ASUKA KAKITANI

After she was awarded the BMI Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize in 2006, Japanese-born New York City-based jazz composer/arranger Asuka Kakitani founded her 18-piece band, the Asuka Kakitani Jazz Orchestra featuring some of the greatest musicians in New York City, such as Mark Ferber, Jason Rigby, John O’Gallagher, Pete McCann, John Bailey and more. AKJO has been performing Asuka’s music in venues in the New York City area such as Bowery Poetry Club, St. Peter’s Church, the Gershwin Hotel, and regularly at the Tea Lounge as a part of the “Size Matters” large ensemble series. Other recent awards include the prestigious Manny Albam Commission in 2007 and Composer Assistance Grants from the American Music Center in 2009 and 2010. AKJO recorded their debut album in June 2011 at Systems Two recording studio in Brooklyn, NY. Since Asuka moved to New York in 2005, she was able to discover her own unique read more...