Kyoko Kitamura
Encyclopedia
Kyoko Kitamura is a musician residing in New York City
, who combines different forms of vocal improvisation with real-time vocal processing using a laptop.
and raised partially in Tokyo
. She studied piano at the Juilliard School of Music prep division but later chose to become a TV reporter with Fuji Television
, a national network in Japan and was based in Paris
for many years as their French news correspondent.
After quitting her job, she moved back to NYC in 1997, worked as a freelance magazine writer for a few years before getting back into music after a hiatus of close to 15 years. Unusual for a vocalist, she honed craft as a sideperson-vocalist with NYC musicians such as bassist Reggie Workman
, saxophonist Steve Coleman
, cornet player Taylor Ho Bynum, Argentine composer/conductor Laura Andel
, and German pianist Ursel Schlicht, among others.
Mostly recently, she appears on Trillium E (New Braxton House 2011), the first ever studio-recording of an Anthony Braxton
opera. She currently works with Anthony Braxton as a vocalist in his Tri-Centric Orchestra and as a board member of his Tri-Centric Foundation.
's RKM Music label.
Discography as a sideperson includes Anthony Braxton
's Trillium E (New Braxton House 2011), Taylor Ho Bynum's Madeleine Dreams (Firehouse 12 Records 2009), Jamie Baum's Solace (Sunnyside Records 2008), Laura Andel Orchestra's Somnambulist (Red Toucan Records 2003), Laura Andel Electric Percussive Orchestra's In::tension:.(Rossbin Records October 2005), Steve Coleman's Lucidarium (Label Bleu 2004), and Ras Moshe's Live Spirits 2 & 4 (Utech Records).
, Taylor Ho Bynum, Jay Clayton
, Steve Coleman, Shane Endsley, Angie Eng (video artist), Gerry Hemingway
, Jason Hwang, Yayoi Ikawa, Mark Lamb (dancer), Art Lande
, Russ Lossing, Mike McGinnis
, Maria Mitchell (dancer), Tony Moreno, Ras Moshe, Kirk Nurock, Reuben Radding, Ursel Schlicht, Jim Staley, Take Toriyama, Reggie Workman, and others.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, who combines different forms of vocal improvisation with real-time vocal processing using a laptop.
Background
Kitamura was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and raised partially in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. She studied piano at the Juilliard School of Music prep division but later chose to become a TV reporter with Fuji Television
Fuji Television
is a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
, a national network in Japan and was based in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
for many years as their French news correspondent.
After quitting her job, she moved back to NYC in 1997, worked as a freelance magazine writer for a few years before getting back into music after a hiatus of close to 15 years. Unusual for a vocalist, she honed craft as a sideperson-vocalist with NYC musicians such as bassist Reggie Workman
Reggie Workman
Reginald "Reggie" Workman is an American avant-garde jazz and hard bop double bassist, recognized for his work with both John Coltrane and Art Blakey....
, saxophonist Steve Coleman
Steve Coleman
Steve Coleman, born , is an African American saxophone player, spontaneous composer, composer and band leader. His music and concepts have been a heavy influence on contemporary jazz.-Chicago:...
, cornet player Taylor Ho Bynum, Argentine composer/conductor Laura Andel
Laura Andel
-Biography:Laura Andel was born in Argentina of Moldovian heritage, and began music lessons in Buenos Aires at the age of five. She played woodwind as a child and began to compose at an early age...
, and German pianist Ursel Schlicht, among others.
Mostly recently, she appears on Trillium E (New Braxton House 2011), the first ever studio-recording of an Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton is an American composer, saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, pianist, and philosopher. Braxton has released well over 100 albums since the 1960s...
opera. She currently works with Anthony Braxton as a vocalist in his Tri-Centric Orchestra and as a board member of his Tri-Centric Foundation.
Discography
She co-led the avant/pop group ok|ok which released its first CD Eating Mantis in 2008 from Ravi ColtraneRavi Coltrane
Ravi Coltrane is an American post-bop jazz saxophonist. Co-owner of the record label RKM Music, he has produced artists such as pianist Luis Perdomo , guitarist David Gilmore and trumpeter Ralph Alessi....
's RKM Music label.
Discography as a sideperson includes Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton is an American composer, saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, pianist, and philosopher. Braxton has released well over 100 albums since the 1960s...
's Trillium E (New Braxton House 2011), Taylor Ho Bynum's Madeleine Dreams (Firehouse 12 Records 2009), Jamie Baum's Solace (Sunnyside Records 2008), Laura Andel Orchestra's Somnambulist (Red Toucan Records 2003), Laura Andel Electric Percussive Orchestra's In::tension:.(Rossbin Records October 2005), Steve Coleman's Lucidarium (Label Bleu 2004), and Ras Moshe's Live Spirits 2 & 4 (Utech Records).
Have performed and/or recorded with
Laura Andel Orchestra, Anthony BraxtonAnthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton is an American composer, saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, pianist, and philosopher. Braxton has released well over 100 albums since the 1960s...
, Taylor Ho Bynum, Jay Clayton
Jay Clayton
Jay Clayton is an internationally acclaimed avant-garde vocalist and jazz educator.- Early years :...
, Steve Coleman, Shane Endsley, Angie Eng (video artist), Gerry Hemingway
Gerry Hemingway
Gerry Hemingway is an American jazz composer and percussionist.He has performed with Ernst Reijseger, Anthony Davis, Earl Howard, Leo Smith, George Lewis, Anthony Braxton, Ray Anderson, Mark Helias, Reggie Workman, Michael Moore, Oliver Lake, Marilyn Crispell, Christy Doran, John Wolf Brennan, Don...
, Jason Hwang, Yayoi Ikawa, Mark Lamb (dancer), Art Lande
Art Lande
Art Lande is a jazz pianist, drummer, composer and educator.Born in New York City, he began piano at age 4, studied at Williams College, and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1969. He made the first record of his own compositions in 1973 for ECM Records, in a duo with saxophonist/flutist Jan...
, Russ Lossing, Mike McGinnis
Mike McGinnis
Mike McGinnis is an American saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer.-Biography:He began playing the alto saxophone at age ten in his middle school band but it was not until the age of 14 when he started studying with saxophonist/mouthpiece maker/repairman Bill Street that he devoted himself to...
, Maria Mitchell (dancer), Tony Moreno, Ras Moshe, Kirk Nurock, Reuben Radding, Ursel Schlicht, Jim Staley, Take Toriyama, Reggie Workman, and others.