Japanese Jazz vocalist living in New York. Haunting voice, haunting songs.

9 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Jazz Vocals, LATIN: Latin Jazz



Details:
Maki Mototsu (Vocal) Maki Mototsu was born and raised in Osaka Japan. Influenced by her father who loved music, singing became her lifework. Inspired by Aretha Franklin, started singing career at clubs in Kansai area with R&B band named "The Fukuroku" in her early 20â s. After 7 years playing with the band, she joined the Gospel mass choir called "Chibella water". At first year of her join this choir, she was chosen as one of a soloist among over 40 members, and appearing as a guest singer at the gig of choir director who were professional organist/pianist. Moving to New York in 1995 to study Gospel, Maki started singing at the African church in Roosevelt Island, NYC. Struggling with her inner conflict between singing Gospel and her untaken of its religion, she stop singing at the first time in her life. After suffering from two years non-singing period, she found keen interest in Jazz and resumed her song. Started studying at Marion Cowings Workshop, Barry Harris workshop, Jazzmobile, and taking private lessons from Marion Cowings and Jay Clayton. She appears in Jam session/open mic at NY jazz scene, and performs as a member of Barry Harris Jazz ensemble.

Band member for my first CD "whisky me"

Roman Ivanoff ( Piano )
Roman Ivanoff was born in 1964 in St. Petersburg, Russia, where he started playing piano at age seven and went on to study at Mussorgsky College of Music. In 1983, he became a finalist in the annual St. Petersburg jazz competition - Autumn Marathon.
He started working as a professional musician in Russia, and moved to NY in 1992, playing on a regular basis at Smalls, Fat Cat, and University of Street Jazz vocal Workshop.

Marvie Asakura (Bass)
Marvie Asakura was born in Tokyo, and started his music career in high school as a big band member. Later, he started performing as a professional in the Japanese jazz scene along with many famous bands and singers in Japan, while also extending his career in TV as a player, composer, and music director.
Moving to NY in 2001, he has performed with great artists, including George Benson, Walter Bishop Jr., Count Basie Orchestra and Duke Ellington Orchestra.

Clifford Barbaro (Drums)
A veteran of the jazz scene and a New York City native, Clifford Barbaro's combustible percussion has propelled the bands of Betty Carter, Sun Ra and John Hicks, and has fueled the explosions of the Sun Ra Arkestra. Barbaro has also performed and recorded with many other major artists over the years, including George Adams, Gary Bartz, Walter Bishop Jr., Stan Getz, Barry Harris, and Jon Hendricks.