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Kayo Hiraki

Kayo Hiraki is one of the few Japanese jazz musicians established on New York City's jazz scene, where she plays with some of the best musicians in the world. After playing a session with her, the legendary bassist Ron Carter said: "Rarely have I heard a musician as gifted as Ms. Hiraki. To hear her play is to experience the joy of her creative ability and the depth of her experience as a talented performer." A child prodigy, Kayo attended Kunitachi Music College and won recognition in Japan as a composer, arranger and performer before taking on the Big Apple. She has released 6 CDs representing her unique interpretation of jazz standards and original compositions.

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3
Album Review

Kayo Hiraki: Manhattan Sunset

Read "Manhattan Sunset" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


Like a fine lemon sorbet, Manhattan Sunset, the sixth album from pianist and veteran NY presence Kayo Hiraki, is that refreshing, necessary pause between courses that enables you to fully enjoy the vast jazz menu. With an airy, elegant touch, tangible zeal and seasoned respect for her art, Hiraki leads her tried-and-true sidemen, bassist Patrick O'Leary, drummer Eric Halvorson and guests saxophonist Nick Hempton, acclaimed guitarist Russell Malone and Italian harmonica player Giuseppi Millici (whose playing flows like ...

193
Album Review

Kayo: I Wish You Love

Read "I Wish You Love" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Should jazz challenge conventions or uphold traditions? While opinions vary on this matter, pianist Kayo Hiraki leans toward the latter school of thought on this all-standards affair. As the daughter of a classical pianist, Hiraki had music flowing through her veins at birth and proved to be a child piano prodigy. She honed her craft at the renowned Kunitachi Music College in Japan, came stateside in 1988 and developed her artistry through studies with the great Barry Harris and Larry ...

323
Album Review

Kayo Hiraki: I Wish You Love

Read "I Wish You Love" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Japanese pianist Kayo Hiraki is in search of her audience. She has self-released a smart set of standards in the trio format that is garnering attention from all quarters of the jazz writing world. A ballad specialist, to be sure, Hiraki resists the modern impulse to deconstruct, keeping the tunes intact and in congress with the composers' intentions. To have been composed by a horn player, Lee Morgan's balladic “Ceora" translates well to the standard jazz piano ...

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"One of the best recorded trio performances of this immortal tune ["Ceora" in I Wish You Love]... Kayo and her group clearly deserve to be categorized as exceptional." —Edward Blanco, All About Jazz

"Hiraki's style of keeping the music tight while building up anticipation of the climax is quite beautiful... great talent as a composer." —Fukushima Minpo News Paper, Japan

"Pianist Kayo Hiraki leads a flexible bop trio with Patrick O’Leary/b and Eric Halvorson along with a handful of guests through some well composed originals and a few covers... Sublime swing." —George W. Harris, JAZZ WEEKLY

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Manhattan Sunset

Edwards Records
2018

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I Wish You Love

Self Produced
2011

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Videos

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