SHOKO NAGAI - Biography

Pianist Accordionist Improviser Composer

Shoko Nagai is a versatile musical artist who improvises and performs with world-renowned musicians on piano and accordion and composes original scores for films and live performances. As a teenager in her native Japan, Nagai was trained on Yamaha's electronic organ, the "Electone," to perform popular music. Since moving to the U.S. from Japan and studying classical, jazz music, and compositions at Berklee, she has adapted her mastery of the keyboard to prepared piano, accordions, and other keyboard instruments, often inspired by the minimalist approach of composer Toru Takemitsu. Whether she is performing Klezmer, Balkan or experimental music, Nagai is a charismatic presence onstage, who hypnotizes audiences with her intense focus and virtuoso sound.

• Nagai is 2023 and 2010 NY Foundation for the Arts Fellow in Music/Sound

• 2023 M³ (Mutual Mentorship for Musicians) award

• 2022 International Song writing Competition JAZZ category Finalist

• 2021 Chamber Music America Fellow, 2021 City Artist Corps Fellow

• 2008 Jazzjants Fellow

“Whether traipsing over a steady, rolling rhythm or swimming through a collage of abstract sound, Nagai, a pianist, treat every moment as an opportunity for deep synchronicity.” GIOVANNI RUSSONELL - New York Times

Nagai’s compositions for directed by Mari Kawade HodoBuzz (2020), Quartet of films directed by Linda Hoaglund : Edo Avant-garde ( NHK TV JAPAN 2019) The Wound and The Gift, narrated by Vanessa Redgrave (Vancouver, DOC NYC, Tokyo FilmX 2014) Things Left Behind, (2012) produced by Japan's national broadcaster, NHK ANPO: Art X War (2010 Toronto, DOC NYC, Vancouver, and Hong Kong film festival, CARE (HBO, 2016 DOC NYC, AFI DOCS, Sheffield Doc Fest, Reelworld Impact Award) directed by Diredre Fishel festivals), L'amour Cache (2007), directed by Alessandro Capone and conducted by Butch Morris.

Recordings

Sex And The City : Just Like That ( musician role) by HBO Feb 2022

Shoko Nagai- VORTEX (2002)

Shoko Nagai- Taken Shadows Animul Records 2014

Erik Friedlander: Nothing On Earth (2014), Ring (2016)

Songs of Zebulon -Jeremiah Lockwood/ Frank London

Leslie Pintchik- You eat my food, You drink my wine, You steal my girl (2014)

Fire of Space -Handbasket (482 Music, 2005)

Matana Robert Coin Coin Missisippi Moonchile (2013)

FIDO Quartet (ENNA Records 2016)

Isle Klezbos: Live in Brooklyn 2013)

Isle Klezbos: Yiddish Silver Screen (2013)

Inna Barmash:  Yiddish Lullabies & Love Songs (2013)

Sanda Weigl Gypsy in a tree (2010)

Recent Tours and Performances 

Japan tour of Vortex 2005- on going (Shoko Nagai and Satoshi Takeishi, an experimental electro-acoustic duo)        

US tour 2017 with Erik Friedlander performing from “Ring”

European tour 2015 with Erik Friedlander performing from “Nothing on Earth”

Italian tour 2015 with Marco Cappelli, performing with Italian actor Andrea Renzi, in a play based on Italian detective story, written by Maurizio de Giovanni.

2015 New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival 

2015 Newport Jazz Festival with Matana Roberts

2015 New York Shakespeare Festival 

NEWS""""!!!!! New Album "Taken Shadows"  2015 Now on Sale!!!!!!!

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/shokonagai1