TOKYO BOOGIE BAND
We Play Japanese Enka, Jazz, Boogie, and Blues
featuring Kuni Mikami and The Tokyo Boogie Band!
KUNI MIKAMI
PIANO
Born and raised in Japan, Kuni came to New York in 1975 to pursue a jazz career. In 1991, Kuni was invited to be the pianist in jazz legend Lionel Hampton’s orchestra. Since, then, he has traveled and played mainstream jazz all over the U.S. and Europe with this orchestra. Kuni has played with various other talented professionals - saxophonist Illinois Jacquet, vocalists Dakota Staton, Melba Joyce. He was a pianist for Duke Ellington Orchestra in the Europe & Japan Tour. Playing with the Ellington orchestra at NYC, Birdland for 6 years. He have toured in Philippines, Brunei, Austria, Dominican Republic, Honduras and Ecuador with the support from the Japan Foundation and Kawai Piano Co..
ASAKO TAKASAKI
VOCAL
Born in Toyama, Japan, Asako fell in love with Jazz when she was 20 years old. She was encouraged by her long time mentor to start singing and her first professional engagement was to sing the Japanese National Anthem on Nippon Broadcasting Inc of Japan. She fell in love with jazz and hasn’t looked back. Moving to New York City in 2004, Asako has been on the scene ever since and also recently started to study with Five times Grammy-Nominated Artist Karrin Allyson. “All of Me” marks her first recording and features some great standards with lovely arrangements and a stellar band. Her New EP "Pureness" recorded in Paris in 2018 and released in 2020. She was honored to receive a Grant as a NYC artist crop in 2021.
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VOCAL
Vocalist and pianist, David-Frank Han moved to NYC in 2021 with no real intentions of becoming a professional jazz musician. However, since the music of jazz was always a part of him, his search for musical and emotional expression led him to take a chance and begin singing at open jam sessions around the city. This was his boots on the ground jazz education, first at the chaotic Smalls in the Village and then at the chiller Ornithology in Bushwick. This training has helped him to understand the ins and outs of being a professional jazz singer and eventually led him to his debut performances at the Red Pavilion after being discovered by pianist Kuni Mikami.
BONZ SATO
SAX
Hideya “Bonz” Satoh was born in Hokkaido Japan. He took organ lesson at age of 4 till 12 years old. He picked up saxophone at age of 18 and started to play at many Jazz clubs in Tokyo and Chiba area. In 1983, he received scholarship from Berklee College of Music. He continued receiving scholarship till end of his study on ’86. He studied with Andy McGee, Jimmy Mosher, Bill Pierce, George Garzone. Frank Wilkins used to call him one of the most versatile sax player in Boston. He was working as a fulltime freelancing musician in Boston area. He moved to New York in 2003 and started to working as a freelance musician. His very first gig in NY was at Historical Lenox Lounge Zebra Room in Harlem.
TOMOYA OGAWA
GUITAR
Born and raised in Nagoya, Japan. He studied at the Koyo Conservatory of Music in Kobe, Japan, winning the “Best Player” award in an in-school competition. He graduated magna cum laude from Berklee College of Music in 2012 with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Composition and Guitar Performance. He has been active as a guitarist, composer, and producer in various styles of music including jazz, rock, R&B, Latin, and many others. Currently, Tomoya is a music host and weekly performer at The Barn Coffee Shop, Astoria, NY. He also performs with various groups such as Quintic Function, OtO-LOgue, Groove Trapz, and many others.
DAISUKE KONNO
DRUMS
Born in Tokyo, Japan in 1978, Daisuke started playing drums at the age of 16.In 2011, Daisuke got an opportunity to go to New York City. He played with the outstanding jazz-funk band "Woven Notes" at The Winery at St. George in Mohegan Lake and Groove in Greenwich Village. In August 2015, he visited Japan for recording sessions and concerts with "samA & EAU DE MOND." In 2018, Daisuke recorded with acclaimed musicians based in New York City, Bruce Edwards (guitar), Ben Paterson (piano) and Nori Naraoka (bass) for his first album “Taking the D."
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TOKYO
TOKYO
Live at Red Pavilion
Live at Red Pavilion
Tokyo Boogie Woogie
