YORIYUKI HARADA
Genres: Avant-Garde Jazz, Eclectic Fusion • Japan

Yorijuki Harada (b. 1948) is a self-taught pianist. He graduated from the Kunitachi Music College as a clarinettist, but before long started feeling dissatisfaction with strict canons of classical music. Upon graduation, he and his schoolmate and improvisation partner Kazutoki Umezu went to New York, where they made their first recording at Seikatsu Koujon linkai New York Branch. After returning to Japan in 1976, the two friends formed Shudan-Sokai quartet with Mori Junji and Kikuchi Takashi. Two years later they have gathered together other compatriots and the quartet grew into Seikatsu-Kojo-iinkai Orchestra, the collective that earned recognition throughout Japan for its humorous appearances. After quitting his work in the Orchestra, Yoriyuki Harada collaborated with Andrew Cyrille, Tristan Honsinger, Henry Grimes, Tobias Delius, Togashi Masahiko and many other improvisers. However, he has never tried to live from music or seek any type of support from the music industry because this would be boring. For read more...