Five Japanese soloists and groups will offer a variety of styles in twelve different concerts
In collaboration with the Japan Foundation in Madrid, the 54th Heineken Jazzaldia has programmed a season with the participation of five Japanese soloists and groups. The 5 groups and soloists will give a total of 12 performances, and some of them will perform for three consecutive days.
One characteristic shared by all of the selected artists and groups is that the piano and the guitar feature as solo instruments in all of them. Three of the five projects are fronted by women instrumentalists.
Japan season at the Heineken Jazzaldia: Piano and guitar
Ai Kuwabara Solo
Ai Kuwabara The Project
Ai Kuwabara (piano), Keisuke Torigoe (double bass), Senju Muneomi (drums)
The very young Ai Kuwabara is already one of Japan’s most widely known artists. Her trio, which she calls The Project, is not only one of the most greatly appreciated jazz bands in the country, they have also created soundtracks for a number of films and for the TV series (Dear Family), now immensely popular in Japan.
Goshu Ondo: Eri Yamamoto Trio + Easo Choir
The Japanese pianist Eri Yamamoto has been living in the United States for more than a decade. Having developed her career there, she nevertheless maintains close ties to her origins. Proof of this is her creation of the piece Goshu Ondo, which she will present in our city, together with the Easo Choir, in a European first. This is a composition for jazz trio and choir based on Japanese harmonies and which she fuses with jazz.
Rei
Rei is the new figure of Japanese blues-pop. A singer, but above all guitarist, she recently signed for a multinational that realised the enormous potential of this woman who exudes remarkable charm and strength as an instrumentalist.
Yuki Arimasa-Ryo Ogihara
Yuki Arimasa (piano), Ryo Ogihara (guitar)
In jazz, no matter what they say, the occasions when piano and guitar duos have been totally satisfactory, and understanding between the instruments has been complete and perfect, can be counted on one hand. But that’s precisely what happens with the duo formed by the pianist Yuki Arimasa and the guitarist Ryo Ogihara. A true musical delight introducing us to two exceptional musicians.
Tickets on sale from February 21
Tickets for the paying concerts at the 54th Heineken Jazzaldia will go on sale on February 21. The full programme for these concerts will be available the same day on Festival website: www.heinekenjazzaldia.eus.
