22 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY SEPTEMBER 26-OCTOBER 2, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com It’ll be her first time performing at one of the most prestigious festivals in the world. “It’s such a great feeling and such a great lineup,” says Yuko Mabuchi about her upcoming appearance—a 16-minute-long set—at the 2024 Monterey Jazz Festival on Sunday, Sept. 29, featuring two original compositions. Yuko Mabuchi Trio consists of longtime collaborators, bassist Del Atkins and drummer Bobby Breton. “Piano already has rhythm but bass supports me with lower sounds and drums add color,” she explains. The music she performs is fresh, happy like a mountain creek and as urban as a New York street. Her own composition can be romantic and perfect for feel-good movies, with lots of space for piano solos and meditation for a listener. Mabuchi has been in Monterey County before, having visited the area for some sightseeing when she played at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz. Born in coastal Fukui, west of Tokyo, Japan, Mabuchi is proud of her hometown, where monks come to train at the biggest temple in the country. The town of fresh fish was described by The Washington Post as one of the most spiritual places in Japan. Her parents were a classical piano teacher (mother) and a music fan (father); they shaped Mabuchi’s music tastes differently. Her mother was mortified when her daughter, already an avid pianist, got interested in her father’s American record collection— pop, jazz, Latin, disco, blues, funk and hip-hop. After high school, Mabuchi was already a jazz musician and started to compose in college. “I love the piano,” she says. “It’s a complete instrument, has its harmony and you can play complete music.” In 2010, Mabuchi moved to Los Angeles, where she found Japanese supermarkets and rediscovered familiar flavors and beloved foods, such as seaweed. Then the cultural blend of cuisine and music became influences. Soon, she started performing in some of the city’s prime venues. Her speciality became a blend of the genres, an answer to all the flavors L.A. offered— Cuban, Thai and Mexican cuisines, among others. Mabuchi has so far recorded six albums with a seventh project on the way, again blending jazz and classical music. To celebrate her home country, she wears kimono-like dresses for her performances. “I like bright colors on stage,” Mabuchi says. She also likes the ocean, swimming, painting and American composer George Gershwin. The goal of her music is to bring entertainment and inspiration to listeners. Yuko Mabuchi Trio performs 4:30pm Sunday, Sept. 29 on the Tim Jackson Garden Stage, presented by Alaska Airlines. More at yukomabuchi.com. Yuko’s Groove Pianist blends genres while celebrating her home country of Japan. By Agata Pop˛eda MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL Yuko Mabuchi moved from Japan to Los Angeles in 2010 to further her musical career. She was recognized by the City of Los Angeles for her volunteer efforts with the Watts-Willowbrook Youth Orchestra. COURTESY OF YUKO MABUCHI O C T O B E R EXPLORE LOCAL ART! SAT. & SUN. 11 AM - 5 PM 12-13 & 19-20, 2024 FREE TO THE COMMUNITY! COMING IN OCTOBER! Download the Mobile App: Open Studios Monterey County OSAT Magazine Guide available via Arts4MC & MC Weekly SCAN ME FOR MORE PARTICIPATING SCAN ME ARTIST STUDIOS TO SEE MAP OF bit.ly/osatmap Art by Deborah Good
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==