Chicago Jazz Festival at the Chicago Cultural Center

Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater

• 12:15-1:15pm – TOYOAKI Jazz Ensemble, Presented by Asian Improv

Tatsu Aoki – Shamisen 

Lori Ashikawa – Violin 

Mai Sugimoto – Alto Sax, Flute 

Tadamichi Hosokawa – Bass 

Kioto Aoki = Taiko 

The Toyoaki Ensemble is the derivative of one of the longest standing amalgams of Tatsu Aoki’s the MIYUMI Project, drawing upon the aesthetics of Japanese traditional music and Chicago’s creative jazz. The presentations draw from the aesthetics of Geisha House chamber music.  These ‘structured’ improvisational pieces  stem from a conceptual framework that each band member contributes and interprets which creates the unique blending of modern application with traditional sensibility.

 Featuring Mai Sugimoto alto sax, Tadamichi Hosokawa bass, Lori Ashaikawa violin, Kioto Aoki taiko drums and Tatsu Aoki shamisen.