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Tuesday, December 19, 2023

The Beauty of Song, Part Ten: Keiko Matsui

Keiko Matsui is proof that the influence of American jazz is far and wide.   

She was born and raised in Japan and took up classical piano as a littel girl, only to discover jazz in her early teens, which led her to compose her own music. 

She recorded her 1987 debut solo album  A Drop of Water on the Passport label, which led to her signing with a big label MCA.  On that label she released her LPs No Borders and Under Northern Lights.  Ms. Matsui scored big time with her 1995 album Sapphire, which topped the Billboard  contemporary jazz chart. 

Ms. Matsui  has worked with several different contemporary jazz artists such as Richard Bona, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Bob James.  Her music combines Western and Eastern influences.

Not a singer, no, but her work has still been very successful.

Her most recent album as of this writing is Euphoria, released in 2023.

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