Performers: Emme & Akihito Obama, Nobuko Miyazaki & Emi Inaba Duo
Date: Sunday, August 26, 2012, Open: 6:30PM / Show: 6:45PM
Venue: Michiko Rehearsal Studios – Stage Room
Address: 149 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036 (btwn 6th and 7th Aves.) view map
Phone: (212) 302-4011
Admission: $20.00 *Reservation required*
Reservations / Inquiries: contact at marcreation.com / 917-400-9362
A music showcase, featuring two duos – four excellent Japanese musicians – with Japanese traditional music instruments, shakuhachi and shinobue, will be presented by Mar Creation, Inc. at an intimate room, Michiko Rehearsal Studios on Sunday, the 26th of August. Performing artists are Emme (vocal) & Akihito Obama (Shakuhachi), Nobuko Miyazaki (Shinobue, Flute) & Emi Inaba (piano). Reservation required.
Artists Bio;
Nobuko Miyazaki and Emi Inaba’s Duo
Nobuko Miyazaki and Emi Inaba’s Duo was formed in 2004 and has since delighted audiences around the world. The duo effortlessly brings forth their unique voices as composers and showcases their versatility as performers. The duo is currently recording their debut album.
A flutist, shinobue (Japanese flute) player, and composer, Nobuko Miyazaki embraces many styles including classical, jazz, Japanese, Arabic, and Brazilian music. Her playing has been described as “unique, powerful, and sensitive.” (The Public Review) She has performed throughout Europe, Japan, and the United States, making appearances at BBC Proms in the Park and as a soloist at Carnegie Hall. In New York, she performs with Bassam Saba and the New York Arabic Orchestra, Taiko Masala, Sonny Ochiai Ensemble (classical Okinawan music), and Songs of Jupiter. As a composer, Nobu has written works for theatre and chamber ensembles, often including instruments from around the world such as the tabla, ‘oud, shinobue, and taiko. Originally from Chigasaki, Japan, Nobu completed her undergraduate studies in flute performance with Thomas Robertello and Kate Lukas at Indiana University, Bloomington and also holds a Masters in Music in ethnomusicology from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, UK.
International pianist / composer Emi Inaba first mesmerized the jazz community with her breathtaking piece and piano performance on Jazz Revelation Records album “Dedication”. Emi is widely becoming acknowledged as one of the most versatile and gifted young stars on the scene. Emi has won numerous national piano competitions and prestigious awards both in Japan and U.S., including the Berklee College of Music’s prestigious “Carla Bley Award” for her Jazz Orchestra, the Emmanuel Zambelli Piano Competition, and the Meet the Composer Grant for the premiere of her contemporary piece. Her composition has recently been commissioned for New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Born in Sapporo, Japan, she studied Jazz Composition at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. She continues to inspire audience with her extraordinary talent to move across genres.
Nobuko Miyazaki
Emi Inaba
Emme
“Nagauta” the most popular music of Edo period revives with Emme’s gracious voice. It is the new generation “World Music” from Japan .
Emme started to learn Japanese traditional dancing at the age of three, and recieved her master’s degree at sixteen. After graduating junior college, she aimed to become a professional singer and built her carrier as a background vocalist for the most popular and talented Japanese singers such as EPO, Yumi Matsutoya, Miki Imai, MISIA, Takuro Yoshida, etc in their concerts and recordings.
In 1995, Emme started to learn Nagauta, the Japanese traditional story telling song, and studied at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. And now she has established her own new genre which is a fusion of her experience and Japanese traditions.
Her first album released in April 2002 is entitled ” Yoy Asa “, second album ” Emme ” released in October 2004, third album ” Inochi no chi ” is released in July 2008.
Her latest album ” Otona no Komoriuta ” is released July 2012.
Apart from her concerts activities, Emme organizes various workshops for vocal exercises. Her wish is to make people discover his voice and enjoy vocalization.
Listen to Emme – 風の道（Kaze-no-Michi）
Akihito Obama／Shakuhachi [vertical bamboo flute]
Born in Kagawa Prefecture in 1975, Obama studied various styles of shakuhachi under leading musicians such as Toshimitsu Ishikawa (traditional shakuhachi) and Satoshi Yoneya (minyo [folk music] shakuhachi). After graduating from the NHK Hogaku Gino-sha Ikusei-kai, the premier one year course for hogaku musicians aspiring to be professional performers, Obama won the Second Annual Shakuhachi Newcomer Competition (2000).
In recent years, Obama draws on his musical experiences and incorporates these influences into his own music. In 2004, Obama recorded his first solo shakuhachi album Fukoku [Wind Carvings] featuring improvised works. During the following year, he undertook a walking pilgrimage concert tour to the eighty-eight temples of Shikoku Island and revealed his second album Nami to Tsubaki to [Waves and Camellias and] consisting of his original compositions. Last year, Obama was invited to the Swedish International Festival of Wind Music holding solo concerts and appearing with local musicians. This was followed by a month long tour of Europe. Obama released visions. this year collaborating with electronic music artist hajimeinoue.
Obama is also involved with various ensembles including the minyo based Takio Band. He has a hectic national concert schedule in addition to international tours throughout various countries in North America, Europe, Africa, Oceania and Asia.
Obama has developed and refined his technique by performing in venues from small clubs to large concert halls with artists playing hogaku instruments and Western instruments. This has allowed him to penetrate traditional barriers and discover his own distinct sound.
