AKIRA TANA and Friends From Osaka featuring organist, Atsuko Hashimoto and guitarist Yutaka Hashimoto are making their first appearance at Cleveland’s Bop Stop after performing at this year’s Monterey Jazz Festival on their way to three days at Lincon Center’s Dizzy’s in New York City. This trio is also celebrating a recent release, “Loving Burt Bacharach.”

Tickets for tonight are $25 (a $3 per ticket processing fee will be added to your purchase).

This event will also be livestreamed on BOP STOP's Youtube Channel at showtime. Accessing the stream is free but donations are encouraged and directly support the band.

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AKIRA TANA drums, percussion

Professional Studies: Harvard University, New England Conservatory

A self-taught drummer, Tana played semi-professionally while still at college. He attended Harvard University where he gained a degree in East Asian Studies/Sociology. He then studied at the New England Conservatory of Music, also taking private lessons from Vic Firth and other percussionists with the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops Orchestras and from jazz drummer Alan Dawson. During his studies he had the opportunity of working with Helen Humes, Milt Jackson, Sonny Rollins, Jaki Byard, George Russell, Sonny Stitt and other leading jazz musicians. He also played with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and several of the classical music ensembles at the New England Conservatory and at the Berkshire Music Festival at Tanglewood. In the early 80s he continued to accompany major artists such as Al Cohn, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Jim Hall, Jimmy Rowles, Zoot Sims and Cedar Walton. He also performed with artists outside the jazz world, including Charles Aznavour, Lena Horne, and Van Dyke Parks. Tana recorded extensively during these years and in addition to albums with some of the foregoing also appeared with Ran Blake, Chris Connor, Carl Fontana, Jimmy Heath, Tete Montoliu, Spike Robinson, Warne Marsh and many others.

In the early 90s Tana worked with James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Wess, Ray Bryant, J.J. Johnson, and the Manhattan Transfer, among others. With the bassist, Rufus Reid he formed the band TanaReid and, with Reid and Kei Akagi, the Asian American Jazz Trio. A technically accomplished drummer, Tana's wide range is hinted at by the musicians with whom he has worked. Comfortably at home accompanying singers and instrumental ballads, Tana is equally in his element playing hard bop. In the bands he co-led with Reid he generated an excitingly propulsive rhythmic drive. In addition to playing, Tana has also produced and co-produced several albums including those by TanaReid, the Asian American Jazz trio and Project G-7:A Tribute to Wes Montgomery featuring Kenny Burrell. Tana also has nine recordings as a leader, “Secret Agent Men” and “Moon Over the World,” and “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,”on Sons of Sound recordings. Another is “JAZZaNOVA” that features Branford Marsalis and Arturo Sandoval with vocalists, Clauida Villella, Sandy Cressman, Claudio Amaral, Jackie Ryan, amd Carla Helmbrecht. The most recent projects are four recordings by his group, “Otonowa.” These recording features jazz interpretations of Japanese folk and pop melodies that date back decades and even centuries. This group has completed seven tours of the earthquake/tsunami stricken areas of northern Japan since March 2013. Akira plays Yamaha Drums, Vic Firth Sticks and Sabian Cymbals exclusively. Tana is currently on the faculty at San Francisco Conservatory of Music and does the Jazz Oasis show regularly on KCSM Monday and Tuesday evenings from 6-10p.

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Yutaka was born in Osaka. He began playing guitar around age 14. He studied under Satoshi Inoue. He quickly began working with many Kansai musicians. He has performed with Dr. Lonnie Smith and has toured Japan with Bill Heid and Scott Peterson. In 2002, he performed at San Jose Jazz Festival, and also the White Noise International Jazz Festival. He has performed and recorded among others with Atsuko Hashimoto, Takayuki Yagi, Harvey Thompson and Jeff Hamilton In 2014 recorded his album "Hear You" with Wil Blade(org),Dylan Hicks(ds) and Hideki.

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Atsuko Hashimoto(organ)

Born in Osaka, Japan, Atsuko playing organ at age of four. At age 18, she started working for Hammond Japan, giving live organ demonstrations and instruction as a Hammond-certified teacher. At the 40th Naniwa Arts Festival in 2003, She received several awards for her outstanding achievements in music that includes the Shoji Nakayama Jazz Award; the Progressive Musician's Prize; and Awards from both the Governor and Mayor of Osaka. She has a toured with Jeff Hamilton and Houston Person on the West Coast and has at the performed at Port-Townsend Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival , and the Frank DeMiero Jazz Festival She currently maintains a busy schedule performing and teaching in Osaka. She is a mentor many young, up an coming jazz organists in the Osaka area.