Asian Improv aRts Midwest

AIRMW present the Mai Sugimoto Trio with Avreeayl Ra and Tatsu Aoki

Mai Sugimoto is a saxophonist, composer, and active member of Chicago’s jazz and improvisational music scene. “A compelling performer” with “dry-champagne tone and lyrical lines” (Chicago Tribune), Sugimoto draws inspiration from her upbringing in Japan and her roots in jazz to compose and perform from her unique multicultural experience. Born/Raised, her debut album (Asian Improv Records, 2018), explores this cultural and musical binary, juxtaposing, among others, a jazz rendition of a Japanese children’s song alongside compositions inspired by the American jazz idiom. Sugimoto is also a core member of the quartet Hanami, whose two albums similarly mix Japanese culture into creative music. Mai has performed three times at the Chicago Jazz Festival: in 2015 with Hanami, in 2019 as a leader, and in 2018 with renowned bassist Tatsu Aoki, with whom she frequently plays, including appearances in his Fred Anderson Legacy Band.

Tune into WBCD  Wed. Feb 26 from 9~10pm on FM 90.9 Chicago Jazz Spotlight with Al Carter-Bey and listen in on a conversation with Mwata Bowden and Tatsu Aoki discussing creative music and collaborations!

Radio Broadcast with the “Wizard”. Tatsu Aoki talking about Toyoaki Shubukai 4th Spring Recital, and Sudden Impact, and Suzuki Hiroyuki, Lou Mallozzi at Elastic

AIRMW presents: the Sudden Impact 2020 Series nwith the Great George Freeman and Mke Allemana, n with Coco Elysses, Rami Atassi,and Tatsu AokinnTogether with the Hairpin Arts Center, Asian Improv aRts Midwest’s Tatsu Aoki continues the Sudden Impact series in 2020 to facilitate new catalystic events, providing a substratum for Chicago’s musicalartists to collaborate, and experiments, and bring forth new musical happenings. nnJoin us at Hairpin Arts Center, 2810 N. Milwaukee Ave. nfor the return of George Freeman in the Sudden Impact Series!nnThursday, March 26, 2020 at 7:00p.m.

AIRMW presents: the Sudden Impact 2020 Series nwith RamiAtassi and Jamie KempkersnnTogether with the Hairpin Arts Center, AsianImprov aRts Midwest’s Tatsu Aoki continues the Sudden Impact series in 2020 to facilitate new catalystic events, providing a substratum for Chicago’s musical artists to collaborate, and experiments, and bring forth new musical happenings. nnJoin us at Hairpin Arts Center, 2810 N. Milwaukee Ave. nfor April edition of the Sudden Impact Series!nnThursday, April 23, 2020 at 7:00p.m.