TALENT SCOUT - Miki Yamanaka

Miki Yamanaka is a New York-based jazz pianist who is making her mark with a deft touch and a keen compositional sense. Get to know our TALENT SCOUT Artist of the week.NAME: Miki YamanakaHOMETOWN: Kobe, JapanMUSICAL TRAINING: Since I was five years old. I also went to Queens College in New York to get my Master's Degree in Jazz Performance. FIRST GIGS: I didn't have gigs in New York for a long time. I played at a nursing home and cocktail bars and such. Then I started playing at the jazz club Smalls regularly with Philip Harper in 2014.MUSICAL INFLUENCES: Cedar Walton, Horace Silver, Geri Allen, Andrew Hill.WHAT I’M LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW: Andrew Hill's Spiral.MY BIG BREAK: After I started playing at Smalls with the trumpeter Philip Harper, I started working there often and I started running the jam session at their sister club, Mezzrow after it opened. LATEST PROJECTS: My official debut record Miki from Cellar Live Records was released in August 2018.FAVORITE KEYBOARDS AND WHY? I play the Hammond Sk1 and Sk2 for organ gigs. It has the best organ sound ever! It's easy to use and they have nice and dirty soundWHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?: I want to travel the world with music. ADVICE TO THE NEXT GENERATION: Playing with people is the best way to get better at music.For more information visit www.mikiyamanaka.com