Jazz Artist whose longstanding collaboration with vocalist Kimiko Itoh resulted in great acclaim and performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
He studied at the Berklee College of Music, making his official debut in 1983.
His production work on Itoh's album Kimiko helped it win the 2000 Swing Journal jazz disc grand prix for Japanese vocalist.
His family recognized his talents early on when he starting playing the organ at age two and improvising by age seven.
He abandoned the organ and embraced the piano after hearing Oscar Peterson's albums when he was 12.
