“The Trio Project is one of the most exciting groups working in any genre today” Downbeat HIROMI UEHARA (piano) Hiromi Uehara (上原ひろみ, born 26 March 1979) is a jazz composer and pianist born in Hamamatsu, Japan. She is known for her virtuosic technique, energetic live performances and blend of musical genres such as jazz, progressive rock, classical and fusion in her compositions. Hiromi started learning classical piano at age 6. By 14, she was playing with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. When she was 17, she met Chick Corea in Tokyo, and was invited to play with him at his concert the very next day. After working as a jingle writer for a few years, she enrolled to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. There, she was mentored by Ahmad Jamal and before her graduation, had already signed with the classical label Telarc. Since her debut in 2003, Hiromi has toured the world and appeared in numerous jazz festivals. She appeared on Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz radio programme where the host, Mrs. McPartland, seemed to be impressed by Hiromi’s “chops” and said “If you and I got into a competition, you would win, hands down”. For 2011's electro-acoustic Voice album, Hiromi formed The Trio Project with bassist Anthony Jackson and drummer Simon Phillips. 2012 saw the issue of the Live at Marciac DVD. After a break and festival appearances, Hiromi & The Trio Project returned to the studio and delivered Move in 2013. This was followed by the all-acoustic critically acclaimed Alive in July 2014. SIMON PHILLIPS (drums) Simon Phillips (born February 6, 1957) is a prolific British jazz and rock drummer. He is best known for his work with Chick Corea and Toto, but has played with a wide array of musicians including Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce, Brian Eno, Mike Oldfield, Gary Moore, Mick Jagger, Phil Manzanera, Stanley Clarke and Hiromi. He was also the drummer for The Who in their 1989 American reunion tour, and appeared on recordings by band members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend. He has also worked with heavy metal acts Judas Priest on “Sin After Sin” and Michael Schenker’s debut album “The Michael Schenker Group.” Simon began to play professionally at the age of twelve in his father’s Dixieland band for four years. He was then offered to play in the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar”. He quickly became a sought-after session player, until he joined Toto in 1992. He has released several studio and live albums of varying styles including rock and jazz fusion. ANTHONY JACKSON (bass) Anthony Jackson is a Grammy-nominated American electric bass guitar player based in New York City. He is considered a master, who has furthered the technical and idiomatic boundaries of his instrument. He is seen by many to have added considerable legitimacy to the instrument in more jazz-related musical contexts, though he has had a career that has gone beyond that style. Born on June 23, 1952, in New York City, Anthony Jackson has been a distinctive voice on the electric bass ever since he entered the scene in New York City. He began learning the piano as a teen before switching to the guitar, and finally picking up the bass after being influenced by legendary Motown bassist James Jamerson. At age 18, Jackson became a working session musician, whose playing was eventually in high demand. Jackson cites his main influences as James Jamerson — one of Motown’s most prominent bass players and the electric bass’ first virtuoso, Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane and French composer Olivier Messiaen. Jackson initially invented what has now caught on as the “six-string bass,” - a bass guitar tuned B-E-A-D-G-C. His idea, which he called the contrabass guitar, precedes any modern standard six string bass by at least twenty years.