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Primary Instrument: Piano
about Nori Ochiai
Considered by many to be a fine modern jazz pianist, Nori Ochiai worked regularly as both a leader and sideman in local clubs in Tokyo where he was born and raised. He also did arranging for numerous pop artists, film scores and worked as a cellist for music studios, as well.
He moved to New York in 2005 and attended The New School University Jazz and Contemporary Music Program where he studied piano with Junior Mance, Aaron Goldberg, Hal Galper, Reggie Workman, Andrew Cyrille, Michael Karn, Charles Tolliver, Cecil Bridgewater. He also studied ensemble with Joanne Brackeen, Hal Galper, Reggie Workman, Andrew Cyrille, Michael Karn, Charles Tolliver, Cecil Bridgewater and more.
Nori Ochiai has performed in many of New York City’s top jazz venues including The Knickerbocker Bar and Grill,Sweet Rhythm, Cleopatra's Needle, Garage Restaurant & Cafe, St. Nick's Pub, Cachaca Jazz, Sugar Bar, Hiro Ballroom, The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and the Forest Hills Art Festival.
He has also recorded or performed with artists such as Jose James, Kenneth Kamal Scott, David “Happy” Williams, Willie Jones III, Paul West, Vincent Herring, Stafford Hunter, Barry Cooper, Lawrence Lo Leathers, Ulysses Owens, Phil Stewart, Ron Jackson, Dan Greenblatt,, Tommy Morimoto, Evan Schwam, Joseph Edward Perez, Ariel Alejandro Dlp, Michael O'Brien, Aronda Way, Brianna Thomas, Cornelius Bates, Ras Karbi, Jotan Afanador, Yazband, Since When?, Isao Suzuki, Akira Omori, Yoshio Otomo, Isao Fukui, Marvie Asakura, Jun Saito, Mayu Saeki, Carol Yamazaki, Marica Hiraga, Shoko Amano and many others.
Currently he has also been working as an accompanist at The New School and Mannes College and performs with various bands and singers as well as his own group in New York.
