Izumi Kimura in association with IMC
Izumi Kimura & akiko: 一期一会 (one time one meeting)
Experience Japanese sensitivities infused with jazz and improvisation… jazz singer akiko and contemporary pianist Izumi Kimura collaborate in this one-night-only special concert featuring Japanese folk songs, children's songs, modern songs, jazz standards and poetry.
In 2001, akiko became the first Japanese singer to sign with the renowned Jazz label, Verve Records. She recorded her first album “Girl Talk” in France with the famous French producer, Henri Renaudt, released in June the same year, stirring excitement in the Jazz scene in Japan.
akiko gained initial recognition for her vast repertoire of over 500 standard jazz songs, and her ability to seamlessly incorporate various genres into her albums. In previous albums, she has worked with producers such as Henri Renaud, Tatsuo Sunaga, Yasuharu Konishi (ex:pizzicato five), Bugge Wesseltoft (Jazzland), Swing Out Sister, Toshio Matsuura, Yukihiro Fukutomi, Nicola Conte, Takeshi Okawa (The Ska Flames), Arto Lindsay, and has participated as guest vocalist for artists in different genres such as Yuji Ohno, re;jazz, Hajime Yoshizawa, Studio Apartment, and Quasimode.
Other than in Japan, she has recorded in Paris, London, New York, Rio Dejaneiro, and Oslo. Besides her work as a singer, she is also known and praised for her ability as a producer. Writing and arranging songs, and also direction for all artwork on her albums. Through her music, fashion and life-style, akiko has become a one and only icon representing a new era in Jazz.
Since moving to Ireland from Japan in 1995, pianist Izumi Kimura has performed extensively throughout the country and abroad.
Originally a classical pianist, she branched out and worked with some of the leading performers and ensembles from classical, jazz, and improvised music disciplines. Her main works in recent decades are contemporary improvisations without limitations by genres and styles.
Izumi has worked in various formats with institutions, ensembles and chamber groups, including Crash Ensemble, Michael d'Arcy, Mia Cooper, Ken Edge, Benjamin Dwyer, Bill Dowdall, Paul Roe, Cora Venus Lunny, and many more from the world of classical/contemporary classical music, and with jazz and improvising musicians including Barry Guy, Gerry Hemingway, Tommy Halferty, Ronan Guilfoyle, Michael Buckley, Joe O'Callaghan, Oki Itaru, Makoto Sato, Dominique Pifarély, Benoît Delbecq, Stéphane Payen, Lina Andonovska, Mathew Jacobson, Phil Robson, Christine Tobin and many more. She has collaborated with artists and sound artists, including Anthony Kelly, David Stalling, Jaki Irvine and Helen O'Connell.
"Kimura brings a combination of feral creativity and technical virtuosity to the stage that belies her calm demeanour" - The Irish Times
Doors open at 7:30pm. The concert will be approximately 60 minutes without an interval.