Organist Akiko Tsuruga has risen to notoriety as a touring member of Lou Donald's quartet for the past several years, but her own band swings like anything. They should, Akiko is a monster on the Hammond B3 and the other members are all veteran old-school soul jazz musicians being alumni of Capitan Jack McDuff's band. They include tenor saxophonist Jerry Weldon, trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, and drummer Rudy Petschauer. They will be swinging at the Green Mill on Friday, July 20th starting at 9 p.m. and on Saturday, July 21st at 8 p.m.. For more great Hammond B3 sound, show up early on Friday to hear Chicago's own Chris Foreman solo on the B3 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday keep swinging all night with Sabertooth featuring Cameron Pfiffner on tenor sax, Pat Mallinger on alto & tenor sax, Pete Benson on Hammond B-3 organ, and Ted Sirota on drums from midnight until breakfast time..
Hailing from Osaka, Japan, the Hammond organist, Akiko Tsuruga has been a mainstay in the New York jazz scene since 2001. This talented young organist began playing the organ at the age of three and launched her career in jazz immediately after graduating from the Osaka College of Music. While living in Osaka, she had the opportunity to play with numerous world-renowned jazz musicians from the United States, such as Roy Hargrove, Jeff “Tain” Watts, and Grady Tate, to name just a few. Grady Tate, in particular, had the strongest influence on her decision to become a professional musician. Along with her teacher, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Akiko considers him to be one of her greatest mentors, and perhaps the musician she admires the most. Grady performed on her Japanese debut album and also convinced her to move to the United States.
After landing in the mecca of jazz, New York City, it didn’t take long for Akiko to make her mark. She was embraced by her fellow musicians and recognized as one of the top organ players in the city. A regular and crowd favorite at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola in Jazz at Lincoln Center, Akiko has headlined many well-known jazz venues, such as Blue Note, Birdland, Smoke, Green Mill in Chicago, and Yoshi’s in Oakland, CA.
Akiko’s first two US releases from 18th & Vine Records, Sweet and Funky and Oriental Express, have been ranked in the national jazz radio charts within Top 20. In a 2010 Down Beat magazine critic’s poll, Akiko was ranked in 6th place in the Rising Star category, and she became a regular in the Down Beat Poll since then. Her third US release album, Sakura from American Showplace Music Records, was released on February 14, 2012, and scored #7 on the national Jazz radio chart, the highest rank of her three US releases. Her CD release party was held at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola in New York in March 19, and the show was sold out in both sets.
She is keeping herself busy between her own group and Lou Donaldson Quartet. Recently she toured Japan and Europe with Lou Donaldson from March through June, and she will once again go on the road this summer touring the US with both Lou Donaldson Quartet and her own group. As her mentor, the legendary Dr. Lonnie Smith says that “she is spreading her wings in the music world,” and her future is bright and promising.
The Green Mill is located at 4802 N. Broadway Ave in Chicago. Call 773-878-5552 or visit www.greenmilljazz.com for more information. .
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