was a Japanese jazz organist, pianist, and composer from Osaka.
Biography Tsuruga was born in Osaka on 1 September 1967, the oldest of the three children of Hiroko Tsuruga ( Kiyonaga) and Koji Tsuruga. Her parents bought her a small organ when she was three, and she started learning to play standards. In high school, she listened to Hammond B3 players, including Jimmy Smith, Charles Earland, Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff, and Dr. Lonnie Smith.A 1988 graduate of the Osaka College of Music, she moved to New York City in 2001, after which she began taking lessons from Dr. Lonnie Smith.
In addition to her solo work, she played as a sideman in various groups in New York. She had accompanied alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson since 2007.
Tsuruga died on 13 September, 2025, in Brooklyn, New York, at the age of 58. According to her husband, trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, Tsuruga died after a short period of terminal illness. She is survived by her mother, two brothers, and husband.
Discography Sources: Recording dateTitleLabelRelease yearNotes / PersonnelHarlem DreamsM&I Jazz (MYCJ-30264)2006Tsuruga (Hammond B3 organ), Frank Wess (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone), Satoshi Inoue (guitar), Grady Tate (drums)Sweet and Funky18th & Vine (18V 1052; US) / M&I (MYCJ30405; Japan)2007Tsuruga (Hammond B3 organ), Eric Johnson (guitar), Vince Ector (drums), Wilson "Chembo" Corniel (percussion)St. Louis BluesMojo (XQCM-1302; Japan)2007Tsuruga (Hammond B3 organ), Houston Person (tenor saxophone), Eric Johnson (guitar), Bernard Purdie (drums), Vince Ector (drums)NYC SerenadeMojo (XQCM-1313; Japan)2008With Jimmy CobbOriental Express18th & Vine (18V 1057; US)2009Tsuruga (Hammond B3 organ), Jerry Weldon (tenor saxophone), Eric Johnson (guitar), Rudy Petschauer (drums), Wilson "Chembo" Corniel (percussion)SakuraAmerican Showplace Music (ASM-5089; US)2011Tsuruga (Hammond B3 organ), Joe Magnarelli (trumpet, flugelhorn), Jerry Weldon (tenor saxophone), Bob DeVos (guitar), Rudy Petschauer (drums)CommencementAT (ATM 1001; US) / Somethin' Cool (DIW) (SCOL 1004; Japan)2014Tsuruga (Hammond B3 organ), John Hart (guitar), Jeff Hamilton (drums)Pelham ParkwayKevin Golden Productions2016As Kevin Golden Trio; Kevin Golden (guitar), Tsuruga (Hammond B3 organ), Peter Grant (drums)So Cute, So BadAT (ATM 1002; US) / Somethin' Cool (DIW) (SCOL 1019; Japan)2017Tsuruga (Hammond B3 organ), Graham Dechter (guitar), Jeff Hamilton (drums)Equal TimeCapri (CAP 74160; US)2019Tsuruga (organ), Jeff Hamilton (drums), Graham Dechter (guitar)Pride & JoyPosi-Tone (PR8193)2019With Lioness (all-female group); Alexa Tarantino (alto saxophone), Jenny Hill (tenor saxophone), Lauren Sevian (baritone saxophone), Tsuruga (organ), Amanda Monaco (guitar), Allison Miller (drums)Beyond NostalgiaSteepleChase (SCCD 31956)2024Tsuruga (Hammond B3 organ), Joe Magnarelli (trumpet), Jerry Weldon (tenor saxophone), Ed Cherry (guitar), Byron Landham (drums)Coast to CoastR.M.I. (RMICD10202)2025As the Jeff Hamilton Organ Trio; Steve Kovalcheck (guitar), Tsuruga (organ), Jeff Hamilton (drums)
"—" denotes unknown dates.
See also Hammond organ Organ trio
References
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