The leader of this captivating debut album, Yoko Yates is the celebrated composer of the soundtrack for the award-winning documentary film Mothers' Way, Daughters' Choice filmed in NYC.
The pianist/composer/educator grew up in Hokkaido, Japan, the northernmost island where the vast ancient and ingenious nature is still intact. Yates' compositional style and ideas are hugely influenced and inspired by her formative years surrounded by this unique environment. Graduating from Berklee with a B.A. in music, summa cum laude, she went on to receive a Master's degree in education from Lesley University in Cambridge (MA). She furthered her studies at Columbia University, Teachers College (NY) for doctoral study in music education. While being a member of the piano faculty at Greenwich House Music School in Manhattan and at Brooklyn Conservatory of Music since 1996, Yoko has maintained a performing career as a pianist and sometimes as a vocalist and has been particularly active as a composer.
"Yoko Yates' finely crafted original compositions shine brightly with beautiful performances by all. This is a noteworthy first CD." - Scott Lee - producer
"Yoko's music is imaginative, fun, beautiful and natural. It incorporates a variety of genres and has an emotional depth that hits my heart. Her unique style appeals not only to jazz enthusiasts but to a broader audience". - Dave Gahan, Depeche Mode
Yoko Yates: piano
Jamie Baum: flute, alto flute
Sam Sadigursky: clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone
Aryeh Kobrinsky: bass
Jeff Hirshfield: drums
