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

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