About

Misaki Nakamichi is a drummer from Osaka, Japan. She started playing the drums at the age of 10 and has performed
in various styles including jazz, funk/fusion, Latin, and pop. She received a Bachelor of Music in Performance fromBerklee College of Music as the full tuition scholarship recipient. In 2016, she moved to New York City where she playedwith various bands. In 2017, she was selected to be a part of Betty Carter Jazz Ahead, which is held in Washington, D.C.
In the same year, she played with Mao Soné Quartet at NY Blue Note and Blues Alley (Washington D.C.). She was also on
stage with Tiger Okoshi at Blues Alley. She has received numerous awards and honors such as “Yokohama Jazz
Promenade Competition 2010 Grand-Prix and Best Player Award”, “Kanazawa Jazz Competition 2010 Grand-Prix”,“Yamaha Young Performing Artists 2015 Jazz winner” to name a few. Currently, Misaki is pursuing her Master’s degree
at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute in Boston, MA.

Contact: 617-369-2279
misakibeat1@gmail.com

MusicQuotes“Misaki is a real talent. She was always leading a band and working a lot professionally in Japan before
coming to Berklee and has focused on bebop style of drumming but she has expanded her styles and her
thinking since being at Berklee. She is like a sponge. She takes in everything I show her deeply and is so
eager to learn and grasp everything possible. I have watched her grow over the years and am quite impressedwith her abilities. She has strong technique and coordination. I feel she is deserving and represents a newgeneration of young female drummers that are proving they can stand next to all the guys toe to toe. Istrongly feel she represents equality and balance in music, and in life, because she is a serious musician witha lot of talent.” – Terri Lyne Carrington (Grammy Award Winner/Berklee Professor)“She is not only a fantastic jazz/fusion/pop drummer, but she is a truly sincere, honest, hard working
wonderful person with beautiful smile always.” – Tiger Okoshi (Berklee Professor)“Misaki is a truly outstanding talent—a genuine gift to the world—who could play complex phrases witheffortless mastery and independence. She also possesses an excellent attitude and professional work ethicthat is essential for any developing performer.” – Jerry Leake (Berklee Professor)

Contact: 617-369-2279
misakibeat1@gmail.com

The Live Show
Notable or Recent Performances
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage (Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead 2017)
Blues Alley (Tiger Okoshi Quintet 2017)
Blue Note New York (Mao Sone Quartet 2017)
Blue Note Nagoya (Keiko Lee Band 2018)
Japan Tour with Gene Ess (Fractal Attraction 2018)
Maria Schneider Big Band (Generation Jazz 2018)

AwardsYokohama Jazz Promenade Competition 2010 “Grand-Prix” and “Best Player Award”
Kanazawa Jazz Competition 2010 “Grand-Prix”Berklee College of Music Full Scholarship 2013-2016
Yamaha Young Performing Artists 2016 "Jazz Winner"
Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead 2017
Generation Jazz 2018
Hit Like A Girl Drum Contest 2019 "Japan Champion”
Drum-off Global Competition 2019 "Grand Finalist"
Berklee Global Jazz Institute Master's Program Full Scholarship 2019-2020
Jazz Education Network Combo Competition 2020 “Sisters In Jazz”

Downloads
Long Bio

Short Bio

Contact: 617-369-2279
misakibeat1@gmail.com

PhotosStage PlotRider