Wed July 6, 2016
Jazz in the Neighborhood presents Akiko Tsuruga with Jeff Massanari and Akira Tana
SEE EVENT DETAILS
Akiko Tsuruga has been dubbed "Queen of the Organ" by saxophonist Lou Donaldson. Based in New York, but originally from Japan, Tsuruga started playing the organ at age three. She studied classical piano at Osaka Music College, then took jazz piano lessons with Zensho Otsuka. Soon after she started playing the Hammond B-3, influenced by the music of Jimmy Smith. A regular and crowd favorite at Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center, Tsuruga has headlined many well-known jazz venues, such as Blue Note, Smalls, the Green Mill in Chicago, Yoshi’s in Oakland, CA, and Pine Grill Reunion in Buffalo, NY. According to her mentor Lonnie Smith, “Akiko’s playing is like watching a flower blooming, a bird spreading her wings in the music world."
Joining her will be Jeff Massanari, guitar, and Akira Tana, drums.
Jeff Massanari is one of the most in-demand jazz guitarists and has performed at Yoshi’s, Monterey Jazz Festival, Davies Symphony Hall and internationally in China, Japan, Sweden, Finland, Guam, and Italy at the Umbria Jazz Festival. In addition to his many public performances, he performs for corporate and private events, both solo and in ensembles. Massanari's CD’s have received excellent reviews in Guitar Player Magazine, Cadence, and kudo’s from such respected players as Mike Stern and Eric Johnson. He teaches privately as well as through UC Berkeley and at CJC.
Akira Tana hails from San Jose, where he taught himself to play drums well enough to play semi-professionally while still at college. He attended Harvard University where he gained a degree in East Asian Studies/Sociology, then studied at the New England Conservatory of Music, taking private lessons from percussionists in the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops Orchestras and from jazz drummer Alan Dawson. Tana has worked with many major artists, including Al Cohn, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Jim Hall, Jimmy Rowles, Zoot Sims, Cedar Walton, Charles Aznavour, Lena Horne, James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Wess, Ray Bryant and J.J. Johnson. His own groups include TanaReid, Asian American Jazz Trio, and Otonawa. A technically accomplished drummer, Tana’s wide range is hinted at by the musicians with whom he has worked. He regularly conducts workshops and clinics at colleges and universities, including Berklee College of Music, and is an adjunct professor at two colleges.
show less
Joining her will be Jeff Massanari, guitar, and Akira Tana, drums.
Jeff Massanari is one of the most in-demand jazz guitarists and has performed at Yoshi’s, Monterey Jazz Festival, Davies Symphony Hall and internationally in China, Japan, Sweden, Finland, Guam, and Italy at the Umbria Jazz Festival. In addition to his many public performances, he performs for corporate and private events, both solo and in ensembles. Massanari's CD’s have received excellent reviews in Guitar Player Magazine, Cadence, and kudo’s from such respected players as Mike Stern and Eric Johnson. He teaches privately as well as through UC Berkeley and at CJC.
Akira Tana hails from San Jose, where he taught himself to play drums well enough to play semi-professionally while still at college. He attended Harvard University where he gained a degree in East Asian Studies/Sociology, then studied at the New England Conservatory of Music, taking private lessons from percussionists in the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops Orchestras and from jazz drummer Alan Dawson. Tana has worked with many major artists, including Al Cohn, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Jim Hall, Jimmy Rowles, Zoot Sims, Cedar Walton, Charles Aznavour, Lena Horne, James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Wess, Ray Bryant and J.J. Johnson. His own groups include TanaReid, Asian American Jazz Trio, and Otonawa. A technically accomplished drummer, Tana’s wide range is hinted at by the musicians with whom he has worked. He regularly conducts workshops and clinics at colleges and universities, including Berklee College of Music, and is an adjunct professor at two colleges.
Akiko Tsuruga has been dubbed "Queen of the Organ" by saxophonist Lou Donaldson. Based in New York, but originally from Japan, Tsuruga started playing the organ at age three. She studied classical piano at Osaka Music College, then took jazz piano lessons with Zensho Otsuka. Soon after she started playing the Hammond B-3, influenced by the music of Jimmy Smith. A regular and crowd favorite at Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center, Tsuruga has headlined many well-known jazz venues, such as Blue Note, Smalls, the Green Mill in Chicago, Yoshi’s in Oakland, CA, and Pine Grill Reunion in Buffalo, NY. According to her mentor Lonnie Smith, “Akiko’s playing is like watching a flower blooming, a bird spreading her wings in the music world."
Joining her will be Jeff Massanari, guitar, and Akira Tana, drums.
Jeff Massanari is one of the most in-demand jazz guitarists and has performed at Yoshi’s, Monterey Jazz Festival, Davies Symphony Hall and internationally in China, Japan, Sweden, Finland, Guam, and Italy at the Umbria Jazz Festival. In addition to his many public performances, he performs for corporate and private events, both solo and in ensembles. Massanari's CD’s have received excellent reviews in Guitar Player Magazine, Cadence, and kudo’s from such respected players as Mike Stern and Eric Johnson. He teaches privately as well as through UC Berkeley and at CJC.
Akira Tana hails from San Jose, where he taught himself to play drums well enough to play semi-professionally while still at college. He attended Harvard University where he gained a degree in East Asian Studies/Sociology, then studied at the New England Conservatory of Music, taking private lessons from percussionists in the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops Orchestras and from jazz drummer Alan Dawson. Tana has worked with many major artists, including Al Cohn, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Jim Hall, Jimmy Rowles, Zoot Sims, Cedar Walton, Charles Aznavour, Lena Horne, James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Wess, Ray Bryant and J.J. Johnson. His own groups include TanaReid, Asian American Jazz Trio, and Otonawa. A technically accomplished drummer, Tana’s wide range is hinted at by the musicians with whom he has worked. He regularly conducts workshops and clinics at colleges and universities, including Berklee College of Music, and is an adjunct professor at two colleges.
read more
Joining her will be Jeff Massanari, guitar, and Akira Tana, drums.
Jeff Massanari is one of the most in-demand jazz guitarists and has performed at Yoshi’s, Monterey Jazz Festival, Davies Symphony Hall and internationally in China, Japan, Sweden, Finland, Guam, and Italy at the Umbria Jazz Festival. In addition to his many public performances, he performs for corporate and private events, both solo and in ensembles. Massanari's CD’s have received excellent reviews in Guitar Player Magazine, Cadence, and kudo’s from such respected players as Mike Stern and Eric Johnson. He teaches privately as well as through UC Berkeley and at CJC.
Akira Tana hails from San Jose, where he taught himself to play drums well enough to play semi-professionally while still at college. He attended Harvard University where he gained a degree in East Asian Studies/Sociology, then studied at the New England Conservatory of Music, taking private lessons from percussionists in the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops Orchestras and from jazz drummer Alan Dawson. Tana has worked with many major artists, including Al Cohn, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Jim Hall, Jimmy Rowles, Zoot Sims, Cedar Walton, Charles Aznavour, Lena Horne, James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Wess, Ray Bryant and J.J. Johnson. His own groups include TanaReid, Asian American Jazz Trio, and Otonawa. A technically accomplished drummer, Tana’s wide range is hinted at by the musicians with whom he has worked. He regularly conducts workshops and clinics at colleges and universities, including Berklee College of Music, and is an adjunct professor at two colleges.
show less
Date/Times:
14577 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070
The Best Events
Every Week in Your Inbox
From Our Sponsors
UPCOMING EVENTS
Great suggestion! We'll be in touch.
Event reviewed successfully.