CD 'Commencement' is #4 on the Jazz Week Chart

Downbeat Down Critics Poll 2014

Thank you for your support!!!

April Performance Schedule

April Performance schedule:


 

Mondays, Kotobuki Restaurant/Akiko Tsuruga Trio  7-10PM

4/14 - Dmitry Baevsky-as, Shinnosuke Takahashi-ds, Akiko-hammond sk2

4/21 - Satoshi Inoue-guitar, Shinnosuke Takahashi-ds, Akiko-Hammond sk2

4/28 - Jerry Weldon - tenor sax, Joe Strasser-drums, Akiko -Hammond sk2



Kotobuki Restaurant: 

56 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10003  (10th Street on 3rd Ave)
Tel: 212-353-5088

www.kotobukinewyork.com/

Saturday, April 12th, 7:30-10PM 

Memorial Hall/Akiko Tsuruga Trio

Featuring:
Joe Magnarelli-trump, Paul Wells-drums, Akiko-organ

Protestant Community Church, 

100 Stoke Rd, Medford Lakes, NJ    

Ticket $20
www.jazzandbluesshowcase.com

Thursday, April 17th 8PM&9:30PM  

Linda's Jazz Night/Akiko Tsuruga Quartet

Featuring:
Jerry Weldon-tenor sax
Avi Rothbard-guitar
Rudy Petschauer-drums
Akiko Tsuruga-organ

Linda's Jazz Night

An Beal Bocht Cafe

445 W. 238th Street

Bronx, NY 10463

(10 min. walk from the 238th Street stop on the 1 train)
$15.00 cover (no minimum) $25.00 for both shows
www.LindasJazzNights.com




Showman's

Thursday, April 10th, 8:30-12:30AM/Jerry Weldon Trio

Friday, April 11th, 9:30-2:30AM/
Nick Hempton Quartet
Friday, April 25th, 9:30-2:30AM/Tiffany(Vocal) Group

375 West 125th Street, NYC 10027

Friday, April 18th, 8PM

Club 966/ Lou Donaldson Quartet 

966 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY
www.jazz966.com

Saturday, April 26th,  8-11PM

Londel's/ Towner Galaher Trio

139th Street & 8th Ave, Harlem, NY

Upcoming Performances

Every Monday, 7-10PM
Kotobuki Restaurant/Akiko Tsuruga Trio

Friday, May 2nd, 10:30PM
Villa Rome/Akiko Tsuruga Quartet

Saturday, May 3rd, 10:30PM-2:30AM
Garage/Akiko Tsuruga Trio

Friday, May 16th
A Place For Jazz/Lou Donaldson Quartet
WHISPERDOME, NY

Tuesday June 10th& Wednesday June 11th.
Blue Note NY/ Lou Donaldson Quartet feat Dr. Lonnie Smith

Friday, June 20th, 6&10PM

Rochester Jazz Festival/Akiko Tsuruga Quartet

Featuring:

Joe Magnarelli-tp, John Hart-guitar, Joe Strasser-drums, 

Akiko-hammond b3 organ 

Montage Club

50 Swan Street, Rochester NY 14604

 www.rochesterjazz.com

New Album Recording Session

I've just finished recording with Jeff Hamilton and John Hart for my new album. I had a wonderful time to make  music with them.

I'll announce more details on this blog. Thank you for your support!

March Newsletter

Dear friends and fans,
I'm so happy to announce my upcoming performances. I hope to see you all soon!


Monday, March,3rd, 10th, 24th and 31st  7-10PM

Kotobuki Restaurant/Akiko Tsuruga Trio

3/3 - Dmitry Baevsky-as, Shinnosuke Takahashi-ds, Akiko-hammond sk2

3/10 - Avi Rothbard-guitar, Shinnosuke Takahashi-ds, Akiko-hammond sk2

3/24 - Ron Affif-guitar, Joe Strasser-drums, Akiko-Hammond sk2

3/31 - Jerry Weldon - tenor sax, Dwayne Cook Broadneck -drums, Akiko -Hammond sk2


56 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10003 
Tel: 212-353-5088

http://www.kotobukinewyork.com/




Saturday, March 1st, 10:30-2:30AM

Garage/Akiko Tsuruga Trio

Avi Rothbard -guitar, Aaron Kimmel -drums, Akiko -organ

99 Seventh Ave South, NYC 10014 

http://www.garagerest.com/


Sunday, March 2nd, 8:00 & 10:30PM

Blue Note NY/Lou Donaldson Quartet
131 West 3rd Street, NYC 10012
 Phone:(212) 475-8592
http://www.bluenote.net/


Thursday, March 6th, 8-11PM

Makeda/Akiko Tsuruga Quartet
Joe Magnarelli-tp, Myron Walden-ts,
Kevin Kanner -drums, Akiko -hammond sk2 organ

338 George St, New Brunswich, NJ 08901

http://www.nbjp.org/

Sunday, March 9th, 6:15 & 8:00PM
PJS Jazz Society@The First Presbyterian Church/ Akiko Tsuruga Quintet
Joe Magnarelli-tp, Myron Walden-ts, Bob DeVos-guitar, McClenty Hunter-drums, Akiko-organ
199 North Columbus Ave  Mout Vernon  NY
http://pjsjazz.org/

Monday, March 9th, 8:45-11:00AM
The Stone Mill @ New York Botanical Garden, Bronx NY/Akiko Tsuruga Trio
Joe Magnarelli-tp, Rudy Petschauer-ds, Akiko-organ

Sunday, March 16th & Monday, March 17th
Akiko's new album recording with Jeff Hamilton and John Hart

Saturday, March 22nd,  8-11PM
Londel's/Towner Galaher Trio
139th Street & 8th Ave, Harlem, NY

Thursday, March 27th, 7-10PM
Liberty House Restaurant/Kelsey Merrow Group
76 Audrey Zapp Dr; Jersey City; NJ 07305


Friday, March 28th,  9:30PM- 2:30AM

Showman's/Akiko Tsuruga Quartet
Andrew Beals-as, Rudy Petschauer-ds,
Chriss Morrison-guitar, Akiko-hammond b3 organ

375 West 125th Street, NYC 10027

Sunday, March 30th, 8PM 
Bryac Restaurant/ Andrew Beals Quartet
Andrew Beals-as, Rudy Petschauer-ds,
Chriss Morrison-guitar, Akiko-hammond b3 organ

74 Farifield Avenue; Bridgeport; CT 06605
http://www.bryac.biz/


Upcoming Performances
Every Monday, 7-10PM
Kotobuki Restaurant/Akiko Tsuruga Trio

Thursday, April 3rd, 7:30PM
Radisson Hotel Rochester Riverside/Lou Donaldson Quartet

Friday, April 4th, 10:30PM-2:30AM
Garage/Akiko Tsuruga Trio

Saturday, April 12th, 7-10PM
Memorial Hall, Medford Lakes, NJ/Akiko Tsuruga Trio

Friday, April 18th,
Lou Donaldson Quartet

Friday, May 2nd,
Villa Rome/Akiko Tsuruga Quartet

Friday, May 16th,
 A PLACE FOR JAZZ, WHISPERDOME, NY/Lou Donaldson Quartet

May 27-June 2nd
Tel Aviv Jazz Festival, Israel & Ronnie Scotts, London UK/Lou Donaldson Quartet


ORGAN, PIANO LESSONS

If you are interested in taking a lesson, please send an email to akikojazz@gmail.com.
Also Skype lessons are available.




For more information, please visit me at www.akikojazz.com 
and my facebook page.  www.facebook.com/akikojazzpage



Thank you for your support!

Love,

Akiko

Interviewed by Japanese Newspaper "NY Japion"

NY Japion Website

Sound of My Life

Akiko Tsuruga (Hammond Organist)
By Kasumi Abe

"There is no limit in combining notes. This instrument can reflect my honest feelings." Akiko Tsuruga expresses about the charm of a Hammond organ. Right hand for melody line, and left for base. The popped sounds spread out warmly from her fingers conducting on the keyboards.

                 

What changed my life

Akiko started playing electric organ at the age of 3. After her graduation from a music college, she encountered a Hammond organ. "There was a place called Don Shop in Osaka, where musicians were hanging out. I used to play there, as many talents stopped by after their gigs at Blue Note across the street meanwhile. One day, I played this organ. I was feeling like it was just a perfect fit to my hands." She later met her mentor, Dr. Lonnie Smith there.

"When I followed an advise of a drummer, Grady Tate, one time, something new happened in my play." It was Grady who encouraged Akiko to make a musical career in NYC.

Although originally planned only for a year, it has actually turned out to be getting along in the city for almost thirteen years. She had a great start with gaining a regular stage at the old-time famous jazz club, Showman's, within 4 months since her arrival in NY. However, the competitive world gradually put pressure on her at the same time.

Joy after the sand storm

"My mind was not peaceful as I cheered myself up to take up my stand among other musicians." It was those time when she heard the owner of Showman's saying that she had been convincing herself all right if she could make one customer out of ten understood in her business. That cleared her up, and she got to be able to think how to focus on her music.

"I'm enjoying now," said Akiko. "But, that sand storm period brought me a necessary opportunity to look into myself." 

"Show your life to the music." This is Dr. Lonnie Smith's words to Akiko. "Those who are in the lead need to try hard and should be strong. I'd like to be such a player someday."

She glows with joy acquired through the various experiences as she plays the organ.  

  Translated by Mihoko Naito

January Newsletter

Happy New Year!!!

It was a great year 2013 and I already feel good about 2014.  I will start play  Mondays at Kotobuki restaurant.
Great Japanese food there! Please check it out!
I am very appreciate for your support! I hope it will be a beautiful year for you…


January performances:

Monday, Jan. 6, 13, 20 &27th,  7-10:30PM
Kotobuki Restaurant/Akiko Tsuruga Trio
1/6 - Nick Hempton-sax, Carmen Intorre-drums, Akiko-organ
1/13 - Jerry Weldon -sax, Joe Strasser -drums, Akiko- organ
1/20 -  Dmitry Baevsky -sax, Phil Stewart -drums, Akiko -organ
1/27 - Joe Magnarelli -tp, Fukushi Tainaka -drums, Akiko -organ

56 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10003
Tel: 212-353-5088
http://www.kotobukinewyork.com/


Saturday, Jan 11, 10:30-2:30AM
Garage/Akiko Tsuruga Trio
Graham Dechter -guitar, Paul Wells-drums, Akiko -organ
99 Seventh Ave South, NYC 10014
http://www.garagerest.com/

Thursday, Jan 16th,  8:30- 12:30AM
Akiko Tsuruga Trio@Showman's
375 West 125th Street, NYC 10027

Thursday, Jan 23rd, 8-11PM
Makeda/Joe Magnarelli Quartet
338 George St, New Brunswich, NJ 08901
http://www.nbjp.org/

Saturday Jan 25th,  9:30- 2:30AM
Showman's/Nick Hempton Quartet
375 West 125th Street, NYC 10027

Friday, Jan 31st,9:30-2:30AM
Showman's/Akiko Tsuruga Quartet
375 West 125th Street, NYC 10027

Akiko was selected one of the most active jazz musician in NYC by Japanese newspaper

Akiko was selected by Japanese news paper, "Shuukan NY Seikatsu"  which is distribute in NY,  because she is one of the most active jazz musician in NYC.

http://www.nyseikatsu.com/

In my own way

Akiko Tsuruga, Jazz Organist 

By Yukiko Takada

"Only for a year," she promised to her family and flew to NY in 2001. Akiko brought herself to Showman's Jazz Club in Harlem and tried to express with gestures that she could play the organ till she managed to get a chance for a play. With the owner's encouragement, she kept playing at the club and eventually became to be a regular. Akiko recollects, "It was even hard to tell the difference between B flat and E flat at the beginning. I just wanted to play organ." One day, the legendary saxophonist, Lou Donaldson came to see her since he heard of a Japanese girl playing in Harlem. He was impressed and told her, " You sound better than any other guys. Coming to NY

by yourself is not easy!" Everything began to move forward when she made up her mind to settle herself in NY, a mecca of jazz.

Starting to play electric organ at age of 3, Akiko has been into jazz music after graduating from Osaka Music College. "I liked the weight of the keyboards. Hammond organ was a perfect fit to me. I felt like I found my own when I played it at a jazz club in Osaka." It didn't take long until she got popular as an organist. She realized that it would be best if she enjoyed playing in her own way. When she met talented musicians, she tried to feel the aura of them, to sense their attitudes toward the music, and "to absorb the whole music itself, not just listen to the every note. This is still what I try to do now. I'd like to listen to someone's play with my heart."

Akiko joined Lou Donaldson's band, and in 2007,  she released her first album in the United Staes. The album hit the 7th in the jazz chart while her organ was played nationwide on the radio. Within the same year, she was awarded "The Best Album of The Year" of Down Beat Magazine and got "New Star Award" of Swing Journal. After the tours in Europe and Japan, she performed successfully at her second Japanese tour in march, 2012. Appearing on the stage of Lou Donaldson Quartet at Blue Note Tokyo and Blue Note Nagoya, Akiko played soulfully with the 86 year-old-eminent jazz saxophonist.

She says NY is the place you need only one year to learn what you have to spend ten years to get in other places. She often encountered exciting music and simply couldn't sleep. She was running on and on for more than 10 years with those lasting experiences. Now, she takes a deep breath to have a moment of considering her future. "I'd like to keep going and performing in NY and many other places as well as  making another album," Akiko said with a fulfilled smile.

Transtration: Mihoko Naito