Jazz pianist/composer/arranger Hiroe is a talented musician. She is a jazz pianist, composer and arranger. Her compositions use her unique voices and colors, which are modern and fresh but still classic. Since nearly 20 years, she has been performing and writing for concerts and other events in Japan and the U.S. Her energy and presence on stage at her live concerts has proved to be a magnet for many people. She is a professional musician who is dedicated. Hiroe, a native Japanese, began playing piano at four years old, mimicking her mother’s playing of Japanese folk songs on a pedal instrument. She switched to piano one year later. However, reading music and playing the songs of others was not her forte. Hiroe combined her passion for creating new music with her keen ear for jazz to develop her composing and arrangement skills. Hiroe was a USC music student. Her abilities as an arranger and composer earned her the “Discovery Scholars” and “Jazz Chamber Music Ensemble” Awards. With the assistance of Russell Ferrante (keyboard player/arranger for the two-time Grammy winner Yellow Jackets), Hiroe recorded her debut album “a-me”, meaning “rain” in Japanese. Hiroe’s compositions and arrangements for standards are featured on this album, which features Hiroe Sekine (piano), Bob McChesney(tb), John Daversa(tp), Tony Dumassa (bass), Peter Erskine et al. The CD was released in April 2010 and has been played on radio stations across the US, including FM88.1 Long Beach. 45 was the most played jazz album in the US in August 2010. Many jazz DJ’s and jazz critics have highly praised the CD (please see Debut CD for examples). Pico selected it as one of 25 best main stream and contemporary jazz CD’s in 2010. bio from www.sekaimusic.com
