ÿþ<html> <head> <META http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> <title>Makoto Kuriya Official Web Site. : Profile</title> <script src="js/kuriya.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="js/css_furiwake.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="css/main.css" type="text/css"> <script language="JavaScript"> <!-- setCSS(""); //--> </script> <style type="text/css"> <!-- body { background-color:#000033; } a:link { color:#ffffcc; text-decoration:none } a:visited { color:#ffffcc; text-decoration:none } a:active { color:#ffffcc; text-decoration:none; } a:hover { color:#ff6600; text-decoration:underline; } --> </style> </head> <body topmargin="20" marginheight="20" leftmargin="0"> <center> <a name="pagetop"></a> <map name="Map"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,14,46,69" href="../index.html"> </map> <!-- ****** HEADER_Area ****** --> <table width="720" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td bgcolor="#cccccc"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> </table> <table width="720" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr valign="top"> <td width="1" bgcolor="#cccccc"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="1" /></td> <td width="14"><img src="img/head_left_kasou.gif" width="14" height="84" /></td> <td width="47"><a href="http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/tothemax/index.html"><img src="img/logo_kasou.gif" width="47" height="84" alt="Logo" border="0" /></a></td> <td width="10"><img src="img/head_center_kasou.gif" width="10" height="84" alt="" /></td> <td width="456"><img src="img/head_title.gif" width="456" height="84" alt="Makoto Kuriya Official Web Site." /></td> <td width="45"><img src="img/head_title_rightgif.gif" width="45" height="84" alt="" /></td> <td width="146" background="img/bg_head_kasou.gif"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr background="./img/1dot.gif"> <td colspan="2"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="35" alt="" /></td> </tr> <tr background="./img/1dot.gif"> <td><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="9" height="1" alt="" /></td> <td><a href="http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/tothemax/index.html" onmouseover="Japanese.src='./img/bu_japanese_r.gif';return true;" onmouseout="Japanese.src='./img/bu_japanese.gif';return true;"><img name="Japanese" src="./img/bu_japanese.gif" border="0" width="73" height="13" alt="English" /></a></td> </tr> </table> </td> <td width="1" bgcolor="#cccccc"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> </table> <!-- ****** HEADER_Area ****** --> <!-- ***** Main_Area ***** --> <table width="720" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr valign="top"> <td width="1" bgcolor="#cccccc"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="1" /></td> <td width="572" bgcolor="#0F1F38"> <!-- ½%Contents_start½% --> <!-- title --> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td><img src="./img/title_profile_en.gif" width="572" height="37" alt="Profile" /></td> </tr> </table> <!-- title --> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100%" class="bgPro"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" background="img/1dot.gif"> <!-- ½%½%½% starting ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="98%" align="center"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="25" alt="" /></td> <td width="1%"> </td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% starting ³%³%³% --> <tr valign="top"> <td> </td> <td align="center"> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="10" alt="" /><br /> <!-- ***** menu ****** --> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" background="img/1dot.gif"> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100%" bgcolor="#cccccc"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="1" alt="" /></td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" background="./img/1dot.gif"> <tr> <td width="1%" bgcolor="#333333" valign="top"><img src="./img/contents.gif" width="54" height="12" vspace="5" hspace="5" alt="" /></td> <td width="99%" bgcolor="#333333"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" background="./img/1dot.gif"> <tr bgcolor="#333333"> <td><img src="img/1dot.gif" border="0" width="7" height="1" alt="" /></td> <td><img src="img/arrow.gif" border="0" width="5" height="5" hspace="5" vspace="2" alt="" /></td> <td><span class="txt14"><a href="#C2"> Who is Makoto Kuriya ? </a></span></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#333333"> <td><img src="img/1dot.gif" border="0" width="7" height="1" alt="" /></td> <td><img src="img/arrow.gif" border="0" width="5" height="5" hspace="5" vspace="2" alt="" /></td> <td><span class="txt14"><a href="#C3">Kuyira's Achievements</a></span></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#333333"> <td><img src="img/1dot.gif" border="0" width="7" height="1" alt="" /></td> <td><img src="img/arrow.gif" border="0" width="5" height="5" hspace="5" vspace="2" alt="" /></td> <td><span class="txt14"><a href="#C4">Aim for Impressed Music </a></span></td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" background="img/1dot.gif"> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100%" bgcolor="#cccccc"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="1" alt="" /></td> </tr> </table> <!-- ***** menu ****** --> <img src="./img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="30" alt="" /> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> </tr> <!-- ½%½%½% Who is Makoto Kuriya ? ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td> </td> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td colspan="2"><a name="C2"><img src="./img/title_s_C2.gif" border="0" width="431" height="18" alt="Who is Makoto Kuriya ?"></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="5" alt="" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" background="./img/bg_work.gif"> <tr valign="top"> <td valign="top"> <span class="txt14">Makoto Kuriya started his career as a jazz pianist when he was still a student at the University in USA. Kuriya moved to the United States immediately after high school graduation and later graduated from West Virginia University with linguistics major. Kuriya mainly performed on the East coast with famous jazz artists. </span><br /><br /> <img src="img/atparis.jpg" width="150" height="111" alt="at Paris" align="right" /> <span class="txt14">After returning to Japan, Kuriya released more than 10 jazz albums till now and diversified his works in order to give a new life to jazz, he became a composer and a writer. With ever-lasting curiosity and sensibility for music, Kuriya's activities are expanding with various genres. He not only enlightens jazz but also collaborates it with classical music, produces Japanese pop songs, composes cinema music and creates tracks for club music. </span><br /><br /> <span class="txt14">Kuriya is not only a genuine jazz pianist, but also has a good command of MIDI instruments to create new sounds. He also creates orchestra scores. Kuriya's comprehensive achievements and high-end performances show how he is a significant artist in the world. He says, " I always want to produce brand-new music to make open existent jazz scene which tends to close". </span> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% Who is Makoto Kuriya ? ³%³%³% --> <!-- ½%½%½% TOP OF PAGE ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="92" height="1" /></td> <td width="98%"> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /><br /> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" background="img/1dot.gif"> <tr> <td align="right"><a href="#pagetop" onmouseover="pagetop3.src='./img/bu_top_r.gif';return true;" onmouseout="pagetop3.src='./img/bu_top.gif';return true;"><img name="pagetop3" src="./img/bu_top.gif" border="0" width="77" height="7" alt="TOP OF PAGE" /></a></td> </tr> </table> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /><br /> </td> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="13" height="1" /></td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% TOP OF PAGE ³%³%³% --> <!-- ½%½%½% Herbie Hancock Applauded Kuriya's Unique Talents ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td> </td> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" background="./img/bg_work.gif"> <tr valign="top"> <td> <img src="./img/title_s_C2_1.gif" border="0" width="431" height="18" alt="Herbie Hancock Applauded Kuriya's Unique Talents"><br /><br /> <img src="img/p_2.jpg" width="130" height="142" alt="East Coast Style" align="left" /><span class="txt14">When he was still in the University, he participated in many jazz festivals joining in a group of Chuck Mangione who won two Grammy Awards in 1976 and 1978, and also Nathan Davis who is an authoritative music historian. He also performed with many great artists including Donald Byrd, Tom Brown, Toots Thielemans , James Moody.</span><br /><br /> <span class="txt14">In 1990, he released the first contemporary jazz album. It incorporated his own taste and original "East Coast Style," into the album, which made a profound impact on Japanese jazz scene. The same year, he won the first prize of young pianist division for Swing Journal in this year. (he also received prizes for composer/ combo dept.) </span><br /><br /> <span class="txt14">Then, he released leader albums with congenial friends; James Genus , Marvin "Smitty" Smith , Gary Thomas. His talent was applauded by the jazz master, Herbie Hancock, at the jazz club where he performed.</span> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% Herbie Hancock Applauded Kuriya's Unique Talents ³%³%³% --> <!-- ½%½%½% TOP OF PAGE ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="92" height="1" /></td> <td width="98%"> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /><br /> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" background="img/1dot.gif"> <tr> <td align="right"><a href="#pagetop" onmouseover="pagetop4.src='./img/bu_top_r.gif';return true;" onmouseout="pagetop4.src='./img/bu_top.gif';return true;"><img name="pagetop4" src="./img/bu_top.gif" border="0" width="77" height="7" alt="TOP OF PAGE" /></a></td> </tr> </table> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /><br /> </td> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="13" height="1" /></td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% TOP OF PAGE ³%³%³% --> <!-- ½%½%½% What's New Generation Jazz? --- Meets Evangelion ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td> </td> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td><a name="C3"><img src="./img/title_s_C3.gif" border="0" width="431" height="18" alt="Kuyira's Achievements"></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" background="./img/bg_work.gif"> <tr> <td> <img src="./img/title_s_C3_1.gif" border="0" width="431" height="18" alt="What's New Generation Jazz? --- Meets Evangelion"><br /><br /> <img src="img/p_3.jpg" width="128" height="137" alt="Evangelion" align="right" /> <span class="txt14">Despite his success, he was concerned that jazz music would not be acceptable to general audience because it seems that this type of music is only for partial audiences. He was wondering if there is jazz what Japanese people want. During this struggle, he was offered chanced to play an ending song "Fly Me To The Moon" for a TV animation "Evangelion".</span><br /><br /> <span class="txt14">The TV animation became a social phenomenon and Kuriya's ending theme also made a great hit. This led Kuriya to search for different level in Japanese jazz scene. </span> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% What's New Generation Jazz? --- Meets Evangelion ³%³%³% --> <!-- ½%½%½% TOP OF PAGE ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="92" height="1" /></td> <td width="98%"> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /><br /> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" background="img/1dot.gif"> <tr> <td align="right"><a href="#pagetop" onmouseover="pagetop5.src='./img/bu_top_r.gif';return true;" onmouseout="pagetop5.src='./img/bu_top.gif';return true;"><img name="pagetop5" src="./img/bu_top.gif" border="0" width="77" height="7" alt="TOP OF PAGE" /></a></td> </tr> </table> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /><br /> </td> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="13" height="1" /></td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% TOP OF PAGE ³%³%³% --> <!-- ½%½%½% His New Vision "Antitheses" Launched into The Jazz Scence ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td> </td> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="5" alt="" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" background="./img/bg_work.gif"> <tr valign="top"> <td> <img src="./img/title_s_C3_2.gif" border="0" width="431" height="36" alt="His New Vision 'Antitheses' Launched into The Jazz Scence"><br /><br /> <img src="img/p_4.jpg" width="127" height="139" alt="Antitheses" align="left" /> <span class="txt14">In 1998, Kuriya released the album "Antitheses" gathered TV animation theme songs in the jazz style. He attempted to create popular jazz by arranging such melodies to attain young generation, which was already widely taken as a Japanese sub-culture. He emphasized it should not be easily planned, but thought careful. This was a huge success because of its quality of music, and also talent of the melody that attracted many people.</span><br /><br /> <span class="txt14">The following year, he released the second album "Antitheses#2". This work was written up in a major Japanese newspapers; Nikkei, Yomiuri, Sankei as an influential musician. Today, there are many similar type of work done by other artists, but Kuriya was certainly the pioneer among the "Japanese standard jazz" artists. </span><br /><br /> <span class="txt14">In 2002, in order to make sure a milestone for Japanese standard jazz, Kuriya produced an album "TV JAZZ ANTHOLOGY". It covered TV hit theme songs from '70s to '80s. The album got a great reputation for getting together Japanese young jazz artists who have unlimited capabilities.</span> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% His New Vision "Antitheses" Launched into The Jazz Scence ³%³%³% --> <!-- ½%½%½% TOP OF PAGE ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="92" height="1" /></td> <td width="98%"> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /><br /> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" background="img/1dot.gif"> <tr> <td align="right"><a href="#pagetop" onmouseover="pagetop6.src='./img/bu_top_r.gif';return true;" onmouseout="pagetop6.src='./img/bu_top.gif';return true;"><img name="pagetop6" src="./img/bu_top.gif" border="0" width="77" height="7" alt="TOP OF PAGE" /></a></td> </tr> </table> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /><br /> </td> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="13" height="1" /></td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% TOP OF PAGE ³%³%³% --> <!-- ½%½%½% Transformation from Jazz Pianist to Producer ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td> </td> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="5" alt="" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" background="./img/bg_work.gif"> <tr valign="top"> <td> <img src="./img/title_s_C3_3.gif" border="0" width="431" height="18" alt="Transformation from Jazz Pianist to Producer"><br /><br /> <img src="img/p_5.jpg" width="130" height="140" alt="Double Circle" align="left" /> <span class="txt14">From 1998 to 2000, Kuriya joined a solo project for Takeshi Ito who is the magnitude of popular fusion group; T-SQUARE. From this point, Kuriya started his career as a music producer. He created/arranged two albums "Double Circle" and "Turn Over"; simultaneously and directed the tour. </span><br /><br /> <span class="txt14">Kuriya entirely featured dance beat music on Ito's numbers and opened Ito's new world. Surprisingly Kuriya's producing technique was accepted among the critics of major reviews. Kuriya also produced the stage direction in Ito's tour that included DJs and dancers. He was given high applause. </span> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% Transformation from Jazz Pianist to Producer ³%³%³% --> <!-- ½%½%½% TOP OF PAGE ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="92" height="1" /></td> <td width="98%"> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /><br /> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" background="img/1dot.gif"> <tr> <td align="right"><a href="#pagetop" onmouseover="pagetop7.src='./img/bu_top_r.gif';return true;" onmouseout="pagetop7.src='./img/bu_top.gif';return true;"><img name="pagetop7" src="./img/bu_top.gif" border="0" width="77" height="7" alt="TOP OF PAGE" /></a></td> </tr> </table> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /><br /> </td> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="13" height="1" /></td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% TOP OF PAGE ³%³%³% --> <!-- ½%½%½% Bridge Between Jazz and Pops --- Music Producing for Ken Hirai ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td> </td> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="5" alt="" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" background="./img/bg_work.gif"> <tr valign="top"> <td> <img src="./img/title_s_C3_4.gif" border="0" width="431" height="36" alt="Bridge Between Jazz and Pops --- Music Producing for Ken Hirai"><br /><br /> <span class="txt14">Since 2001, he has been producing/providing songs for J-pop artist Ken Hirai. Hirai is always on the hit chart and one of the million seller artists in Japanese music scene. Hirai experienced to do recording "MTV Unplugged" in NY and producing for Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.</span><br /><br /> <img src="img/p_8.jpg" width="130" height="140" alt="Ken Hirai2" align="right" /> <span class="txt14">Kuriya's work for Hirai is pops music with a jazz taste which is a challenge to create new jazz standard. Kuriya thinks that his mission is to deliver his sophisticated sound to all music lovers. </span><br /><br /> <span class="txt14">Other than this, Kuriya creates themes songs for TV/FM programs, BGM for theater movies and commercial and even for fashion shows. Every work that he has done shows his identity, which is a perfect fusion of high quality of jazz and popular music, which had great review.</span> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% Bridge Between Jazz and Pops --- Music Producing for Ken Hirai ³%³%³% --> <!-- ½%½%½% TOP OF PAGE ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="92" height="1" /></td> <td width="98%"> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /><br /> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" background="img/1dot.gif"> <tr> <td align="right"><a href="#pagetop" onmouseover="pagetop8.src='./img/bu_top_r.gif';return true;" onmouseout="pagetop8.src='./img/bu_top.gif';return true;"><img name="pagetop8" src="./img/bu_top.gif" border="0" width="77" height="7" alt="TOP OF PAGE" /></a></td> </tr> </table> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /><br /> </td> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="13" height="1" /></td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% TOP OF PAGE ³%³%³% --> <!-- ½%½%½% Club Units --- Rhythm of Elements ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td> </td> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="5" alt="" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" background="./img/bg_work.gif"> <tr valign="top"> <td> <img src="./img/title_s_C3_5.gif" border="0" width="431" height="18" alt="Club Units --- Rhythm of Elements"><br /><br /> <img src="img/p_9.jpg" width="200" height="130" alt="Rhythm Of Elements" align="right" /> <span class="txt14">Kuriya also tried an authentic approach that is appropriate to the club scene, instead of imitating other standard club music. He has presented live events "PREMIER" with DJ Masahiko Uchikawa "Rhythm Of Elements" that originated from Tokyo "fai" or Ueda "LOFT". As guest performers, Kei Kobayashi , Tadashi Yabe , Dominic Dawson , Kaoru Inoue , Benny Maupin , John B. Williams , Hiromitsu Agatsuma , Isao Suzuki , TOKU were on the stage. </span><br /><br /> <span class="txt14">Especially, a special collaboration of DJ and Japanese traditional instruments was popular among the audience. In recent years, Kuriya has devoted on composing original sound tracks for "Rhythm Of Elements". Some of the numbers already got offers from Prescription label (Chicago) and Black Vinyl (London). The mixed "jazzy" feeling in club music is very common recently, but Kuriya practiced this type of approach from the start. </span> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% Club Units --- Rhythm of Elements ³%³%³% --> <!-- ½%½%½% TOP OF PAGE ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="92" height="1" /></td> <td width="98%"> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /><br /> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" background="img/1dot.gif"> <tr> <td align="right"><a href="#pagetop" onmouseover="pagetop9.src='./img/bu_top_r.gif';return true;" onmouseout="pagetop9.src='./img/bu_top.gif';return true;"><img name="pagetop9" src="./img/bu_top.gif" border="0" width="77" height="7" alt="TOP OF PAGE" /></a></td> </tr> </table> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /><br /> </td> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="13" height="1" /></td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% TOP OF PAGE ³%³%³% --> <!-- ½%½%½% Project with Masataka Hirano (classic saxophonist) ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td> </td> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" background="./img/bg_work.gif"> <tr valign="top"> <td> <img src="./img/title_s_C3_6.gif" border="0" width="431" height="18" alt="Project with Masataka Hirano (classic saxophonist)"><br /><br /> <span class="txt14">Kuriya's challenges extended to classical music. He collaborated with Masataka Hirano; the first Japanese saxophonist won the international competition, offered to join in his live performances. </span><br /><br /> <img src="img/p_10.jpg" width="105" height="120" alt="Jurassic" align="left" /> <span class="txt14">Kuriya selected the artists for the events and arranged for Hirano, and the live performances carried out nation-wide. They recorded an album "Jurassic". Entitled "Sonata for Alt sax and Piano "(jazz improvisation with original composition) was highly admired by the composer, Denisov's family. </span><br /><br /> <span class="txt14">After the big project, Kuriya and Hirano still continue to perform at prestigious halls.</span><br /><br /> <span class="txt14">Even though Kuriya does not have any formal music education, the self-educated artist has very good review in his performances. He has many offers to perform at the concert halls, and also continues to receive offers to produce concerts.</span> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% Project with Masataka Hirano (classic saxophonist) ³%³%³% --> <!-- ½%½%½% TOP OF PAGE ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="92" height="1" /></td> <td width="98%"> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /><br /> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" background="img/1dot.gif"> <tr> <td align="right"><a href="#pagetop" onmouseover="pagetop10.src='./img/bu_top_r.gif';return true;" onmouseout="pagetop10.src='./img/bu_top.gif';return true;"><img name="pagetop10" src="./img/bu_top.gif" border="0" width="77" height="7" alt="TOP OF PAGE" /></a></td> </tr> </table> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /><br /> </td> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="13" height="1" /></td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% TOP OF PAGE ³%³%³% --> <!-- ½%½%½% Execution for Film Music with Hiromitus Agatsuma --- Tsugaru-Shamisen(Japanese Traditional Guitar) Player ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td> </td> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="5" alt="" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" background="./img/bg_work.gif"> <tr valign="top"> <td> <img src="./img/title_s_C3_7.gif" border="0" width="431" height="36" alt="Execution for Film Music with Hiromitus Agatsuma --- Tsugaru-Shamisen(Japanese Traditional Guitar) Player"><br /><br /> <img src="img/p_11.jpg" width="129" height="155" alt="Nitaboh" align="right" /> <span class="txt14">In 2002, Kuriya worked for the animation movie "Nitaboh" as a music director, and wrote for a full orchestra. The movie shows the biography of "Nitaboh", who is a pioneer of establishing the style for "Tsugaru-Shamisen". It is now appointed as a recommended film by Ministry of Education. </span><br /><br /> <span class="txt14">In this sound track, the well-renounced Japanese shamisen artist, Hiromitsu Agatsuma, and upcoming young singer Yae joined. The mixed chorus 100-piece orchestra, Warsaw Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performed as well, recorded at Warsaw National Philharmonic Hall. Since this story portrays a musician, the music plays an important role and this soundtrack was expected to have a very high quality. However, Kuriya managed this work perfectly and created a beautiful piece. The music emphasizes the story dramatically, and received very high remarks as a work of art. </span><br /><br /> <span class="txt14">This film received the "best picture award" by "Reel 2 Real International Film Festival for Youth" in Canada 2005, and is invited by those film fetivals in Prague and Lyon. In 2006, Kuriya's second film, Furusato-Japan will be released with even more emphasis on music for its own story of good old Japan in the fifty's. </span> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% Execution for Film Music with Hiromitus Agatsuma --- Tsugaru-Shamisen(Japanese Traditional Guitar) Player ³%³%³% --> <!-- ½%½%½% TOP OF PAGE ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="92" height="1" /></td> <td width="98%"> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /><br /> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" background="img/1dot.gif"> <tr> <td align="right"><a href="#pagetop" onmouseover="pagetop11.src='./img/bu_top_r.gif';return true;" onmouseout="pagetop11.src='./img/bu_top.gif';return true;"><img name="pagetop11" src="./img/bu_top.gif" border="0" width="77" height="7" alt="TOP OF PAGE" /></a></td> </tr> </table> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /><br /> </td> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="13" height="1" /></td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% TOP OF PAGE ³%³%³% --> <!-- ½%½%½% Aim for Impressed Music ½%½%½% --> <tr valign="top"> <td> </td> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td colspan="2"><a name="C4"><img src="./img/title_s_C4.gif" border="0" width="431" height="18" alt="Aim for Impressed Music"></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="5" alt="" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" background="./img/bg_work.gif"> <tr valign="top"> <td> <img src="img/p_12.jpg" width="123" height="135" alt="Latin Touch" align="left" /> <span class="txt14">Kuriya has been heavily influenced by the black community in his playing spirit from the school age, and is now known for very powerful, soulful playing . Also, his sensitivities for clear, transparent tones and the sharp rhythmic figures are always stunning the audiences. Lately, Kuriya has been focusing more on the artistic and the romantic sides of his musical style. </span><br /><br /> <span class="txt14">In 2003, Kuriya recorded his image of the "Latin Europe" onto the album "Latin Touch", featuring in part songs of Satie and Michael Legrand as well as Kuriya's originals. The fundamental tracks are piano and computer-based rhythm section and on the top, Kuriya added nicely re-harmonized strings section, fully expressing the own sophisticated sense of the modern harmony. 0The album results in attracting a number of female audiences and the melodies were adopted as an insert for soap operas and commercials.</span><br /><br /> <span class="txt14">Ever since the debut performance at Unesco, Paris in 2004, Kuriya has been often asked to come back for more performances in Europe. Kuriya made a return trip, the 1st own European tour in 2005 and recorded a solo album "Paris to the moon". The 2nd own European tour in 2006 included performances at "the City of London Festival" and several return sets in France and Germany . Near the end of 2006, Kuriya released a trio album "My Music is Your Music" on Columbia. In the same year, Kuriya produced a joint project "Japan-Australia Jazz Orchestra" and toured the both countries. <br> The third European tour in 2007 includes performances in France and Italy, and performances at Tan Jazz festival as one of the featured artists in Morocco. </span><br><br> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/makotokuriya" target="_blank">[Makoto Kuriya myspace: http://www.myspace.com/makotokuriya]</a><br> <a href="live.html" target="_blank">[Makoto Kuriya Egypt-Europe Tour 2010]</a> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <!-- ³%³%³% Aim for Impressed Music ³%³%³% --> </table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" background="img/1dot.gif"> <tr valign="top"> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="92" height="1" /></td> <td width="98%"> <!-- TOP OF PAGE --> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="20" /><br /> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" background="img/1dot.gif"> <tr> <td align="right"><a href="#pagetop" onmouseover="pagetop.src='./img/bu_top_r.gif';return true;" onmouseout="pagetop.src='./img/bu_top.gif';return true;"><img name="pagetop" src="./img/bu_top.gif" border="0" width="77" height="7" alt="TOP OF PAGE" /></a></td> </tr> </table> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="5" /><br /> <!-- TOP OF PAGE --> </td> <td width="1%"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="13" height="1" /></td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> <img src="../img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="5" /> <table width="97%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" background="../img/1dot.gif"> <tr> <td align="right"> <span class="txt12"> <a href="http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/tothemax/" target="_blank">Makoto Kuriya Official Web Site Home : Japanese jazz pianist, music composer</a></span> </td> </tr> </table> <!--ØšU0-Šš[(u--> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="30" /><br /> <!--ØšU0-Šš[(u--> <!-- ³%³0ó0Æ0ó0Ä0S0S0~0g0³% --> </td> <td width="1" bgcolor="#cccccc"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="1" /></td> <td width="145" bgcolor="#000000" align="center"> <!-- ½%navi½% --> <img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="30" /><br /> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <!-- *** Profile *** --> <tr align="center"> <td><a href="index.html" onmouseover="home2.src='img/bu_home2_r.gif';return true;" onmouseout="home2.src='img/bu_home2.gif';return true;"><img name="home2" src="img/bu_home2.gif" border="0" width="123" height="25" alt="Home2" /></a></td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td><a href="./profile.html"><img name="profile" src="img/bu_profile_r.gif" border="0" width="123" height="25" alt="Profile" /></a></td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td><a href="work_self.html" onmouseover="works.src='img/bu_works_r.gif';return true;" onmouseout="works.src='img/bu_works.gif';return true;"><img name="works" src="img/bu_works.gif" border="0" width="123" height="25" alt="Works" /></a></td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td><a href="live.html" onmouseover="live.src='img/bu_live_r.gif';return true;" onmouseout="live.src='img/bu_live.gif';return true;"><img name="live" src="img/bu_live.gif" border="0" width="123" height="25" alt="Live" /></a></td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="12" /></td> </tr> <!-- Plofile --> <!--<tr align="center"> <td><a href="./index.html"><img name="plofile1" src="img/menu/bu_profile_plofile_r.gif" border="0" width="123" height="9" alt="Plofile" /></a></td> </tr>--> <!-- Plofile --> <!--<tr align="center"> <td><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="10" /></td> </tr>--> <!--<tr align="center"> <td><img src="img/menu/line.gif" width="123" height="1" alt="" /></td> </tr>--> <!-- *** Profile *** --> </table> <!-- ³%navi³% --> </td> <td width="1" bgcolor="#cccccc"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> </table> <!-- ****** Footer_Area ****** --> <table width="720" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td bgcolor="#cccccc"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> </table> <table width="720" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td bgcolor="#cccccc"><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="1" height="1" /></td> <td width="718" height="27" background="img/bg_footer.gif"> <!-- Editor's Note & Contacts --> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td><img src="img/1dot.gif" width="20" height="1" alt="" /></td> <td><a href="#" onclick="opWin('./contacts.html','contacts','500','500'); 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