Profile
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
You can also check Facebook
Booking: Contact Page
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
