Eri Yamamoto

Since moving to the United States in 1995, Eri Yamamoto has established herself as one of jazz's most original and compelling pianists and composers. Jazz legend Herbie Hancock has said, “My hat's off to her… already she's found her own voice.” Eri was born in Osaka, Japan, and began playing classical piano at age three. She started composing when only eight years old, and studied voice, viola, and composition through her high school and college years. In 1995, she visited New York for the first time, and by chance heard Tommy Flanagan performing. She was so inspired by her first experience of a jazz piano trio that she decided on the spot to move to New York and dedicate herself to learning jazz. Later that year, Eri entered the New School University's prestigious jazz program, where she studied with Junior Mance, LeeAnn Ledgerwood, and Reggie Workman. In 1999, while still in school, she started playing regularly at the Avenue B Social Club, a popular spot among jazz musicians in the East Village. There she developed a musical friendship with fellow pianist Matthew Shipp. Since 2000, Eri's trio has been appearing regularly at Arthur's Tavern, a historic jazz club in New York's Greenwich Village. In addition to its European tours it has recently performed at the Hartford Jazz Festival and An Die Musik in Baltimore. The Trio features Dave Ambrosio and Ikuo Takeuchi, and its New CD, Redwoods is released this September on AUM Fidelity. Eri has recently appeared on two William Parker recordings, Luc's Lantern and Corn Meal Dance, and has performed in Italy, Holland, Norway and Tunisia with his trio and sextet. She has also worked with such musical luminaries as Ron McClure, Andy McKee, Lewis Barns, Rob Brown, Leena Conquest, Arthur Kell, Kevin Tkacs, Whit Dicky, Christopher Dean Sullivan and Michael T. A. Thompson. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.