Hiromi Uehara (上原 ひろみ, Uehara Hiromi), often known mononymously as Hiromi, is a Grammy Award winning Japanese jazz composer and pianist.[1] She is known for her virtuosic technique, energetic live performances and blending of musical genres such as stride, post-bop, progressive rock, classical, nu jazz and fusion in her compositions.[2] In 2021, she performed at the opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.[3]
Uehara was born on March 26, 1979 in Hamamatsu, Japan.[4][5] She started learning piano at the age of six and was introduced to jazz by her piano teacher Noriko Hikida when she was eight.[2][6] At age 14, she played with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. When she was 17 years old, she met Chick Corea by chance in Tokyo and was invited to play with him at his concert the next day.[7]
After graduating from Berklee, Hiromi continued to write, record, and tour, releasing albums Brain (2004) and Spiral (2006). In 2006, she formed the group Hiromi's Sonicbloom with bassist Tony Grey, drummer Martin Valihora, and guitarist David Fiuczynski, subsequently releasing albums Time Control (2006) and Beyond Standard (2008) with the group.[4] In 2011, Hiromi won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album as part of the Stanley Clarke Band.[9]
Uehara's Trio Project brought together Anthony Jackson, who was previously a guest on the Brain album, and drummer Simon Phillips. The group made four albums together: Voice (2011), Move (2012), Alive (2014), and Spark (2016).[10]Move and Alive both charted inside the top 10 on the U.S. Billboard Jazz Album charts, while Spark reached the number one position.[11]
Uehara married Japanese fashion designer Mihara Yasuhiro in 2007. They met after she performed at one of his fashion shows in Milan the year before.[13]
The Stanley Clarke Band featuring Hiromi, The Stanley Clarke Band (Heads Up, 2010) - in "No Mystery", "Larry Has Traveled 11 Miles and Waited a Lifetime for the Return of Vishnu's Report", "Labyrinth" and "Sonny Rollins"
Akiko Yano and Hiromi, Get Together – Live in Tokyo (Universal, 2011)
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Walkin' (cutting edge, 2012)
Kelly Peterson, Oscar, With Love (Two Lions, 2015) - reissued (Mack Avenue, 2017) in "Take Me Home' and 'Oscar's New Camera"[15]
Akiko Yano and Hiromi, Ramen-na Onnatachi (Universal, 2017)