is a Japanese American jazz pianist. In particular, he is known for his work with the Airto Moreira/Flora Purim group and in Miles Davis's band in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
He was born in Japan, but lived in Cleveland, Ohio, for part of his childhood, until he moved back to Japan at the age of 12. He later returned to the United States at 22. He is associated with the Californian jazz scene at present. He is the Chancellor Professor of Music at the University of California, Irvine.
Discography As leader/co-leader Year recordedTitleLabelYear releasedNotes1983Symphonic Fusion – The EarthNippon Columbia1983Soundtrack1991PlayroomMoo1992Some tracks trio, with Bob Harrison and John Patitucci (bass; separately), Tom Brechtlein (drums); most tracks quartet, with Rick Margitza (tenor sax, soprano sax) added1991Sound CirclePaddle Wheel1992As The Asian American Jazz Trio; with Rufus Reid (bass), Akira Tana (drums)1994?Mirror PuzzleAudioquest1994Quartet, with Rick Margitza (tenor sax, soprano sax), Charles Fambrough (bass), Willie Jones III (drums)Valley-Entertainment.com1998New Smiles and Traveled MilesGroove Note2000Trio, with Darek Oleszkiewicz (bass), Joe LaBarbera (drums)1999ViewpointVideo Arts2000Trio2001PaletteVideo Arts2001Some tracks trio, with Tomokazu Sugimoto (bass), Tamaya Honda (drums); some tracks trio with Nobuyoshi Ino (bass), Hiroshi Murakami (drums); some tracks quartet, with Kousuke Mine (tenor sax, bass clarinet) added2002Grand New TouchVideo Arts2003Duo, with Fumio Karashima (piano)2003A Hint of YouVideo Arts2003Trio, with Tomokazu Sugimoto (bass), Tamaya Honda (drums)2003Modern IvoryVideo Arts2004Trio, with Tomokazu Sugimoto (bass), Tamaya Honda (drums)2005Live – Shapes in SoundVideo Arts2006Trio, with Tomokazu Sugimoto (bass), Tamaya Honda (drums); in concert2007Liquid BlueTime & Style2007Trio, with Tomokazu Sugimoto (bass), Tamaya Honda (drums)2014CirclepointTime & Style2014Trio, with Shunya Wakai (bass), Tamaya Honda (drums)2016Contrast & FormTime & Style2016Trio, with Shunya Wakai (bass), Tamaya Honda (drums)2017Aqua PuzzleTime & Style2018Trio, with Shunya Wakai (bass), Tamaya Honda (drums)
As sideman With Miles Davis Dingo with Michel Legrand (Warner Bros., 1991) – soundtrack Miles in Paris (Warner Bros., 1991) – live recorded in 1989 Live Around the World (Warner Bros., 1996) – live recorded in 1988–91
With Frank Gambale Brave New Guitar (Legato, 1985) A Present for the Future (Legato, 1987) Live! (Legato, 1989) – live recorded in 1988 Thunder from Down Under (Victor, 1990) – recorded in 1989 Note Worker (Victor, 1991)
With Allan Holdsworth Frankfurt '86 (Live, 2020)[CD & DVD-Video]
With Gary Lefebvre Gary Lefebvre Quartet (Discovery Records, 1982) Another Time, Another Place (Figueroa Records, 1986)
With Al di Meola Tirami Su (Manhattan, 1987) Live at Montreal International Jazz Festival 88 (Vap, 2002)[DVD-Video] – live recorded in 1988 at Montreal International Jazz Festival
With James Newton Suite for Frida Kahlo (AudioQuest Music, 1994)
With Stanley Turrentine Do You Have Any Sugar? (Concord Vista, 1999)
References
External links Official Website (Japanese) Billboard bio Faculty bio UCI Allmusic