3/1/2024
Performances and Artists
Growing up in the mountainous, coastal city of Fukui in Japan, virtuoso jazz pianist Yuko Mabuchi found herself immersed in melody from an early age.
“Japanese youngsters are exposed to music and dance very early, so I was singing and dancing and exposed to rhythms as a child,” says Mabuchi, whose celebrated group will perform in Las Vegas at The Smith Center at 5 and 8 p.m. on March 16. “We learn music basics at a very young age, and that helps our development all through life.”
This proved especially true for Mabuchi. While she trained as a classical pianist from the age of 4, her father inundated her with recordings of pop, Latin and jazz music.
She began merging the colorful cultures around her, pairing the graceful melodies of her native country with the spirited rhythms of swing, Latin and jazz, along with the emotional arcs of the blues.
“Improvisation was exciting,” she recalls. “Creating music in the moment was what drew me to jazz.”
Today, Mabuchi’s multicultural, genre-blending approach and her lively piano playing have rocketed her to international acclaim. With six widely hailed albums, she has taken the spotlight at leading jazz events, including the Richmond and Atlanta jazz festivals.
Mabuchi will perform in Myron’s at The Smith Center with her energizing group, which includes jazz veterans Peter Buck on drums, Edwin Livingston on bass and Troy Dexter on guitar. Together, they’ll showcase a variety of upbeat musical styles that will appeal to many audiences, she says.
“We’re coming to Las Vegas to share our musical experience and bring joy,” says Mabuchi, who often dons a vibrant kimono during performances to honor her homeland. “We expect everyone to leave feeling better than when they came.”
Embracing Jazz in America
When Mabuchi developed an affinity for jazz as a youth, her instructor in Japan urged her to pursue this musical style in America. “I felt that it would be best to learn jazz in the place that it was created,” she says.
Not everything went as planned, which led to unexpected opportunities. Mabuchi landed a scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston, but it wasn’t enough to cover her living expenses.
Instead, she attended the Music Performance Academy in Los Angeles, which introduced her to a new musical frontier. The school exposed her to that city’s rich arts scene, allowing her to hone her musical prowess in jam sessions with polished professionals. She also became a fixture at some of LA’s top performance venues.
Recording her first two albums while still a student, she forged a partnership with a record label and began her journey as a rising jazz star.
Of all her experiences, she delights most in jam sessions and gigs that allow her to connect with fellow jazz musicians. That also led to the formation of her current group.
“It’s always good when musicians look at music the same way,” she says. “They enjoy playing just like I do, and it’s always fun.”
A Concert for Everyone
Mabuchi hopes that all audience members will enjoy her upcoming shows at The Smith Center, no matter their level of jazz appreciation.
She plans to perform special arrangements of jazz, pop and Latin classics, along with original tunes that dip into swing, blues, funk and even classical.
Mabuchi has also arranged a captivating medley of Japanese songs in which “I try to capture the soul of the music of my homeland,” she says.
“Navigating between genres is exciting to me,” Mabuchi says. “We hope to connect with everyone who comes out.”