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Ayako Shirasaki

Recognized in her native Japan as a jazz prodigy (in the 5th grade she was already transcribing Bud Powell solos), Ayako Shirasaki while yet a pre-teen won many prizes including the Grand Prize at the Asakusa Jazz Competition. Her professional career began at the tender age of twelve when she began regular appearances at the "J" jazz club in Tokyo. Her extraordinary talent was soon recognized, and she was featured in Swing Journal.

Extremely versatile, Ayako majored in classical music at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and performed as a classical pianist for several years after graduation. But the love of the jazz idiom instilled by her father from the age of five won out, and Ayako soon returned to her first love, winning in 1995 second prize in the prestigious First Annual Heineken Jazz Competition.

In 1997 Ayako moved to New York City where she currently resides. Her talent won her a scholarship in the masters program at the Manhattan School of Music where she studied performance with such noted teachers as Kenny Barron and Ted Rosenthal and composition with Mike Abene.

Ayako is fast making a name for herself as one of the most exciting and inventive pianists on the New York jazz scene. She has been heard at the Blue Note, The Kitano, Birdland, Cobi's Place, Dizzy's Club, Sugar Hill Bistro, Swing 46, Copeland's, Cleopatra's Needle, and Kavehaz. Her unique style and strong rhythmic sense have made her much in demand. She has played with Lewis Nash, Kalil Madi, John Benitez, Steve Kirby, Kengo Nakamura, Kenny Garrett, Clarence Penn, Kit McLure and Harold Ousley.

Ayako was invited to perform in Aspen, CO as a member of the 2003 Jazz Aspen Snowmass Emerging Artist Program.

Ayako released two self-produced CDs in 2002, "Live in New York" with her trio and "The Duo Live" with vibraphonist Tim Collins.

In August 2003, her major debut CD "Existence" (Lewis Nash on drums, Marco Panascia on bass) was released in Japan.

Ayako is a two time finalist in the Great American Jazz Piano Competition in 2004 and 2005 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Her second major CD "Musically Yours" was released in June, 2005. In April 2006, Ayako's long-waited solo piano album "Home Alone" was released.

Ayako was a guest on Marian McPartland’s radio show “Piano Jazz,” which was broadcast in the Fall of 2006 on NPR.

In March 2009, Ayako was invited to the 1st "International Jazz Solo Piano Festival" in Germany, and her Europe debut was a big success, followed by a tour in Northern Germany in fall.

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5
Album Review

Ayako Shirasaki: Some Other Time

Read "Some Other Time" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but the creator also has a hell of a lot to do with it when it comes to the arts. Every musical performance leaves certain items open for debate for and from those on the receiving end, but some things remain irrefutable because of those on the giving side. In the case of pianist Ayako Shirasaki, the undeniable truth(s) surround her dexterous handiwork on the 88s, melodic clarity, and arranging ingenuity, ...

3
Album Review

Ayako Shirasaki: Some Other Time

Read "Some Other Time" reviewed by Jeff Winbush


There is a certain sublime pleasure in the simplicity of the trio playing piano, bass and drums. The Ayako Shirasaki trio's approach is straightforward and straight ahead jazz at it's best. Blending both traditional and original compositions, Shirasaki is a nimble and facile pianist who knows how to swing like Bud Powell, one of her musical inspirations as well as bop with the best of 'em.Where you listen is as important as what you listen to, and Some ...

319
Album Review

Ayako Shirasaki: Falling Leaves - Live In Hamburg

Read "Falling Leaves - Live In Hamburg" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Energy is one of the most important and elusive elements in jazz. Some people foolishly equate energy with speed or skill, but the two aren't necessarily linked. Bill Evans didn't sprint around the keyboard, but his music created a cocoon of energy that enveloped an audience in a way that few pianists could ever emulate. Energy comes from the way an artist connects to a song and the way they can take an audience, whether in the room or listening ...

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1

Recording

Pianist Ayako Shirasaki Releases New Trio CD "Some Other Time"

Pianist Ayako Shirasaki Releases New Trio CD "Some Other Time"

Source: Jan Matthies Music Management

Jazz pianist Ayako Shirasaki residing in NY, USA released her new trio CD Some Other Time on August 28, 2013 on Jan Matthies Records (JMR 201301). On Some Other Time Ayako combines the hard swinging bebop language of Bud Powell with the sophisticated harmonic elegance of Bill Evans, but with a brilliant creativity all her own and one guiding theme: melody! These are songs without words:Sunrise (Ayako Shirasaki)3 Steps Forward (Ayako Shirasaki)Yosaku-与作 (Kiminori Nanasawa)Some Other Time (Leonard Bernstein)Oleo (Sonny Rollins)April ...

1

Event

A Jazz Piano Celebration, April 4, 2013: Alan Broadbent, Ayako Shirasaki, Boris Netsvetaev, Wolfgang Schlüter Quartet, Hammer Klavier Trio

A Jazz Piano Celebration, April 4, 2013: Alan Broadbent, Ayako Shirasaki, Boris Netsvetaev, Wolfgang Schlüter Quartet, Hammer Klavier Trio

Source: Jan Matthies Music Management

Jan Matthies Music Management is celebrating its 5th birthday, dedicating the evening to Solo Jazz Piano and Trio. The artists of Jan Matthies Music Management all come together at the prestigious Laeiszhalle in Hamburg, Germany. 20.00 – 20.30 Alan Broadbent, solo & trio “one of the greatest living jazz pianists" – The Los Angeles Times about the 2-time Grammy winner. In 2010 he received another Grammy nomination alongside Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis und Hank Jones for »Best Improvised ...

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Performance / Tour

Jazz Pianist Ayako Shirasaki: Japan Tour Dates: April 2012

Jazz Pianist Ayako Shirasaki: Japan Tour Dates: April 2012

Source: Jan Matthies Music Management

Ayako Shirasaki presents her newest CD Falling Leaves—Live in Hamburg to her home audience all over Japan in April 2012. Falling Leaves really garnered the attention of the media: “Shirasaki is the complete package, possessing commanding technique that comes from a classical foundation but works in complete service of jazz, and she marries her heart and head with her hands throughout Falling Leaves—Live In Hamburg." —-Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz “Shirasaki demonstrates substantial range... excellent concert..." —Don Lerman, Cadence “Shirasaki's ...

129

Performance / Tour

Ayako Shirasaki Live on Tour in Germany & Switzerland, November 2011

Ayako Shirasaki Live on Tour in Germany & Switzerland, November 2011

Source: Jan Matthies Music Management

Experience Ayako Shirasaki, a Japanese jazz pianist now living in New York, live on tour November 17 -27, 2011 in Germany and Switzerland. A video for the tour announcement has been created at YouTube\ The latest CD of Ayako Shirasaki, “Falling Leaves—Live in Hamburg," made it into the “Best of 2010" lists by journalists of the Jazz Journalists Association. Ayako has not only garnered attention from the German media, the magazine Jazzthetik wrote that, ..."she shows that solo jazz piano ...

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Contest

Jazz Pianist Ayako Shirasaki launches new website with a CD giveaway

Jazz Pianist Ayako Shirasaki launches new website with a CD giveaway

Source: Jan Matthies Music Management

Frequent finalist in major U.S. jazz piano competitions and internationally performing jazz pianist Ayako Shirasaki has launched her new website, ayakoshirasaki.com. The website features everything Ayako related. Biography, news, schedule, discography, video and media. Fans of her music can now listen to tracks in the site-wide music player as well as checking the latest news about her performances and upcoming releases. According to the ever changing Internet, the new website now also offers direct links to Facebook, Twitter etc. Visitors ...

149

Recording

Ayako Shirasaki: Falling Leaves

Ayako Shirasaki: Falling Leaves

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

On the cover of her new album, pianist Ayako Shirasaki looks as demure and as delicate as a cherry blossom. But looks can be deceiving, especially in jazz. On Falling Leaves: Live in Hamburg, Ayako plays solo piano with a powerful attack and enormous physical strength that leaves you enchanted and breathless. As for the demure thing—Ayako shatters that misconception by boldly taking on some tough jazz pieces on this album, her fourth CD. Standards range from Charlie Parker's Confirmation ...

77

Recording

Win The New Ayako Shirasaki CD Set For Release September 7th

Win The New Ayako Shirasaki CD Set For Release September 7th

Source: Jan Matthies Music Management

Falling Leaves—Live in Hamburg, the stunning new solo jazz piano album from frequent finalist in major U.S. jazz piano competitions Ayako Shirasaki, will be released by Jan Matthies Records on September 7, 2010. Shirasaki has been sharing her dramatic improvisational approach with listeners worldwide for the past 10 years, Falling Leaves—Live in Hamburg is her 4th album. The CD has been recorded on October 17, 2009 at the Laeiszhalle Hamburg. The German Jazz Magazine Jazzthetik had this to say about ...

124

Performance / Tour

Jazz Pianist Ayako Shirasaki: Japan Tour Dates 2010

Jazz Pianist Ayako Shirasaki: Japan Tour Dates 2010

Source: Jan Matthies Music Management

New York based Ayako Shirasaki is not moving back to Japan full time as hoped for the fans by the Japan Times, but playing a tour giving the fans “improvisation at the highest level" as lately being put by a German Jazz Magazine.

Although playing most gigs as Piano Trio she'll also perform some solo piano pieces as reminiscence to the International Jazz Solo Piano Festival played at the same time in 2009.

In addition she presents the “Best of" ...

163

Performance / Tour

Pianist Ayako Shirasaki Performs at 1st International Jazz Solo Piano Festival

Pianist Ayako Shirasaki Performs at 1st International Jazz Solo Piano Festival

Source: Michael Ricci

The German Jazz Magazine JAZZTHETIK covered New York based Jazz Pianist Ayako Shirasaki's solo and trio performance at the 1st International Jazz Solo Piano Festival 2009 in Hamburg. From page 66 in their December 2009 issue:

By Nabil Atassi:

“Improvisation, interpretation or composition? This question arises from the possibility of being able to experience the jazz pianist Ayako Shirasaki on two consecutive evenings with completely different formations. The conditions of the two concerts in Hamburg could not be more different: ...

194

Performance / Tour

Pianist Ayako Shirasaki To Perform In Peekskill, Ny

Pianist Ayako Shirasaki To Perform In Peekskill, Ny

Source: All About Jazz


"Just a few notes out of Ayako Shirasaki’s piano are enough to realize you are listening to a very special musician. With her amazing combination of feeling, inventiveness and impressive virtuosity, Ayako is one of those musicians that make an unforgettable impression."
- jazztimes.com (Wilbert Sostre)- November 2010 about her new CD "Falling Leaves - Live in Hamburg"

"Falling Leaves is not your typical solo piano outing, it contains several magical moments listeners will turn to often."
- eJazzNews.com - October 2010 about her new CD "Falling Leaves - Live in Hamburg"

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Primary Instrument

Piano

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Classic, Jazz, Popular Theory, Improvisation, etc.

Also vocal accompanying is available.

All ages & levels welcome! Lessons may be given at my studio or at the student's home.

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Some Other Time

Jan Matthies Records
2013

buy

Falling Leaves - Live...

Jan Matthies Records
2011

buy

Gone With The Piggies

Consolidated Artists Productions
2002

buy

Falling Leaves

From: Falling Leaves - Live In Hamburg
By Ayako Shirasaki

Videos

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