December and January Schedule

Hi, everyone.
I hope all are well with you.
I am doing very well and started to pack up my suite case for my
Chicago trip of the next week.
YES. I will be performing in perhaps one of the most well-known jazz
club in the nation (if there is such a list!),
the one and only GREEN MILL JAZZ CLUB in Windy City for the first time!!

BUT WAIT!

Before I go off to Chicago, I have New York Local gigs to my friends
in New York,
and January's West Coast Tour to the friends in the West.

Here is my December and January schedule.
Write them down to your agenda or print it out and stick on your fridge... etc.
I really hope that I can see you at my gig!



[2009 NEW YORK SCHEDULE]

I will be at Showmans on Friday and Saturday of this weekend.
Friday is with Lou Donaldson Quartet, and Saturday is with
Rudy Petschauer Quartet.

Friday, December 11
10:00 PM &12:00AM (2 Sets)
Lou Donaldson Quartet

Lou Donaldson-alto sax & vocal
Fukushi Tainaka-drums
Akiko Tsuruga-hammond B3 Organ
TBA-guitar

Showmans
375 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027
Tel: 212-864-8941
$30


*****
Saturday, December 12
3:00PM - 7:00 PM (3 Sets)
Akiko Tsuruga Quartet

Akiko Tsuruga - Organ
Jerry Weldon - tenor sax
Andrew Beals - atlo sax
Rudy Petschauer - drums

Candlelight Lounge
24 Passaic Street, Tranton, NJ 08618


*****
Saturday, December 12
9:00PM - 2:30 AM (3 Sets)
Rudy Petschauer Quartet

Rudy Petschauer - drums
Jerry Weldon - tenor sax
Andrew Beals - atlo sax
Akiko Tsuruga-hammond B3 organ

Showmans
375 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027
Tel: 212-864-8941
$5, 2 drink minimum

*****

Saturday, December 26
10:45PM - 2:45 AM (4 Sets)
Akiko Tsuruga Trio

Jerry Weldon - tenor sax
Rudy Petschauer - drums
Akiko Tsuruga - organ

Garage
99 Seventh Ave South, New York, NY 10014
http://www.garagerest.com/

[CHICAGO 2 DAYS]

Akiko's Chicago Debut as the leader.
Please spread the words to your friends in Chicago area!

Friday, December 18

9:00PM - 1:00 AM (3 Sets)
Saturday, December 19

8:00PM - 12:00 AM

Akiko Tsuruga Organ Trio

Andy Brown -guitar
Rudy Petschauer - drums
Akiko Tsuruga -hammond B3 organ

Green Mill Jazz Club
4802 N. Broadway Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
Tel: 773-878-5552
http://www.greenmilljazz.com/
$12

[AKIKO TSURUGA WEST COAST TOUR - Winter 2010]

I will be back in West Coast in January.
I even will visit Canada, my friends!
It's not an everyday thing. Please come out and support us!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010
8:00 PM & 9:30 PM (2 Sets)
Akiko Tsuruga Trio

Jerry Weldon - tenor sax
Rudy Petschauer - drums
Akiko Tsuruga-hammond B3 organ

Yoshi's
510 Embarcadero West, Oakland, California 94607
http://www.yoshis.com/oakland/jazzclub


*****
Friday, January 15

Saturday, January 16
8:30PM & 10:15 PM (2 Sets)

Sunday, January 17
7:30PM & 9:00 PM (2 Sets)
Rudy Petschauer Trio

Rudy Petschauer - drums
Jerry Weldon - tenor sax
Akiko Tsuruga-hammond B3 Organ
The Celler
3611 Broadway West, Vancouver, British Columbia BCV 6R2B8
http://cellarjazz.com/

Down Beat Magazin "57th Annual Critics Pall"

Down Beat Magazin "57th Annual Critics Pall" I placed number 7 of Organist rising star!!!(number 10 last year)

Harlem International Jazz Festival

The Star-Ledger

The Star-Ledger

Thursday July 09, 2009, 2:38 PM

Oriental Express

Akiko Tsuruga

(18th and Vine)

"Oriental Express," Akiko Tsuruga moves from slow and steamy to straight swing to down-home funk.

Manchester, N.J., resident Jack Kreisberg has produced so many albums highlighting Garden State jazz musicians for Portland, Ore.'s 18th and Vine label, that one could be forgiven for believing the company was Jersey-based.

Keeping up with his Jersey thrust, Kreisberg spotlights the Patterson-based organist Akiko Tsuruga on one of two recent productions. The other showcases the veteran Detroit-bred drum master Louis Hayes.

On "Oriental Express," Tsuruga investigates a banquet of moods -- from slow and steamy to straight swing to down-home funk -- with verve, feeling and persuasion. Sharing her affinities in this solidly exploited conceit are four top-end jazzmen, leaders all: guitarist Eric Johnson, tenor saxophonist Jerry Weldon, drummer Rudy Petschauer and congero Chembo Corniel.

Built on enticing riffs, "J's Groove" is an ear-friendly speeder over "rhythm changes." Tsuruga reveals her capacity to play smartly, and with drive and invention. The hearty-toned Weldon scores with characteristically engaging thoughts; Johnson's ringing tones are also impressive. Petschauer adds feisty time.

Petschauer's swaggering back-beat underpins the title track, a head-shaking blues with grit and groove from all hands. "Dreamsville" has a luxuriant, emotive theme, and felicitous statements from Johnson and Tsuruga. "The Sidewinder," a classic foot-tapper, showcases the team's blues acumen. "Frim Fram Sauce" is an old- school swinger, "Bright Eyes" a dancing waltz, "Killing Me Softly with His Song" a robust percolator.

Hot House, Japion and NY seikatsu

Swing Journal Magazine's annual reader's jazzmen pole

I was placed in runner-up for Swing Journal Magazine's annual reader's jazzmen pole in "other instrument" categories. In this category, there are 8 organ players were ranked, and I was the number one if they had "organ" category (the first place was violin player… I think). I am very grateful and honored. To me, it is almost the same impact I got when I took a New Star award from Swing Journal in few years ago. My presence in Japan is getting stronger in Japanese jazz scene.