Yutaka Shiina (椎名 豊, Shiina Yutaka, born 23 September 1964) is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Yutaka Shiina | |
---|---|
Birth name | Yutaka Shiina (椎名 豊, Shiina Yutaka) |
Born | Tokyo, Japan | 23 September 1964
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
Instrument | Piano |
Website | yutakashiina.com |
Early life
editShiina was born in Tokyo on 23 September 1964.[1] He had piano lessons from the age of three.[1] From 1982 he studied composition at the Kunitachi College of Music; while still a student, he became a professional jazz pianist.[1]
Later life and career
editShiina joined the bands of Lionel Hampton and Vincent Herring for their 1989 tours of Japan.[1] In the following year he became part of Roy Hargrove's quartet.[1] Shiina was a founding member of the Jazz Networks, and led this band from 1992.[1] He formed his own trio in 1994, initially with bassist Reginald Veal and drummer Masahiko Osaka.[1] This band recorded, as did later versions that contained Veal and Herlin Riley, then Christian McBride and Clarence Penn.[1]
In 1996 the pianist toured Japan with trumpeter Duško Gojković and Europe with drummer Elvin Jones' Jazz Machine.[1] In 2007 Shiina co-led a tour of the UK with trumpeter Damon Brown.[2] The two played together in the UK again, under the leadership of Brown and saxophonist Steve Grossman, in 2012.[3]
Playing style
editJohn Fordham of The Guardian compared Shiina with pianist Wynton Kelly and commented that Shiina "keeps his virtuosity throttled back and maintains a hip expressiveness by letting insinuations, nuances and implied swing, and the subtle tick of the rhythm section do much of the work."[2]
Discography
editAn asterisk (*) after the year indicates that it is the year of release.
As leader/co-leader
editYear recorded | Title | Label | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1993 | Movin' Forces | BMG | Trio, with Reginald Veal (bass), Masahiko Osaka (drums) |
1995* | Hittin' the Spirit | BMG | Trio, with bass, drums |
1996* | At the Moment | BMG | |
1998 | United | BMG | Trio, with Christian McBride (bass), Clarence Penn (drums) |
2000* | Happy to Swing | BMG | |
2009* | Walkin' in the Clouds | Space Shower Music | |
2015 | Future Swing | Scene-a Music |
As sideman
editYear recorded | Leader | Title | Label |
---|---|---|---|
1991 | The Jazz Networks | Straight to Standards | BMG |
1992 | The Jazz Networks | Beauty and the Beast | BMG |
Tomonao Hara | For Musicians Only, Vol. 1[4] | King |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i Sugiyama, Kazunori "Shiina, Yutaka". The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2nd ed.). Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 22 May 2015. (Subscription required).
- ^ a b Fordham, John (6 December 2007) "Yutaka Shiina/Damon Brown". The Guardian.
- ^ "Live Music". (25 February 2012) The Financial Times. Life and Arts, p. 15.
- ^ Minor 2004, p. 94.
- Bibliography
- Minor, William (2004). Jazz Journeys to Japan: The Heart Within. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 978-0-472-11345-3.