EPK - HARUNA FUKAZAWA
FLUTIST, IMPROVISER, COMPOSER, BANDLEADER
FLUTIST, IMPROVISER, COMPOSER, BANDLEADER
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BIOGRAPHY
Haruna Fukazawa is a New York-based flutist, improviser and composer originally from Tokyo, where she studied classical music at the Musashino Academia Musicae. She started visiting New York City regularly to study with Frank Wess, and shortly after, with his encouragement, decided to move to New York to play jazz full-time. Haruna’s straightforward, joyful, and powerful playing style is inspired most by her legendary teacher and mentor Frank Wess. She has appeared in many albums, TV, and movie recordings as a side person, and her career continues to evolve as she works in a variety of groups. Of note is her involvement with Karl Berger’s Improvisers Orchestra, which won the Downbeat Critics Poll six times. She has performed in some of the most prestigious venues in New York City, among them the Blue Note, Carnegie Hall, The Stone, The 55 Bar, The Bitter End, Joe’s Pub, and The Rubin Museum of Art. She performed at Trieste Summer Rock Festival in Trieste, Italy in 2010. It was the first time for a Japanese band to perform at this festival. The Haruna Fukazawa Quintet performs regularly; its first album was released from Summit Records in 2019. She was also featured on the cover of the Hot House Jazz Magazine. In 2021, the quintet performed at the National Flute Association Convention. Haruna also co-leads a chamber jazz trio called Jazz Triangle 65-77. The band released two albums in 2017 and 2021. She is also a winner of the National Flute Association Professional Flute Choir competition in 2021 and Jazz Flute Big Band Audition in 2019 and 2021.
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PROJECT
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Haruna Fukazawa Quintet Haruna Fukazawa - flute and alto flute Steve Wilson - soprano saxophone and flute David DeMotta - piano Bill Moring - bass Steve Johns - drums |
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Jazz Triangle 65-77 Haruna Fukazawa - flute and alto flute Shu Odamura - guitar Aki Yamamoto - bass |
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MUSIC/VIDEOS
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Haruna Fukazawa Quintet Album "Departure"
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Album release show at the Blue Note New York
"Cats Meeting" |
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Jazz Triangle 65-77 "James" |
Jazz Triangle 65-77 "Kyoto, Historic District" |
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Contact - Haruna Fukazawa Quintet |
Flower is A Lovesome Thing - Haruna Fukazawa Quintet |
No Fine Weather - Haruna Fukazawa Quintet |
PRESS
"This album affirms that a flute-led group can be as viable as more conventional front lines" - Hot House
Read full article at Hot House
“...best of all is her warm, woody, swinging tone. This is one of the best jazz flute albums I've heard in a long time." - CD Hotlist
Read full article at CD Hotlist
“...she brings joy to her project with her flautist mastery, excitement and spontaneous energy" - Musical Memoirs by Dee Dee MacNeil
“...she developed a clear, warm and fresh sound with a brilliant technique...” - Jazz Critique Magazine (JAPAN)
“The Flute player has a brilliant talent''
Trieste News paper (Italy)
“The flutist plays melodies full of delicate dynamic shades''
POTTERS PAPER
“The flautist is truly a great player, incorporating in his<sic> playing both the centuries-long tradition of Japanese flute playing and Western Jazz Improvisation technique''
Jazzis Web shop
“...she has a significant amount of gigs in various formats. It is remarkable how she masters many music idioms''
EURO-ROCK PRESS
“...a record processing a light, sweet and energetic sound''
Kiryu Times news paper