Festa Summer MUZA KAWASAKI 2025
Summer Night Jazz17:20-

Takana Miyamoto is a multi award winning, internationally acclaimed concert pianist, vocalist, composer, arranger and an educator. She has traveled and performed in over 30 countries worldwide, and currently bases herself in back Japan since 2013.

Takana's music go beyond genres ranging from jazz, pops, rock, film music, semi-classical to full orchestra. Her story-telling piano sound and music writing are featured on several albums and concerts of the multi-Grammy nominated jazz artists Kirk Whalum (sax), Nnenna Freelon (voc), Rene Marie (voc), Grammy winner Irene Cara, and Japanese greats such as Junko Yagami (winner of Women Songwriter's Hall of Fame 2022/USA), Chikuzen Sato, Lisa Ono, May J., Ayaka, Sarah Alainn, Miki Imai, Maki Oguro, Jun-ichi Inagaki, TOKU, SUGIZO (Luna Sea / X-Japan) , Billboard Classics series, and SNOOPY Christmas Orchestra, Ishidagumi among many others.

Born and raised in Yuki, Ibaraki, Japan, Takana's first music lesson was at age 4. She decided to make a career being a composer at age 14 and became deeply drawn to jazz piano, fascinated by the music of Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett and Dave Grusin while attending Berklee College of Music. She recorded her first jazz piano trio album in 1997, made the nationwide TV debut on BET 'Jazz Central', and started her international performing career as a concert pianist. After graduating with an honor and several awards, with a dual degree in Film Scoring and Jazz Composition, Takana relocated to New York city, where she won the First place in Randy Edman Piano Competition in 1998. Takana joined the world tour of the multi- Grammy nominated vocalist, Nnenna Freelon, and is featured as a pianist, arranger and musical director in 'Soulcall' which received 2 Grammy nominations in 2001.

Takana moved to Atlanta, GA in 2002, received the 'Rising Star' recognition from the International Jazz Society, and completed the master's program in Jazz Pedagogy at Georgia State University. She was awarded the US permanent residency based on her contribution in the music field. She was selected as one of 'GA's most powerful and influential women' (2002), Elite Asian from Asian American Community in GA, (2005) and 'GA's 25 most influential Asian'(2012), 'the Atlanta's best jazz act' (2005 and 2006) in Creative Loafing, and the honorary member for the Japan America Society of Georgia (2009).

As a composer, Takana has scored for several motion picture productions, theatre and TV shows, as well as for big bands and concert orchestras. (voted 'GA's most influential women' as a composer in 2003.)

Takana's latest release 'Wonderful World' (2020) received the Best Popular Album award from Music Penclub Japan. In 2023, She was appointed to be the hall advisor (in jazz genre) for the renowned concert hall 'MUZA Kawasaki Symphony Hall' in Kanagawa.

In 2012, he won the TV show Nodojiman The! World.

In 2013, he debuted with "Home" under Universal Music.

He performed at the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen for two consecutive years in 2013 and 2014.

A highly skilled artist who continues to captivate people with his powerful vocals and warm voice.

Miho Fukuhara is a celebrated Japanese singer known for her extraordinary talent and enduring influence in the music industry.

Miho's musical journey began at the age of 15 when she was scouted by Sony Music after a captivating performance on a TV show in her hometown of Sapporo.

By 18, she had released two Hokkaido-exclusive albums, achieving remarkable success with over one million copies sold. At 19, Miho made her major-label debut with the album Rainbow, which climbed to No. 2 on the Japanese charts and sold over 150,000 copies, marking the start of her national fame.

Over the years, Miho has performed at prestigious venues and events, including Bluenote (Japan/China), Billboard Live Japan, FujiRock, Summersonic, Green Room Festival, and Rising Sun. She has collaborated with an impressive roster of artists such as Leona Lewis, AI, Daichi Miura, Charlie Lim, Chara, Char, and K. Her distinctive voice has also been featured as a guest vocalist for iconic musicians like Nathan East, Bluey/Citrus Sun, Peabo Bryson, and Eric Martin. She even released an official collaboration with Elvis Presley!

Miho's talent has gained international acclaim, particularly for her involvement in the globally popular anime series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, which expanded her audience worldwide. She then released the theme song for the Nippon Ham Fighters baseball team called "La La La Fighters". Led by superstar Shohei Otani, the Ham Fighters would win the Japan Series in 2016 with "La La La Fighter" playing on. The song is still played at their games to this day.

In 2023, she starred as Effie Melody White in the Japanese production of the musical Dreamgirls, showcasing her versatility as a performer. That same year, she released the theme song for the Nippon Ham Fighters baseball team, which continues to be broadcast nationwide.

To commemorate her 15th anniversary in 2023, Miho embarked on a celebratory tour with performances in Tokyo, Osaka, and an exclusive show at Billboard Tokyo. She released a live album in 2024, capturing the energy and emotion of her milestone performances.

Miho Fukuhara remains an enduring force in the music world. She captivatingly captures audiences with her powerful voice and heartfelt performances. She continues to perform energetically, inspiring fans in Japan and beyond.

Tomoaki Baba was born in 1992 in Sapporo, Japan and began playing saxophone when he was 7 years old. He attended the renowned Berklee 5 week summer program in 2007, 2008, 2009 as a full-scholarship student.

He was selected for Berklee Jazz workshop directed by Terri Lyne Carrington in 2010. In 2011, Tomoaki was the recipient of a fullscholarship to the Berklee College of Music.

After graduating, Tomoaki moved to New York City and has become an active sideman and leader, performing with artists such as Terence Blanchard, Dayna Stephens, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jamie Callum, Sean Jones, Darren Barrett and Louis Cole.

Since Tomoaki moved to Japan in 2020, he has been passionated putting leader projects, and has released 2 albums "Story Teller" and "Gathering". Also Tomoaki has been organizing events named "BaBaBar" which is collaborations with musicians in all over the world like Mark Guiliana, Makaya McCraven, Marquis Hill, Ben Wendel.

Also Tomoaki is we known by performing for main character Dai Miyamoto (ts) from Japanese animation movie "Blue Giant"

Tomoaki released new album "ELECTRIC RIDER" from UNIVERSAL MUSIC in September, 2024.

He started playing electric bass at the age of 13 and started playing acoustic bass at the age of 16, attracted by the appeal of jazz.

In 2016, he moved to the U.S. and enrolled at the California Jazz Conservatory, where he studied with Jeff Denson and various other musicians, while performing mainly at live houses and studios around San Francisco.

He moved to NY in 2019 and return to Japan in 2021. Moves to Tokyo and performs with Terumasa Hino, Makoto Ozone, Gene Jackson, Takuya Kuroda, and Takeshi Ohbayashi.

In 2023, he appeared in the world premiere concert of Makoto Ozone's piano concerto "SUMIDA" (commissioned for the 50th anniversary of the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Eiji Oue).

Member of Makoto Ozone's new trio "Trinfinity".

Born in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Senri started playing drums at the age of 5. Drum legend, Kozo Suganuma, took Senri under his wing from the age of 8 and the rest is history.

Her drumming has garnered the attention of fans around the world with her YouTube videos amassing over 40 million views. She has been featured on world famous sites such as Drummerworld and Drumeo and is widely recognized as one of the world's top drummers.

In 2013, she released her 1st album "A La Mode" at the fresh age of just 16 years old. Her 2nd album "Buena Vista" quickly followed, with an appearance in Los Angeles and at the Blue Note Tokyo with guitar legend, Lee Ritenour.

With multiple albums and DVDs under her belt, Senri continues to inspire and perform with names such as Philippe Saisse, David Sanborn, and Marcus Miller. She spends much of her time in the studio and conducts live performances all over the world.