Kayo Hiraki Jazz pianist Seoul 공연

KAYO HIRAKI

현재, 뉴욕의 재즈씬에서 17년째 왕성한 활동을 하고 있는 일본인 재즈피아니스트입니다.

그녀는 쿠니타치 음대를 마치고 작곡자, 편곡가, 연주인으로 활동하다 미국으로 건너가

1988년에는 세계적으로 잘 알려진 피아니스트 배리 해리스 (Barry Harris) 로부터 사사를 받았습니다.

2003년에는 뉴욕의 재즈클럽 블루노트 에서 현존하는 재즈계의 거장 론 카터(Ron Carter) 와 함께 연주를 하기도 했는데
론카터는 그녀를 두고 다음과 같이 말했습니다.

"카요씨는 음악인으로서 좀처럼 듣기 힘든 재능을 가지고 있습니다. 그녀의 연주를 들으면 그녀의 창조성과 재능있는
연주인으로서 경험의 깊이를 느낄 수 있습니다."

1998년 이래로 그녀의 피아노와 보컬로 5장의 앨범을 발매했으며 그녀의 5번째 앨범 "I wish you love" 는 2007년 일본레이블 AGAM Records 에서 출시되었습니다.

현재 그녀는 뉴욕의 유명한 재즈클럽인 그린위치빌리지(Greenwich Village)에서 평균 일주일에 5회를 연주해오고 있고
아시아투어와 유럽투어를 지속적으로 해오고 있습니다.

이번 내한공연은 일본 전 지역과 홍콩을 거쳐 한국에 이르는 아시아투어를 위한 공연입니다.
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* Kayo Hiraki  한국공연일정

03/12  : 천년동안도 (PM 9:00 ~ 11:00)
03/13  : Jazz Alley(PM 9:00 ~ 11:00)
03/14 : Once in a Blue Moon(PM 9:00 ~ 11:00)
03/15 : 에반스(PM 9:00 ~ 11:00)

KAYO HIRAKI BIOGRAPHY

Steinway Piano Artist

~ a title only the top 1,600 pianists worldwide share ~

 

 Jazz pianist Kayo Hiraki was born in Japan, the daughter of a classical pianist. A child prodigy, she started playing the piano when she was three years old and the violin a year later. From a very early age she began to perform in concerts throughout Japan.

At the age of 18, Kayo enrolled in Kunitachi Music College, Japan's leading music conservatory.  After receiving her degree, she embarked on a career as a composer, arranger and working musician, playing classical and jazz piano, organ and synthesizers.

In 1985, Ms. Hiraki won the Silver Medal at Yamaha Electric Organ Professional Players Final Competition. Also, she was selected to be a Yamaha Music Grade Examiner, a distinction/role granted to only top instrumentalists.

In 1988, while captivating the New York jazz scene, Kayo began advanced studies with world-renowned pianist Barry Harris, and later studied with the great Larry Ham.

In 1998, Kayo released her first album with her piano trio.  The album, which included many of her own songs, including “I Miss You" was widely praised by critics in Japan for its gentle approach to the American jazz idiom. 

The legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter has said about Kayo, 

“Rarely have I heard a musician as gifted as Ms. Hiraki.  To hear her play is to experience the joy of her creative ability and the depth of her experience as a talented performer.” 

In 2003, Kayo headlined two sold out shows with Ron Carter at The Blue Note in New York City.

Kayo has released five albums since 1998, which feature her piano and vocal talents.  Her fifth CD I wish you love was released in 2007 by the Japanese label AGAM Records.  She performed at The Blue Note New York for the CD release party the following year.

                    
 In a review of her latest album, I Wish You Love, Ms. Hiraki is described by jazz critic C. Michael Bailey as possessing “a light as a feather feel… eschewing Thelonious Monk and Horace Silver allusions in favor of her own dependable harmonic ear.” Critic Dan Bilawsky adds, “Hiraki harnesses her piano prowess and releases it on these chestnuts, bringing class and talent to deserving songs of yesteryear.” In another review, Edward Blanco describes Ms. Hiraki as a ‘first order pianist’ with ‘virtuoso piano skills.’ John Gilbert of jazzreview.com declares her ‘brilliant’ and her latest album as ‘worthy of any cognoscenti’s collection.’

 

                    
In 2009, Japan Air Line International Inflight Magazine “SKYWORD” featured Ms. Hiraki’s life and work through an extensive interview in its October issue. In 2011, Ms. Hiraki performed the climax scene, featuring Ms. Hiraki as a jazz pianist, in the Japanese popular theater play, “Villa Grande Aoyama.” This production travelled throughout Japan, performing sold out shows in all locations.

 

Currently, Kayo performs five nights a week at eminent jazz club Arturo's in Greenwich Village, New York City, plus other major jazz venues, and also continues to tour Asia biannually and Europe annually.