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BIOGRAPHY
Junko Ebihara - born
June 9th - in Tochigi prefecture, Ashikaga City,
Japan - a graduate of the English literature department
of Nihon University, she began organ lessons at
the age of four, won first prize at the Victron
organ competition at the age of twelve, and began
playing demonstrations for that company.
After entering college,
Junko first became interested in jazz after hearing
the singing of Anita O'Day, and Later made her debut
as a Dixieland pianist. Around that same time, discovered
by the late pianist and arranger, Hiroshi Miyagawa,
and with his encouragement, Junko also began singing.
At this time in her life, Junko also sang with Kenichi
Sonoda (tb) and the Dixie Kings, Yoshihiro Nakagawa
(tp) and the Dixie Dix, and Eiji Hanaoka (cl) and
the Swing Quartet among other veteran musicians.
Soon Junko began singing
to her own piano accompaniment in the Tokyo area,
developing her own style and focusing on composing
and arranging. At this time, she also played with
musicians of her own generation, such as Yutaka
Shiina (p), Masahiko Ohsaka (ds), and Yoshiaki Okayasu
(g). |
In
1990 she visited New York for the first time, sitting
in with Lou Donaldson (as) and Harman Foster (p)
and in September of 2005 recorded her first album,
"Without You", produced by guitarist Yoshiaki Masuo
at his studio in New York City, with musicians Mark
Soskin (p) (who has played with musicians such as
Sonny Rollins and Liza Minelli's backup band), Tony
Marino (b) and Marko Marcinko (ds), (who are the
current rhythm section for the Dave Liebman group)
and featured guest Seichi Nakamura (ts).
Junko delivers a powerful
voice from a small body. She has a uniquely husky
voice, a jazzy, funky, pop piano style that sets
her apart with a crossing over and unique mix of
a wide variety of musical styles. Junko sings an
eclectic spectrum of music ranging from jazz to
pop to R&B, country and even Japanese enka soul
music. With this debut album, she impresses those
who hear her as a seriously talented, fresh new
singer on the music scene. |
