Breathe Miki Yamanaka

• 1 Indigo 07:09
• 2 Wolfe 05:33
• 3 James Williams 07:03
• 4 Dancing Cats 04:44
• 5 Tucson 07:01
• 6 Breathe 06:24
• 7 Dandelion Puff 05:01
• 8 Pre School 05:47
• 9 Delayed Flight 03:01
• Total Runtime 51:43

Info zu Breathe

My trio with Tyrone Allen and Jimmy Macbride had recorded 2 records together, toured the world for the last few years as well as performing in NYC - I always love to emphasize how important our band sound is. This record is no exception. However, for this album, I am very fortunate to have our dear friend and one of the leading voices on saxophone in our generation, Nicole Glover. Adding her to the trio felt very natural, as we have been such close friends and shared many bandstands together.

The songs are old and new. I would like to mention that two very close people passed away six days apart in September 2025, my hero Akiko Tsuruga and my father Manabu Yamanaka. Much of the music you’ll hear is dedicated to their memories. Hopefully this record captured my weird, quirky side and seriousness towards this music that makes both of them proud.

Miki Yamanaka, piano
Nicole Glover, saxophones & spoken word
Tyrone Allen II, bass
Jimmy Macbride, drums

Executive Producers: Miki Yamanaka & Cory Weeds
Recorded at Trading 8s Recording Studio on November 24th, 2025
Engineered by Chris Sulit
Mixed and Mastered by Sheldon Zaharko

Miki Yamanaka
Japanese-born pianist Miki Yamanaka has called New York City home since 2012 and in the past decade has wasted no time establishing herself as one of the leading personalities of her generation on the piano and beyond. Critics laud her “light, expressive touch and solidly crafted, mainstream approach” - Mike Jurkovic (All About Jazz), while audiences delight in not only her playing, but her vibrant personality as well. Yamanaka has gained international recognition from her albums as a leader; her most recent and most celebrated release, “Chance” (Cellar Music), features her NYC rhythm section, Tyrone Allen II and Jimmy Macbride. Additionally, Miki has emerged as a leader of the “New York Scene” via her notable residencies at mainstay West Village sister clubs Smalls and Mezzrow. During the pandemic, she developed a successful in-home live-streaming weekly concert series cleverly titled “Miki’s Mood” where she features a veritable who’s who of NYC talent (including her husband and frequent collaborator - drummer Jimmy Macbride). The series showcases her vast knowledge of Jazz standards and tunes, often featuring themed offerings of various composers from both the Great American Songbook as well as iconic Jazz composers.

As a sideman, Yamanaka has worked with Jazz luminaries such as alto saxophonist Antonio Hart who posits “Miki will be recognized as one of the most exceptional artists of her generation, as she is already one of the most talented and dedicated musicians from Japan.” Other notable musicians she currently works with include Roger Humphries, Jamile and The Mingus Bigband. One of her most respected mentors on piano and organ (Yamanaka also performs on organ frequently), Larry Goldings, once mused, “If only I could have Miki Yamanaka comp behind me!” - a compliment of the highest order from one master pianist to another. She has a myriad of glowing reviews from her recorded work and the iconic Downbeat Jazz magazine has repeatedly awarded her albums high marks.

On top of her exciting work as a bandleader in New York and abroad, Miki can often be found out and about most nights, where her infectious smile and gregarious nature engender fast friends in every audience she encounters. She has many hobbies, including cooking, knitting, and perhaps most visibly, her penchant for wearing her vast collection of kimonos on her gigs, proudly representing her heritage and culture night after night as she dazzles audiences around the world.

Dieses Album enthält kein Booklet