featuring Grady Tate and Frank Wess was released in Japan on the M&I company on May 19, 2004.

Akikoâs CD is so popular in Japan she has returned twice to perform. Her CD release tour featured Grady Tate on drums and guitarist Satoshi Inoue in August 2004. In September 2005, she returned to Japan with guitarist Eric Johnson and drummer Fukushi Tainaka.

It was this trip that caught the eyes and ears of Hammond Suzuki officials. The group was invited to the factory and Mr. Suzuki personally awarded her a Hammond XK-3 organ and endorsement.

Among her accomplishments is an organ jazz instructional book âHammond Organ Completeâ (Berklee Press) which was translated from English to Japanese and has been published in Japan.

When sheâs not leading her trio, she still enjoys working as a featured sideman in Grady Tateâs vocal group and with saxophonist Lou Donaldson and many others.

Akikoâs new CD âSweet and Funkyâ is now finished and will be released in both Japan (M&I Company) and the United States and Canada on Allegro records.

Also Akiko was featured playing piano in the Japanese movie âLast Loveâ.