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

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