(b Kyoto, Japan Oct 20, 1957). Japanese arranger, pianist, leader. From the age of four to twelve, he took piano lessons and joined his father’s band, the Kyoto Bel-Ami All Stars. In 1974, he moved to Tokyo. He joined George Kawaguchi’s band, performed with Toshiyuki Hnabe’s Burning Waves, Sadao Watanabe’s band, and was co-led by Motohiko Hinou and Joe Henderson (1988), Terumasa hino, Yoshio Suzu, Kimiko Itoh and Shunzo Ohno. He recorded often with Los Angeles musicians. His own groups were Noriki (191983-6), Pole Pole I (1988-90), as well as a trio (from 1998) Noriki is a professional studio musician who arranges music for television and films. from www.oxfordmusiconline.com
