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.
MEG OKURA
THE PAN ASIAN CHAMBER JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Queen of chamber-jazz Meg Okura will present the music of composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, re-imagining his classics from Yellow Magic Orchestra to the Academy award winning soundtrack, The Last Emperor. Described as “vibrant and sophisticated” by the New York Times, the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble will surely mesmerize the audience.
Composer, erhu player and premiere jazz violinist Meg Okura leads a group of virtuosi, Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, inventing and defining "world chamber jazz" today. Hailed by The New York Times as "vibrant" and "sophisticated," the ensemble is not just pretty faces, but rather "...mixes a classically trained mastery of strings, piano and drums with quick-witted compositional twist performed with high energy" (Down Beat Magazine). Their self-titled debut album was one of the finalists of the 2006 "Best Album" in the Independent Musicians Awards. Today, the album is still the No. 1 Top-Seller in the "Chamber Jazz" category on CDBaby, and received the Editor's Choice in "Jazz-World Fusion" category.
Juilliard trained Meg Okura takes advantage of compositional techniques of classical music such as melodic counterpoint, as well as her knowledge in sophisticated jazz harmony and vocabularies, while incorporating traditional music from Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle-East. The compositions also feature the erhu, a two-stringed Chinese violin, as well as the shinobue, a bamboo flute from Japan. As an arranger, she also puts her unique spins on masterpieces ranging from Paganini to Coltrane, making them completely new and radical.
As Elliot Simon from All About Jazz puts it "…the best jazz New York has to offer," this New York-based ensemble features some of the most talented musicians from all ethnic, cultural, and musical backgrounds. They all went to world's top conservatories, then went onto performing with some of the biggest names in jazz, gospel, rock, pop and world music as well as major symphonies. The ensemble has just returned from their first tour of Japan (of all sold-out concerts) celebrating the Japanese release of their CD.
Native of Japan, Meg Okura toured throughout Asia as the concertmaster and the soloist with the Asian Youth Orchestra while attending the Toho School in Tokyo. As a teenager, she made her Kennedy Centre debut with the late Alexander Schneider's New York String Orchestra. She then settled in New York City to pursue her classical study at The Juilliard School. While in school, she realized that studying jazz was the only way to become the most complete musician anyone could be, and made the difficult shift from classical to jazz upon graduation.
Today, her credit includes over fifty appearances on albums, movie soundtracks, and television and music videos, performing with musical icons such as David Bowie, Mary J. Blige, Michael Brecker, Philip Glass, Ziggy Marley, Lee Konitz, Lenny Kravitz, Steve Swallow, Kanye West and others.
Since the ensemble's debut at New York's Stone in February of 2006, Meg Okura's Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble has performed at Makor, the Next Door Jazz Festival, Saint Peters Church, Asian Leadership Conference at the MoMA, Kumble Theater, Saint Paul's Chapel. This year, the ensemble was invited to perform at the 2008 Winter Jazz Festival held at the Knitting Factory.
The ensemble is currently working on their second album, featuring the current members of the ensemble, including pianist Mamiko Kitaura of the Monica Mancini Orchestra and Jun Kubo, winner of the Haifa International Flute Competition.
Press Quotes
"Ms. Okura's vibrant, Eastern-influenced, jazzy score and the playing of her musicians were the most sophisticated parts of the work" - Roslyn Sulcas, New York Times
“…chamber jazz has found its queen in Meg Okura.” - Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz
“…a stunning improvisation on top of an impressionistic backdrop.” - Bill Milkowski, Jazz Times
“Naima is the magnificent new release from violin virtuoso Meg Okura and the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble. Captivating, exciting and refreshing are just one way to describe the track offerings that are featured. Aptly named after one of John Coltrane’s famous compositions, Naima is marvelously diverse mixing the past, present and future.” - Esther Cailens, Birmingham Times
“Okura has made a bold statement with Naima, ensuring her place among the top names playing chamber jazz.” - Jon Neudorf, Sea of Tranquility
“A confident collection of chamber jazz that is wide in scope and deep in feeling…features outstanding solos by Okura.” - “Meg Okura offers a clear sense of vision of her world of music. Okura's Naima goes to many places, speaks in many voices, and is often rich with surprises and admirable in its aspirations.”
- Mark Hayes, EJazz News
"… (some of) the best jazz New York has to offer." "…elegantly intertwine(s) elements of classical, jazz and world folk into a new sound… by presenting precisely played ethnically inspired original compositions in an exciting modern jazz context."- Elliot Simon, All About Jazz
"... mixes a classically trained mastery of strings, piano and drums with quick-witted compositional twist performed with high energy." - Jennifer Odell, Down Beat Magazine
"The group delivers exactly what its name promises… the group found a common ground in '60s-style modality, occasionally reminiscent of John Coltrane and McCoy Tyner's Eastern explorations." - Will Friedwald, New York Sun
"…very original and fresh. …It is relaxing, it is invigorating. It never disappoints; rather it draws your attention throughout the entire production. The compositions are complex, the skill of the musicians is without question." - Boudica's Music Reviews
"…a phenomenal new album with the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble that showcases her stunning compositional skills that integrate stylistic elements from multiple genres of music within individual arrangements. …deeply moving emotional projection from Romantic era…as well as other elements from jazz, contemporary, and popular music spanning from Joe Venuti to Gershwin to Coltrane to Hancock and beyond. …The vision is radical but the flawless execution and inspired delivery make it seem natural. …Meg Okura defies convention by breaking through all boundaries with her revolutionary vision that is redefining our understanding of and perspective on modern music. …The music is refined, sophisticated, emotional, progressive, and hip all at once. …This is the future of instrumental music." - Chris Ruel's Instrumental Music Reviews (www.chrisruel.com)
Oct 21, 2010
RE: Meg at Corning
Hey Moishe...
Had a moment to drop you an email regarding Meg/PACJE... sorry for the delay... this is long overdue!
You gotta be kiddin' me... do you have any idea what Meg and her team sounded like in our state-of-the-art venue?! About a billion times better than in that hotel room in NYC!
I hoped you discussed the event with Meg. Meg and her fellow artists were entirely expert, engaging, and exceedingly friendly. Meg's personality burst through to our audience from the start and grew evermore beholding as the concert progressed. Besides being ever thankful for the opportunity to play for Corning Civic Music, Meg was delighted to sign CDs and join us at our reception afterwards...making her self available to chat with anyone that approached her...always humble and perfectly genuine.
Then she bombs us with the news that she is 6 months pregnant. We all love her and wish her the very best!
Many thanks for your assistance with this, Moishe... it was truly meant to be and I am so glad to have seen Meg at APAP and to have met you.
Hopefully, I can see you again at APAP 2011 and connect with another concert opportunity down the road. Feel free to share this email with Meg and PACJE or anyone else you desire.
I did not have the chance to get any of Meg's CDs... although I listen to her music on her website. Would you be able to send me one/two of Meg's CDs? I would certainly appreciate it... thank you!
All best... Sam
322 Meadowbrook Pky. E.
Horseheads, NY 14845
Visit the Meg Okura website
Visit the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble website
Contact Us for booking information