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Hitomi Nishiyama is preeminent pianist in Japan.Her music is the fruit of both Japanese essences and European music. It is recognized for its inimitable, exquisitely beautiful melodies.

Hitomi was born in 1979, and grew up in Osaka, Japan.

She took up classical piano at the age of 6, and started playing jazz at age 18 when serendipity came in the form of two deeply inspirational CDs — Chick Corea’s Now He Sings, Now He Sobs, and Bill Evans’s Undercurrent. While majoring in Jazz Piano at the Osaka College of Music, Hitomi embarked on her career as a professional pianist. After graduating from college, she devoted herself to the music of Enrico Pieranunzi and came to be noted for her exceptional performances at various Japanese houses of jazz.

In 2004, Hitomi released her first and self-produced album titled “I’m Missing You” comprising of eight original tunes. I’m Missing You garnered her more than a favorable recognition, and resulted in marketing opportunities all over Japan.

Hitomi’s ascent to national fame culminated in 2005 when she won a Grand Prix at the Yokohama Jazz Promenade 2005 Competition. In 2006, Hitomi teamed up with two of Sweden’s most talented musicians, Hans Backenroth (Bs) and Anders Kjellberg (Dr), and recorded her debut album “Cubium” in Stockholm. “Cubium” gained accolades even before its national release in September 2006, and further established Hitomi’s eminence in Japan.

In 2007 Hitomi and her Swedish trio were invited to perform at the Stockholm Jazz Festival, making Hitomi its first Japanese guest musician. Her performance won rave reviews from the Swedish press. More recently at the renowned Glenn Miller Café in Stockholm, Hitomi performed and recorded with Hans Backenroth (Bs), Paul Svanberg (Dr), and Karl-Martin Almqvist (Ts) for two nights of solid groove. After then, Hitomi released 3 albums “Many Seasons” (2007), “In Stockholm” (2008), “Parallax” (2008) from Spice of Life. The latest album “Parallax” reached the first top of the HMV jazz chart, and was nominated for the Swing Journal jazz prize.

In 2010, her song named “Unfolding Universe” won a 3rd prize in jazz category in International Songwriting Competition 2009 [USA]. And her song named “Soul Travel” was selected as a semi-finalist, too. She was recognized as a prominent composer.

In 2011, She released 6th album “Music In You” which selected the best 100 CDs of 2011 by CD Journal magazine.

In 2015, She started a new project named “NHORHM” and released the album “New Heritage of Real Heavy Metal”, which covered the classics of heavy metal Music. Following the acclaimed comments from Marty Friedman (guitar), Kiko Luleiro (guitar), Young Guitar Magazine, etc., it became a hot topic from both sides of heavy metal jazz before its release, becoming a best seller. Albums of NHORHM were all highly evaluated and recorded good sales. Through writing in magazines and WEB media, she continues to work across jazz and heavy metal.

Her music is the fruit of both Japanese essences and European music. It is recognized for its inimitable, exquisitely beautiful melodies. On the other hand, Hitomi’s performances with her trio radiate with passionate energy, and are known to cut across known genres. She was consequently invited to perform at numerous jazz festivals in Japan, including Yokohama Jazz Promenade, Takatsuki Jazz Street and Jozenji Jazz Street. Her music is sought after by fans across Japan, and Hitomi is proving herself as one of Japan’s preeminent pianists.

Official Site: hitominishiyama.net
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Discography

Feb. 2021

mahoroba / Daiki Yasukagawa(b), Hitomi Nishiyama(p), maiko(vln)
DNCD24 D-neo

Sep. 2020

Faces / Kaoru Azuma, Hitomi Nishiyama
MT009 Meantone Records, disk union
Motohiko Ichino (guitar), Toru Nishijima(bass), Ryosuke Hashizume(ts)

Jun. 2020

Vibrant / Hitomi Nishiyama solo
MT008 Meantone Records, disk union

May. 2019

The Tree Of Life / Daiki Yasukagawa(b), Hitomi Nishiyama(p), maiko(vln)
DNCD18 D-neo

Apr. 2019

New Heritage Of Real Heavy Metal extra edition / NHORHM
APLS1905 Apollo Sounds
Ryoji Orihara(bass), Manabu Hashimoto(ds)
reached 1st top of Amazon Jazz&Fusion chart and HMV jazz chart and Tower Records jazz sales chart

Oct. 2018

New Heritage Of Real Heavy Metal 3 / NHORHM
APLS1812 Apollo Sounds
Ryoji Orihara(bass), Manabu Hashimoto(ds), guest Maya Hatch(vocal), SAKI(gt)
reached 1st top of Amazon Jazz&Fusion chart and diskunion jazz chart and Tower Records jazz sales chart

Dec. 2016

New Heritage Of Real Heavy Metal 2 / NHORHM
APLS1612 Apollo Sounds
Ryoji Orihara(bass), Manabu Hashimoto(ds), guest Tetsuya Kanmuri(vocal), Takahiro Miyazaki(as), Ryosuke Hashizume(ts), Mitsuru Tanaka(tp), Masaki Ikeda(tb)
reached 1st top of Amazon Jazz&Fusion chart and HMV jazz chart and Tower Records jazz sales chart

Apr. 2016

LIVE / Hitomi Nishiyama
MT007 Meantone Records, disk union
Takuya Sakazaki (bass), Takehiro Shimizu (ds)

Oct. 2015

New Heritage Of Real Heavy Metal / NHORHM
APLS1510 Apollo Sounds
Ryoji Orihara(bass), Manabu Hashimoto(ds), guest Tomomi Oda(vocal), Ryosuke Hashizume(ts)
reached 1st top of Amazon Jazz&Fusion chart and HMV jazz chart and Tower Records jazz sales chart

Oct. 2014

Shift / Hitomi Nishiyama
MT006 Meantone Records, disk union
Takuya Sakazaki (bass), Takehiro Shimizu (ds), Takayoshi Baba (gt)
reached 1st top of Tower Records jazz chart & disunion jazz chart, Amazon.co.jp analog jazz chart

May. 2014

Down By The Salley Gardens / Hitomi Nishiyama, Daiki Yasukagawa Duo
DMCD27 D-musica

Dec. 2013

Travels / Kaoru Azuma, Hitomi Nishiyama
APLS1305 Apollo Sounds
Motohiko Ichino (guitar), Toru Nishijima(bass), Ryosuke Hashizume(ts)

Nov. 2013

Crossing / Hitomi Nishiyama solo
MT005 Meantone Records, disk union

Apr. 2013

Sympathy / Hitomi Nishiyama trio
MT004 Meantone Records, disk union
Yasuhiko “HACHI” Sato (b), Kazumi Ikenaga (ds)
reached 1st top of Tower Records daily jazz sales chart

Mar. 2012

Astrolabe / Hitomi Nishiyama
MT003 Meantone Records, disk union
Takayoshi Baba (gt)

Mar. 2012

El Cant Dels Ocells / Hitomi Nishiyama, Daiki Yasukagawa Duo
DMCD20 D-musica

Nov. 2011

Music In You / Hitomi Nishiyama trio
MT002 Meantone Records, disk union
Yasuhiko “HACHI” Sato (bass), Kazumi Ikenaga (ds), Ryosuke Hashizume (ts)
reached 1st top of Tower Records jazz sales chart
nominated the best 100 CDs of 2011 by CD Journal magazine.

Aug. 2011

I’m Missing You (remaster) / Hitomi Nishiyama trio
MT001 Meantone Records, disk union
reached 1st top of HMV’s Japanese jazz chart and Tower Records jazz sales chart

Sep. 2008

Parallax / Hitomi Nishiyama
PBCM61032 Spice of Life, EMI Music Japan
Takuya Sakazaki (bass), Takehiro Shimizu (ds), Takayoshi Baba (gt)
nominated Swing Journal Award, reached 1st top of HMV’s Japanese jazz chart

Feb. 2008

In Stockholm – Live at Glenn Miller Cafe / Hitomi Nishiyama
SOLJP0008 Spice of Life, Amuse Inc.
Hans Backenroth (b), Karl-Martin Almqvist(ts), Paul Svanberg (ds), Anders Kjellberg (ds)

Oct. 2007

Many Seasons / Hitomi Nishiyama trio
SOLJP0005 Spice of Life, Amuse Inc.
Hans Backenroth (b), Anders Kjellberg (ds)
nominated PLAYBOY JAZZ AWARD , Swing Jounal Award

Sep. 2006

Cubium / Hitomi Nishiyama trio
SOLJP0003 Spice of Life, Amuse Inc.
Hans Backenroth (b), Anders Kjellberg (ds)

Sep. 2004

I’m Missing You / Hitomi Nishiyama trio
VNTM04001 Steps record, self-produced

Awards

Apr. 2010

International Songwriting Competition 2009 [USA], 3rd prize of Jazz category

Oct. 2005

Yokohama Jazz Promenade 2005 Jazz Competition [Japan], Grand prix

Professional Experience in Performance – as a leader –

2014

Takatsuki Jazz Street, Osaka
Concerts – Avenue Hall, Tokyo / Sanbushi Nohiku Plaza, Chiba / Nihon Showa Ongaku Mura Hall, Gifu

2013

Takatsuki Jazz Street, Osaka / Kofu Jazz Street Jazz Festival, Yamanashi / Yokohama Jazz Promenade, Kanagawa
Concerts – Fazioli showroom, Tokyo / Nada Kumin Hall, Hyogo

2012

Festivals – OCAT Jazz Festival, Osaka / Takatsuki Jazz Street, Osaka / / Sumida Street Jazz Festival, Tokyo / Jozenji Street Jazz Festival, Sendai / Bayside Jazz, Chiba / Yokohama Jazz Promenade, Kanagawa
Concerts – Avenue Hall, Tokyo / Move 21, Osaka

2011

Festivals – Takatsuki Jazz Street, Osaka / Yokohama Jazz Promenade, Kanagawa / Minami Jazz Walk, Osaka

2010

Festivals – Takatsuki Jazz Street, Osaka / Yokohama Jazz Promenade, Kanagawa / Minami Jazz Walk, Osaka / Hirakatasyuku Jazz Street, Osaka
Concerts – Vega Hall, Hyogo / Yawata Culture Center, Kyoto / Motion Blue Yokohama, Kanagawa / JZ Brat, Tokyo

2009

Festivals – Takatsuki Jazz Street, Osaka / Nagoya Groovin’ Summer, Aichi / Silent Movie Festival,Osaka / Minami Jazz Walk, Osaka
Concerts – JZ Brat, Tokyo / Motion Blue Yokohama, Kanagawa

2008

Festivals – Yokohama Jazz Promenade, Kanagawa / Nagoya Groovin Summer, Aichi / Silent Movie Festival in Ibaraki, Osaka
Concerts – Act City Hamamatsu, Shizuoka / NHK Session 2008, Tokyo

2007

Festivals – Stockholm Jazz Festival, Stockholm, Sweden / Silent Movie Festival in Ibaraki, Osaka / Hirakata-syuku Jazz Street, Osaka
Concerts – Sakaihigasi Culture Center Hall, Osaka / MUSICASA, Tokyo / Hirakata Shogaigakusyu Center, Osaka

2006

Festivals – Yokohama Summer Jazz, Kanagawa / Konan Jazz Festival, Kanagawa / Yokohama Jazz Promenade, Kanagawa

Education

Apr.1998-Mar.2000

Junior College of Osaka College Of Music, Japan
Major Course Study: Jazz Piano
Major Teachers: Akira Ishii, Hiroshi Hatamoto

1993-1996

Studying under Michiko Takeuchi – classic piano professor of Kyoto Women’s University –

1985-1996

Studying under Chiyoko Ataka on classic piano