Yayoi Ikawa (Jazz pianist, composer, arranger, bandleader, educator)
Born in Tokyo, Japan, but raised musically in New York, pianist/composer Yayoi Ikawa is an experience of ingenuity and compassion. Using music as a powerful communication tool, Yayoi strives to lift humanity through understanding and encouraging herself and others. After recording a straight-ahead jazz piano trio on Nippon Crown release “Angel Eyes” in 2004, she self-produced “Color of Dreams” displaying her original compositions. Since then her group has featured in various music festivals and concerts in U.S., Italy, Japan, Costa Rica, Guadeloupe, and Martinique.
In 2008, Yayoi started “The Bridge Project” to create musical dialogues between different cultures. Based on that experience, she often plays the role of coordinator. In 2000, sheassisted legendary producer Jim Luce to create an online solo piano concert series “Love Letter from New York” featuring New York’s finest jazz pianists. In 2021, she was a coordinator for a multi- cultural performance event “Jazz United” by Japanese Radio Station Jazz.net.
While working towards her master’s degree at NYU, Yayoi’s orchestra work for film was premiered at Lincoln Center in 2007. As a composer and arranger, Yayoi received commissions from Modern Music Society of Tokyo, the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, and Montreal-based sculpture David Baumflek.
Yayoi believes that Jazz is a social activity, and strives to learn from elders, collaborate with peers and pass it on to future generations. Yayoi has worked with such legendary artists as Reggie Workman, Michael Carvin, Howard Johnson, Butch Morris, Craig Harris, Michal Urbaniak, Frank Lacy, Salim Washington, Emeline Michel, James Germain, Daniel Bernard Roumain, The Meditations, etc. Yayoi holds a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance from New School University as well as one in International Studies from International Christian University, Tokyo Japan. More of her musical journey can be seen on www.yayoiikawa.net
With Poetic Theater Productions:
Keyboardist for A Feeling Good Ritual presented with Musical Theatre Factory, presented in Poetic License 2021: RITUAL
Featured Artist for Welcome Back Jam Session: Open Street, presented by Poetic Theater Productions, NYTW, and FABnyc