is a

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

composer,

Hammond B-3 The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond and John M. Hanert, first manufactured in 1935. Multiple models have been produced, most of which use sliding #Drawbars, drawbars to vary sounds. Until 1975, sound was created ...

organist and pianist from

Osaka is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the List of cities in Japan, third-most populous city in J ...

, Japan. She was born in Osaka. Her parents bought her a small organ when she was three and she started learning to play standards. At high school, she listened to Hammond B3 players including Jimmy Smith, then Charles Earland, Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff and Dr. Lonnie Smith. A graduate of the Osaka College of Music, she has resided in New York City since 2001. After moving to the US, she had lessons from Lonnie Smith. In addition to her solo work, she plays as a sideman in various groups in New York. She has accompanied

Lou Donaldson Louis Andrew Donaldson Jr. (November 1, 1926 – November 9, 2024) was an American jazz Alto saxophone, alto saxophonist. He was best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was he ...

since 2007.

Discography

* ''Harlem Dreams'' with

Grady Tate Grady Tate (January 14, 1932 – October 8, 2017) was an American jazz and soul-jazz drummer and baritone vocalist. In addition to his work as sideman, Tate released many albums as leader and lent his voice to songs in the animated ''Schoolhou ...

(2004, M & I) * ''Sweet and Funky'' (2006, M & I; 2007, 18th & Vine; 2018, AT Records) * ''St. Louis Blues'' (2007, Mojo) * ''NYC Serenade'' with

Jimmy Cobb Wilbur James "Jimmy" Cobb (January 20, 1929May 24, 2020) was an American jazz drummer. He was part of Miles Davis's First Great Sextet. He was awarded an NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship in 2009. Early life Cobb was born in Washington, D.C., on J ...

(2008, Mojo) * ''Oriental Express'' (2009, 18th & Vine) * ''Sakura'' (2011, 1-2-3-4 GO; American Showplace Music) * ''Commencement'' with

Jeff Hamilton Jeff Hamilton is the name of: *Jeff Hamilton (1840–1941), enslaved man and free servant of the Houston family. See Sam Houston and slavery § Jeff Hamilton *Jeff Hamilton (drummer) (born 1953), jazz drummer *Jeff Hamilton (baseball) Jeffrey Ro ...

and John Hart (2014, Somethin' Cool/ DIW; AT Records) * ''Pelham Parkway'' by Kevin Golden Trio (2016, Kevin Golden Productions) * ''So Cute, So Bad'' with Jeff Hamilton and Graham Dechter (2017, Somethin' Cool/DIW; AT Records) * ''Pride & Joy'' by Lioness ll female group(2019, Posi-Tone) * ''Equal Time'' with Jeff Hamilton and Graham Dechter (2019,

Capri Capri ( , ; ) is an island located in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrento Peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples in the Campania region of Italy. A popular resort destination since the time of the Roman Republic, its natural beauty ...

) * ''Beyond Nostalgia'' (2024,

SteepleChase SteepleChase Records is a jazz record company and label based in Copenhagen, Denmark. SteepleChase was founded in 1972 by Nils Winther, who was a student at Copenhagen University at the time. He began recording concerts at Jazzhus Montmartre, ...

) * ''Coast To Coast'' with Jeff Hamilton and Steve Kovalcheck (2025, R.M.I. Records)

References

External links

Akiko Tsuruga's official website
Year of birth missing (living people) 21st-century organists 21st-century Japanese women musicians Japanese jazz organists Japanese women organists Living people Musicians from Osaka {{Japan-musician-stub

Discography

See also

References

External links