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Junko Onishi

Junko Onishi - pianist Debuting as a recognized young virtuoso, Junko Onishi, made a splash on the New York scene after coming out of Berklee in 1989, and by 1993 had recorded with some of the top tier jazz men primarily Kenny Garrett and had a solid effort out as leader with her debut “Cruisin.” Ms. Onishi by 1994 did a double set recording “Live At The Village Vanguard,” (Blue Note) which was well received and showed what she is capable of in a live setting at a legendary venue. She was backed on these sessions by bassist Reginald Veal and drummer Herlin Riley. In 1995 she released “Piano Quintet Suite,” again for Blue Note in which she was accompanied by trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, alto sax man Elichi Hayashi, bassist Rodney Whitaker, and drummer Tony Rabeson. She then put out a live effort for EMI in 1996, and then “Best,” for the Sonet label in 1998. Onishi took a surprise turn in material in 1999 when she did covers of pop and rock tunes in her project entitled “Fragile,” a dramatic departure from her hard bop and mainstream influences.


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304
Album Review

Junko Onishi: Baroque

Read "Baroque" reviewed by Keith Henry Brown


The world has been a slightly less happy place since Junko Onishi's last record. After establishing herself as one of the finest young jazz pianists around with her debut, Wow (EMI, 1993), Onishi released a string of fine Blue Note recordings: Live At The Village Vanguard Volume 1 and Volume 2 (both 1994); the superb Cruisin' (1994), featuring her majestic “Eulogia"; and Piano Quintet Suite (1995).With Fragile (Blue Note, 1999)--a virtual rock covers album that took ...

113
Album Review

Junko Onishi: Fragile

Read "Fragile" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Combining a variety of keyboard models and styles with a number of percussionists and grooved electric bass, the quickly-recorded Fragile is ironically quite pliable and coarse at times, wielding an oft-unwieldy arsenal of moods and sounds which occasionally (and admittedly) lose their sense of form and function. Though “Complexions" was wrapped after just one take, it is perhaps the most “standard" and clean track of the seven. On the contrary, “BWV" is a wild and at times bangy keyboard and ...

203
Album Review

Junko Onishi: Fragile

Read "Fragile" reviewed by David Adler


I’m slightly ashamed to say that before I put on this CD, I had never before heard Junko Onishi play. Perhaps that’s a testament to the difficulty female jazz musicians have being heard and taken seriously. One look at Onishi’s credentials and you know she’s a contender, having occupied the piano chair for Jessie Davis, Gary Thomas, Joe Henderson, Jackie McLean, and Joe Lovano. She recorded a trio album some years back with Billy Higgins and Rodney Whitaker. Fragile is ...

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99

Performance / Tour

Japanese Jazz Piano Sensation Junko Onishi To Tour U.S. In Support Of Critically-Acclaimed Cd, “Baroque”

Japanese Jazz Piano Sensation Junko Onishi To Tour U.S. In Support Of Critically-Acclaimed Cd, “Baroque”

Source: Muse Media

"Onishi's luxurious, nearly 20-minute “The Threepenny Opera" features exemplary solos from most of the members, but it's Onishi who delivers the song's most revealing solo, marked with strides, glissandos, tremolos and other animated features."—Jazz Times “Baroque's expansiveness and variety make for what could be Onishi's most purely entertaining CD to date."—All About Jazz “Pianist Junko Onishi offers her fans a stunning program of compositions that are as versatile as the musical spectrum... BAROQUE is an exceptional recording that is sure ...

367

Recording

Japanese Pianist Junko Onishi to release "Baroque" on September 14th

Japanese Pianist Junko Onishi to release "Baroque" on September 14th

Source: Muse Media

JAPANESE JAZZ PIANO SENSATION JUNKO ONISHI MAKES VERVE DEBUT WITH “BAROQUE" SEPTEMBER 14th CD features an all-star ensemble including Nicholas Payton, Wycliffe Gordon and James Carter “It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that blues and swing," states Junko Onishi, one of Japan's most prominent jazz pianists. And swing she does on her Verve debut, Baroque, set for release September 14th. “Since she began her recording career in 1992, Junko Onishi has distinguished herself as a forceful, original ...

269

Festival

Jazzfest Berlin '09: Japanese Pianist Junko Onishi Replaces Robert Glasper

Jazzfest Berlin '09: Japanese Pianist Junko Onishi Replaces Robert Glasper

Source: Michael Ricci

Japanese Pianist Junko Onishi replaces Robert Glasper: Robert Glasper forced to cancel his JazzFest Berlin '09 concert on short notice

Blue Note pianist Robert Glasper has been obliged to cancel his concert at JazzFest Berlin '09 on short notice. Substituting for him is pianist Junko Onishi (Blue Note Japan), who will perform with bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Gene Jackson on November 6th at 5:30 p.m. at the Glass Courtyard of Jewish Museum Berlin. Her most recent Musical Moments was ...

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Baroque

Verve Music Group
2010

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Fragile

Blue Note Records
2003

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Fragile

Blue Note Records
1999

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