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Yano's experience at these venues gave
her the opportunity to perform with a
number of respected musicians. She
shared the stage with Winton Marsalis,
Harold Jones, and Carl Allen. She also
performed with
Tom Garling, a trombone
player whom she would eventually marry.
Following her marriage to Garling,
Yano settled in the United States. She
started to reconsider her roots and
origins. This led to a desire to
incorporate Asian-influenced sounds into
her brand of jazz. It was also at this
time that Yano began focusing on her
singing and vocal compositions.
Yano's first album, Blue Sonata, includes jazz
standards, originals, and Japanese folk
songs. She is fortunate to have some of
the best musicians in Chicago featured
on the album. Some of these include
Garling, sax player Geof Bradfield,
bassist Patt Willians, bassist Matt
Young and drummer Noritaka Tanaka.
The self-produced CD has
different approaches to the genre of
jazz: it combines a taste of Asian
flavor with vocal overdubbing. It also
features classical sonata forms,
classical impressionism harmony, odd
meter changes, and interesting key
changes. It is both Yano's wide vocal
range and strong musical background
which allow these different elements to
blend so well. As further proof of her
musical talents, Yano also plays the
classical guitar on her new CD.
Currently, Yano is performing in Chicago
and the surrounding region. She sings in
both Japanese and English. This
flexibility is now an essential element
to her sound. Live, Yano emphasizes
improvisation and her piano playing. She
considers herself a pianist who happens
to sing, rather than a vocalist who
plays the piano. Her performance has
been known to sway from sensitive and
evocative one minute, to feisty,
playful, and ferocious the next.
Yano's performances can be regularly seen at Cafe Shino (211 E. Ontario, Chicago 312-226-2280), Cafe la Cave Steak House (Des Plaines, IL), the Dragonfly Mandarin Restaurant (832 W. Randolph St., Chicago 312-787-7600), and M Lounge (1520 S. Wabash).
CHIEKO YANO'S CREDITS
Chieko Yano has performed with:
Taku Akiyama,
Carl Allen,
Geof Bradfield, Vincent
Davis,
Savoir Faire,
John Fedchock,
Tom Garling,
Phil Gratteau,
Harold Jones,
Bob Long,
Winton Marsalis, Scott
Mason,
Rob Parton,
Marlene Rosenberg,
Noritaka Tanaka,
Mayo Tiana,
Patrick Williams,
Barry Winograd,
She has performed at:
Jazz
Showcase,
Pops for Champagne,
Greenmill, Isaac Hayes
Center,
Hot
House,
Fitzgerald's,
Smoke Daddy,
M Lounge,
Cafe Shino's Piano Bar,
Meson Sabika,
Velvet Lounge,
Chicago's First Lady,
Wendella Boat, Small Bar,
Salvartore's Restaurant,
Taste of Chicago,
Tower Club, the
Chicago Club,
the Charleston, Hilton Hotels, Marriott,
and the Congress Hotel
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