JAZZ4

at the Soul Café presents

Pianist Ayako Shirasaki & bassist Noriko Ueda present a program of
Jazz standards, original compositions and unique Jazz renditions of Japanese folk & pop songs

Saturday, April 9, 2016
8:00PM-10:00PM; doors open 7:30PM

Art on the Corner is thrilled to host JAZZ NITE at
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd's Soul Café!

• Live Music • Delicious Food & Libations • Great Fun •
...and you don't have to leave the 'hood!
Tickets available at the door on the day of the event: $30pp

Each ticket includes entrance to the event, a glass of wine,
appetizers provided by Sapporo Japanese Cuisine located in Bay Ridge,
and a fun evening!
Additional food and beverages available for purchase.
Credit Cards accepted at the door.

Noriko Ueda, bass

Noriko Ueda, bassist/composer
Noriko Ueda is originally from Hyogo, Japan. Her interest in music began early in her life, studying classical piano at the age of 4. At 16, she began playing the electric bass. At age 18, Ueda began her career with the upright bass, which is currently her main instrument. She was a B.E.S.T. scholarship recipient and majored in Jazz Composition at the Berklee College of Music in Boston where she graduated in 1997, and relocated to NY.

She has performed, toured and recorded with various groups including the legendary Frank Wess Quintet and Nonet, Ted Rosenthal Trio, Harry Whitaker band, Grady Tate band, DIVA Jazz Orchestra, Five Play and Diva Jazz Trio, and she leads her own big band, Noriko Ueda Jazz Orchestra which performs her original compositions and arrangements.
Also her first leader Trio album “DEBUT” has just released from the Japanese record company “Terashima Records”. (2015)

Ueda is the winner of the third annual BMI Foundation/Charlie Parker Jazz composition Prize for her original big band piece "Castle in the North”. (2002) Her big band arrangement of “This Land is Your Land” has featured in Macy’s 4th of July fireworks. (2014)
www.norikoueda.com

Ayako Shirasaki, Jazz pianist
Combining the hard swinging bebop language of Bud Powell with the sophisticated harmonic elegance of Bill Evans, but with a brilliant creativity all her own, pianist Ayako Shirasaki has established herself as one of New York City’s finest jazz pianists. Shirasaki has been playing the piano since the age of 5. She began performing in jazz clubs at the age of 12, and has won numerous piano competitions in her native Japan. Extremely versatile, Ayako majored in classical piano at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and earned a masters degree from Manhattan School of Music, where she studied piano with Kenny Barron.

Her debut CD, “Existence,” featuring drummer Lewis Nash was released in 2003. Shirasaki is a three-time finalist in the 2004 – 2006 Great American Jazz Piano Competitions. She was a guest on Marian McPartland’s radio show “Piano Jazz,” in 2006 on NPR. In 2011, Shirasaki performed at Lucerne festival in Switzerland. A classical piano star Maurizio Pollini, who, after hearing Shirasaki perform his spontaneous request for "Sophisticated Lady," remarked, "Fast fingers! Beautiful!” She has released three piano trio album and two piano solo albums including her latest piano trio album, “Some Other Time” (2013) featuring Noriko Ueda on bass and Quincy Davis on drums. They completed the "Some Other Time" Japan Tour 2013 and Europe Tour 2015 very successfully.

Shirasaki is a regular performer at many of NYC’s jazz clubs as well as concerts in Japan & Europe. She is a founder and a director of Sakura Music School in NYC where she enjoys teaching all ages of prospective students.
www.ayakoshirasaki.com