Art Hirahara (born 1971) is an American jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career Hirahara started playing the piano at the age of four. He studied at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the California Institute of the Arts. While at Oberlin, he had jazz lessons with pianist Neal Creque. He has been part of the jazz scene in New York since 2003, after moving there from the San Francisco Bay Area.Chinen, Nate & Ratliff, Nate (January 5, 2015) "Albums from Art Hirahara and Death Grips". The New York Times.
Hirahara's debut album, Edge of This Earth, was released in 2000. In 2011 Posi-Tone Records released Hirahara's Noble Path, a trio album with Yoshi Waki (bass), and Dan Aran (drums).Micallef, Ken (August 2011) "Art Hirahara – Noble Path". Down Beat. p. 70. His next Posi-Tone album, Libations & Meditations from 2015, was a trio recording with bassist Linda Oh (bass) and drummer John Davis.Bilawsky, Dan (December 16, 2014) "Art Hirahara: Libations & Meditations (2014)". AllAboutJazz."Art Hirahara" . Posi-Tone Records. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
His album Central Line was released in January 2017.His music video for Brooklyn Express was the winner at the Audio Shoot International Video & Film Festival, the Queen City Film Festival, and the Raleigh Film and Art Festival, all in 2019.
Playing style According to Nate Chinen at The New York Times, Hirahara "brings a broad base of knowledge to his enterprise: electronic composition, West African music, Balinese gamelan, [and] multiple strains of the avant-garde".
Discography An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.
As leader/co-leader Year recordedYear releasedTitleLabelPersonnel/Notes2000Edge of This EarthArt HiraharaWith Bob Kenmotsu (tenor sax), Jeff Alkire (alto sax), Chuck MacKinnon (trumpet), Benjamin Rubin (bass), Jason Lewis (drums)20102011Noble PathPosi-ToneTrio, with Yoshi Waki (bass), Dan Aran (drums, percussion)20132015Libations & MeditationsPosi-ToneTrio, with Linda Oh (bass), John Davis (drums)20152017Central LinePosi-ToneMost tracks trio, with Linda May Han Oh (bass), Rudy Royston (drums); some tracks quartet, with Donny McCaslin (tenor sax) added20172018Sunward BoundPosi-ToneQuartet, with Donny McCaslin (tenor sax), Linda May Han Oh (bass), Rudy Royston (drums, percussion)20182020Balance PointPosi-ToneQuartet, with Melissa Aldana (tenor sax), Joe Martin (bass), Rudy Royston (drums)20202021Open SkyPosi-ToneMost tracks trio, with Boris Kozlov (bass), Rudy Royston (drums, percussion); three tracks quartet, with Nicole Glover (tenor sax, soprano sax) added; one track quartet with Behn Gillece (vibraphone) added20232024Good CompanyPosi-ToneTrio, with Ron Horton (trumpet), Paul Bollenback (guitar)
As sideman Year recordedLeaderTitleLabel1999*Hollywood WeddingCadence Jazz2012Tell Me2013*The Kung-Fu MastersPosi-Tone2013*OtonowaVegamusic2014*Odd Man OutPosi-Tone2014*RidePosi-Tone2016*Stars Across the OceanVegamusic2019*Vegamusic2019?Maximum EnjoymentPosi-Tone2021Songs from Other PlacesToken Productions2023Earth Wind and Wonder Volume 2(Self-released)2024Stick TogetherPosi-Tone
References