Legendary Japanese singer-songwriter and pianist Akiko Yano will perform solo concerts in San Francisco and Los Angeles. After decades, Yano returns to the West Coast, where she will sing and play the piano, delighting longtime fans and introducing her music to a new generation.
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Akiko Yano singer, songwriter, pianist
She sang the theme song for Studio Ghibli’s film “Hohokekyo My Neighbor Yamada-kun” and participated in “Ponyo on the Cliff” as a voice actress.
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“Akiko Yano is a world class songwriter with a clear, gentle, wide-ranging voice. She is also an accomplished, endearing performer who might be a Japanese Carole King or Joni Michelle.” – Jon Pareles, NY TIMES
“A pianist with an unmistakable voice, a love of synthesizers and an ear for pop melodies, Yano is one of the most celebrated Japanese musicians of her generation.” Anton Spice, The Guardian
Started playing the piano in early childhood, Akiko made her solo debut in 1976 with “JAPANESE GIRL” which she recorded in LA with Lowell George and other members of Little Feat. With its creative sound that fused Japanese scales, folk songs, instruments with the pop, rock, jazz and contemporary music, it had a huge impact on the music scene at the time and Akiko grabbed the music fans’ attention instantaneously, as it was said “Here comes a genius girl”. In 1979-1980, Akiko accompanied Yellow Magic Orchestra a.k.a. YMO (Ryuichi Sakamoto, Haruomi Hosono & Yukihiro Takahashi) on two world tours as a support member. Since then, she has been working with a wide range of musicians from jazz/rock to classical music, such as Pat Metheny, Thomas Dolby, The Chieftains, Toninho Horta, and Marc Ribot, to name a few. She recorded and toured with Anthony Jackson (b) and Cliff Almond (drs) as a trio. The duo with the electronica prodigy, late Rei Harakami and the piano duo with Hiromi showed us her free, unique, and highly skilled artistry. Also, Yano has composed the music and contributed as a voiceover actor for Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli films. Currently, Akiko releases her records on Speedstar Records in Japan. https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/Artist/A013518.html
London-based record label Wewantsounds is reissuing Akiko Yano’s early works in the vinyl and the CD; JAPANESE GIRL (1976), IROHA NI KONPEITOU(1977), To Ki Me Ki (1978), Tadaima (1981), AI GA NAKUCHA NE (1981), GOHAN GA DEKITAYO (1982). www.wewantsounds.com
As a resident of New York since 1990, Akiko has been playing gigs in NYC regularly; however, she hasn’t performed on the West Coast for a few decades. At upcoming rare appearances in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Akiko will be performing solo. She will sing and play the piano. Akiko Yano is excited and looking forward to sharing her music with fans who have been waiting for her return for a long time and with a new generation of music fans.
http://www.akikoyano.com
X (Twitter) @Yano_Akiko
https://facebook.com/akikoyano.official
IG @akikoyano_staff
