Meg Okura
Encyclopedia
Meg Okura is a jazz violinist, ehru player, composer
and leader of the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, based in New York City
. She is also a member of the band Pharaoh's Daughter
, led by Basya Schechter.
Okura was born in Tokyo, Japan. She has bachelor's and master's degrees from The Juilliard School, and worked with jazz and pop legends such as Michael Brecker
, Lee Konitz
, Dianne Reeves
, Steve Swallow
, David Bowie
and Mariko Takahashi
. Okura has also been the featured violinist in the Cirque du Soleil
shows Varekai
, Corteo
and Wintuk.
Jerome Composers Commissioning Program (JCCP), Independent Music Awards, Meet the Composer
Metlife Creative Connections Grant, UAI/NYC Urban Artist Initiative / NYC, American University
Saxophone Symposium Composition Contest.
With Other Artists (Partial List)
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and leader of the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, based in New York City
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...
. She is also a member of the band Pharaoh's Daughter
Pharaoh's Daughter
Pharaoh's Daughter is a world music band from New York City. Their music is a mix of American folk, Jewish klezmer, and Middle Eastern sounds.The bandleader is Basya Schechter...
, led by Basya Schechter.
Okura was born in Tokyo, Japan. She has bachelor's and master's degrees from The Juilliard School, and worked with jazz and pop legends such as Michael Brecker
Michael Brecker
Michael Leonard Brecker was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Acknowledged as "a quiet, gentle musician widely regarded as the most influential tenor saxophonist since John Coltrane," he has been awarded 15 Grammy Awards as both performer and composer and was inducted into Down Beat Jazz...
, Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz is an American jazz composer and alto saxophonist born in Chicago, Illinois.Generally considered one of the driving forces of Cool Jazz, Konitz has also performed successfully in bebop and avant-garde settings...
, Dianne Reeves
Dianne Reeves
Dianne Reeves is an American jazz singer. She currently lives in Denver, Colorado.-Early life:Reeves was born in Detroit, Michigan to a very musical family. Her father, who died when she was two years old, was also a singer. Her mother, Vada Swanson, played trumpet. A cousin, George Duke, is a...
, Steve Swallow
Steve Swallow
Steve Swallow is a jazz double bass and bass guitarist and composer born in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.One of the leading bassists in jazz, Swallow is noted for collaborations with Jimmy Giuffre, Gary Burton and Carla Bley...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and Mariko Takahashi
Mariko Takahashi (singer)
is a Japanese female singer. She is known for her ballad pop songs. She began her singing career in 1973 singing covers, but soon progressed to writing her own songs...
. Okura has also been the featured violinist in the Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
shows Varekai
Varekai
Varekai is a Cirque du Soleil touring production that premiered in Montréal in April 2002. Its title means "wherever" in the Romani language, and the show is an "acrobatic tribute to the nomadic soul"....
, Corteo
Corteo
Corteo is a Cirque du Soleil touring production that premiered in Montreal, Canada on April 21, 2005. As of May 24, 2005, Cirque du Soleil had broken its record of spectators for the première location in Montreal; more than 200,000 people had viewed the production, far outpacing the prior record...
and Wintuk.
Honors
Okura has received numerous honors and awards both as composer and violinist, including American Composers ForumAmerican Composers Forum
The American Composers Forum is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the promotion and assistance of American composers and their music. It was founded in 1973 as the Minnesota Composers Forum and is based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States...
Jerome Composers Commissioning Program (JCCP), Independent Music Awards, Meet the Composer
Meet the Composer
Meet the Composer is an American organization founded in 1974 by the composer John Duffy as a project of the New York State Council on the Arts. It seeks to assist composers in making a living through writing music by sponsoring commissioning, residency, education, and audience interaction...
Metlife Creative Connections Grant, UAI/NYC Urban Artist Initiative / NYC, American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
Saxophone Symposium Composition Contest.
Discography
As A Leader- Naima (Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble) (2010)
- Meg Okura's Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble (2006)
- Be Thou My Vision (Life Music Japan)
- Peace In My Heart (Life Music Japan)(1998)
- Never Alone (Life Music Japan)(2000)
With Other Artists (Partial List)
- Candelabra Cadabra by Patti RothbergPatti RothbergPatti Rothberg is a New York-based singer, songwriter, recording artist, multi-instrumentalist, and painter/artist.Born in New York City Rothberg grew up in Scarsdale, NY, playing piano from the age of 3 and writing songs by the age of 15, joining a high school Rod Stewart cover band.Rothberg...
(2000) - Global Unity by Sam NewsomeSam NewsomeSam Newsome is an American jazz saxophonist and composer. His music combines an eclectic mix of straight-ahead jazz, world music and extended techniques...
(2001) - Heathen by David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
(2002) - Slow Burn by David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
(2002) - Exile by Pharaoh's Daughter (2002)
- Dragonfly by Ziggy MarleyZiggy MarleyDavid "Ziggy" Marley is a Jamaican musician and leader of the band Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. He is the oldest son of famed reggae musician Bob Marley...
(2003) - Don't Take Your TimeDon't Take Your TimeDon't Take Your Time is the first major studio album released by jazz vocalist Erin Bode. It was recorded over two days at the beginning of December 2003 and released on June 8, 2004 by the label Max Jazz...
by Erin BodeErin BodeErin Bode is an American singer, reluctant to be classified as a jazz vocalist. Though Bode began her recording career in 2001, she has already garnered much praise...
(2003) - Times Like This by Heidi Grant Murphy (2003)
- Close To My Heart by Jeremy Pelt (2003)
- Another Girl by YOLA (2003)
- L'Aventura by Dean & Britta (2003)
- Christmas Time Is Here by Dianne ReevesDianne ReevesDianne Reeves is an American jazz singer. She currently lives in Denver, Colorado.-Early life:Reeves was born in Detroit, Michigan to a very musical family. Her father, who died when she was two years old, was also a singer. Her mother, Vada Swanson, played trumpet. A cousin, George Duke, is a...
(2004) - L'Histoire Du Clochard: The Bum's Tale by Steve SwallowSteve SwallowSteve Swallow is a jazz double bass and bass guitarist and composer born in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.One of the leading bassists in jazz, Swallow is noted for collaborations with Jimmy Giuffre, Gary Burton and Carla Bley...
(2004) - While the Music Lasts by Jesse HarrisJesse HarrisJesse Harris is a Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter. He has collaborated with several musical artists including Norah Jones, Melody Gardot, Madeleine Peyroux, Nikki Yanofsky, and Lizz Wright.-Early life and education:...
(2004) - Baila! Gitano Baila! by Roberto Rodriguez (2004)
- Queen's Dominion by Basya Schechter (2004)
- Three Fingers by Roger Sisters (2004)
- Oy Vey! Ole! by Roberto Juan Rodriguez (2006)
- Haran by Pharaoh's DaughterPharaoh's DaughterPharaoh's Daughter is a world music band from New York City. Their music is a mix of American folk, Jewish klezmer, and Middle Eastern sounds.The bandleader is Basya Schechter...
(2007) - Welcome To My Bad Behavior by edibleRed (2007)
- Blood Pressure by George ColliganGeorge ColliganGeorge Colligan is a New York-based jazz pianist, organist, drummer, trumpet player, educator, composer and bandleader. He was born in New Jersey, and raised in a suburb of Baltimore, Maryland. He attended the Peabody Institute, majoring in classical trumpet and music education...
(2008) - First Basket by Roberto Juan Rodriguez (2009)
- In My Life by Rondi CharlestonRondi CharlestonRondi Charleston is a Juilliard-educated jazz vocalist and songwriter with four albums to her credit. She is also an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning television journalist and investigative reporter for Primetime....
(2009)