Eternal Moments in Women in Jazz Media!

On the strength of her latest album, Eternal Moments, longtime Community Music School faculty member Yoko Yates was featured in Women in Jazz Media‘s print magazine. Here’s what curator Bradley M. Stone had to say:

“Pianist and composer Yoko Yates has crafted a beautiful and highly melodic album with “Eternal Moments”, using a trio of Yoko-san on piano, Jeff Hirshfeld on drums and Aryeh Kobrinsky on bass – then adding Jamie Baum on flutes and Sam Sadigursky on clarinet, bass clarinet and alto saxophone. Her use of these instruments to provide coloration makes me think of her compositions as tone poems. Originally from northern Japan, her early influences of classical, rock and other genres clearly influence her compositions. Beautiful!”

Yoko also gave interviews about her career and new album for 33third’s Dialogs podcast and Kuvo Jazz, sharing insights on her journey from her hometown of Sapporo, Japan, to New York City’s jazz scene and the connection between her work as a musician and her painting practice.

“When I got interested in jazz, I thought it was a way I could express myself clearly. In the musical world in Japan, there was a ‘model’ we tried to follow – which is important, and I respect that way,” Yoko shares in her Dialogs interview. “But I wanted to explore. My parents were playing all kinds of music when I was a child, but it was all one to me. I feel lucky to be able to study jazz, because it’s probably the way for me to express myself the best.” 

Listen to Yoko’s new record, Eternal Moments, and learn more about her music here!