Hiromi Uehara


Hiromi Uehara, often known mononymously as Hiromi, is a Japanese jazz composer and pianist. She is known for her virtuosic technique, energetic live performances and blending of musical genres such as stride, post-bop, progressive rock, classical, nu jazz and fusion in her compositions. In 2021, she performed at the opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Biography

Uehara was born on March 26, 1979 in Hamamatsu, Japan. She began playing piano at age six and was introduced to jazz by her teacher Noriko Hikida when she was eight. At age 14, she played with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. When she was 17, she met Chick Corea by chance in Tokyo and he invited her to play with him at his concert the next day.

Early career

After writing jingles for a few years for Japanese companies such as Nissan, she enrolled to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. There, she was mentored by Ahmad Jamal and signed with Telarc before her graduation, releasing the album Another Mind in 2003; she graduated later that year. That album shipped gold in Japan and was named Jazz Album of the Year by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.
After graduating from Berklee, Hiromi continued to write, record, and tour, releasing albums Brain and Spiral. In 2006, she formed the group Hiromi's Sonicbloom with bassist Tony Grey, drummer Martin Valihora, and guitarist David Fiuczynski, subsequently releasing albums Time Control and Beyond Standard with the group. In 2011, Hiromi won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album as part of the Stanley Clarke Band.

The Trio Project

Uehara's Trio Project brought together Anthony Jackson, who was previously a guest on the Brain album, and drummer Simon Phillips. The group made four albums together: Voice, Move, Alive, and Spark. Move and Alive both charted inside the top 10 on the U.S. Billboard Jazz Album charts, while Spark reached the number one position.

Instruments

In a 2010 interview, Uehara said she plays the Yamaha CFIII-S concert grand piano, Nord Lead 2, Clavia Nord Electro 2 73, Clavia Nord Stage Piano, and Korg microKORG.

Personal life

Uehara married Japanese fashion designer Mihara Yasuhiro in 2007. They met after she performed at one of his fashion shows in Milan the year before.

Discography

Studio albums

  • Another Mind – rec. 2002
  • Brain – rec. 2003
  • Spiral – rec. 2005
  • Time Control by Hiromi's Sonicbloom – rec. 2006
  • Beyond Standard by Hiromi's Sonicbloom
  • Place to Be
  • Voice by the Trio Project
  • Move by the Trio Project
  • Alive by the Trio Project
  • Spark by the Trio Project
  • Spectrum
  • Silver Lining Suite by Hiromi and a string quartet
  • Sonicwonderland by Hiromi's Sonicwonder
  • OUT THERE by Hiromi's Sonicwonder

    Live albums

  • Hiromi's Sonicbloom Live in Concert
  • with Chick Corea - live rec. 2007 at Blue Note Tokyo
  • Hiromi Live in Concert – rec. 2005
  • Duet with Chick Corea - rec. 2007. released in Japan only.
  • Solo Live at Blue Note New York - rec. 2010 at Blue Note Jazz Club
  • Hiromi: Live in Marciac by the Trio Project
  • Move: Live in Tokyo

    Other appearances

  • Jazz in the Garden - The Stanley Clarke Trio featuring Hiromi and Lenny White
  • Triangle Soundtrack - Flashback
  • Goldfingers - Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
  • The Stanley Clarke Band - The Stanley Clarke Band featuring Hiromi in "No Mystery", "Larry Has Traveled 11 Miles and Waited a Lifetime for the Return of Vishnu's Report", "Labyrinth" and "Sonny Rollins"
  • Get Together – Live in Tokyo - Akiko Yano and Hiromi
  • Walkin' - Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
  • Oscar, With Love - Kelly Peterson, with Hiromi in "Take Me Home' and 'Oscar's New Camera"
  • Ramen-na Onnatachi - Akiko Yano and Hiromi
  • Live in Montreal - Hiromi & Edmar Castañeda

    Filmography

  • ''Blue Giant''