Naohide Matsunami

Born in 1974 in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, and grew up in Saitama Prefecture.

Was inspired to create by the many computer games and comics that were popular when a young boy, so he began learning computer languages.

Started his career as a web designer in late 90s, and then became a programmer, a director, and more. In the mid-2000s, became quite interested in Interactive Media and Media Art and, in 2006, enrolled in IAMAS, which is famous for media arts. There, he studied Max/MSP, Processing and other software and languages. After graduation, focused on the fields of interactive media and entertainment, including video mapping, VJing and digital signage.

antymark.com

Yuusuke Fujikawa

Being part of the Flash Player development project as his motive, he begun to be active as VJ and visual producer. Currently expanding his field in space architecture and design along with visual production.

He is also a writer as well as an instructor at Digital Hollywood University, having projection mapping seminars across country with strong interest in nurturing talents and encouraging interaction with local communities. His spacial installation and projection mapping are exhibited at events and galleries under his artist name, USK.

vjusk.com

RUCO -Singer-

RUCO was born in Sapporo, Japan and was raised on music. Her father was a drummer and bassist in a funk band in the 70's and 80's in Sapporo, Japan and she grew up listening to her father play music and on Soul, Funk, and R & B records being played at home.

In 2010 she moved to New York City where she began gigging at venues such as the Bitter End, and the Red Lion, along with other independent venues around NYC with multiple bands including Days of Wild, a well respected band in the NYC funk scene, and her own band. In 2016 and 2017 her band performed in the New York Asian Film Festival at Lincoln Center which was featured in an article in the New York Times. Most recently she performed with Days of Wild for International Peace Day in Times Square, NYC. Currently her focus is on completing her first full length album which she is writing with New York City based guitarist Jonathan Fritz, as well as French guitarist Benjamin Corson. The album is due out in 2020, with the first single set for release in February.

Tsutomu Nakai -Jazz Guitarist-

Jazz Guitarist Tsutomu Nakai is one of the hottest and in demand musicians in New York City right now. His exceptionally unique guitar work is beautiful and strong, yet versatile. His mastery of improvisation is evident while emphasizing the melody above all else. This is the essence of jazz guitarist Tsutomu Nakai’s style.

His second full length album as a leader, “G’s Wish” featured a close collaboration with the great tenor saxophone player Mark Turner. The album showcases more than just the mastery of the instruments, but draws out deep emotions that only jazz music can convey. Mr. Nakai maintains a steady live performance schedule, gigging at clubs all over New York City. Some of his frequent appearances on the bandstand have included sharing the stage with respected jazz musicians like Jimmy Heath, Lonnie Plaxico, Russell Malone, Michael Kanan, Jim Rotondi, Gene Jackson, Fukushi Tainaka, Sadao Watanabe, Peter Bernstein, Mark Turner, Sullivan Fortner, and others.

Tsutomu Nakai started his career as a guitar player at local clubs in his hometown when he was in high school. After listening to Jim Hall, he was inspired and devoted the majority of his time to jazz guitar. Having moved to New York City in 1997, he started studying under Jazz master Gene Bertoncini. His playing style can conjure visions of guitar god, Grant Green, however he never hesitates to embark on the journey of establishing his own playing style. His unique bell like guitar tone casts an atmosphere of freshness over any musical situation he is involved with.

Michael O’Brien -Bassist-

Michael O'Brien holds a B.A from the University of Minnesota with a major in the Spanish language. He studied bass under Anthony Cox, and West African and Haitian percussion under Marc Anderson. He has been performing and composing Internationally for over a decade with such notables as Harry Connick Jr., Ruben Blades, The Merce Cunningham Dance Co., Gene Pitney, Dave Samuels, Pablo Ziegler, Steve Wilson, Wayne Escoffery, Joel Frahm, Jacques Swartz-Bart, Tom Brechtlein, Dave King, Matt Wilson, Victor Lewis, Gene Jackson, Portinho, Kim Plainfield, Jeff Hirshfield, Sachal Vasandani, Ted Nash, Sandro Albert, Lady Rizo, Joshua Breakstone, Elliot Zigmund, Ron Afiff, Lage Lund, Filo Machado, Todd Reynolds, Wessel Anderson, David Binney, Ari Hoenig, The Jazz Mandolin Project, Joel Harrison, Christian Howes, Peter Apfelbaum, Robert Rodriguez, James Wiedeman, Bruce Barth, Dan Weiss, Marc Giuliana, Luba Mason, Paul Bollenback, and Oriente Lopez to name a few. Michael has performed at Festivals in Russia, Belarus, Haiti, Mexico, Norway, Ukraine and Japan. As well as the Lincoln Center Festival, JEN(Jazz Educators Network), IAJE (International Jazz Educators conference), PASIC (Percussive Arts Societies International Convention), American Composers Forums' Sonic Circuits Festival. His string quartet arrangement of "Pine" was performed at the Kennedy Center by the acclaimed string quartet Ethel. Michael has taught clinics and performed master classes throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan.

Michael O'Brien plays the Eminence Portable Upright Bass, Codabow's Infinity French bow, uses an Applied Microphone Technologies (AMT) microphone, and plays D'addario strings.

Eddie Allen -Trumpeter-

Trumpeter, composer, arranger, author, educator,... Eddie Allen studied music, theory and arranging at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee and the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay before moving to the east coast. He then attended the William Paterson University of New Jersey where he received a Bachelor of Music degree. Since his arrival on the New York scene he’s worked with such musical legends as; Art Blakey, Bette Midler, Joe Henderson, Aretha Franklin, Randy Weston, Ben Harper,

Dizzy Gillespie, Robert Cray, Frank Foster, Billy Harper, John Mayer, Henry Threadgill, Gladys Knight, Buck Clayton,

Gloria Gaynor, Jon Faddis, Benny Carter, Panama Francis, Steve Turre, T.S. Monk, Sekou Sundiata, Steve Jordan,

Michelle Rosewoman, Ray Anderson and Kool & the Gang.

He has recorded and performed with, as well as composed for; Louis Hayes, Natalie Merchant, Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy,

Etta Jones & Houston Person, Joe, Charli Persip, Olivia, Mongo Santamaria, Muhal Richard Abrams, Jimmy Cozier,

Chico Freeman and Vanessa Rubin.

He’s performed in the orchestras of such Broadway hits as; Ain’t Misbehavin’, Black & Blue, Side Show, Jelly’s Last Jam,

Five Guys Named Mo’, the Color Purple and Rollin’ On The T.O.B.A.

As an author he’s written the instructional method book, “An Introduction To The Bb Concert Blues”,

which is published by Charles Colin Publishing - N.Y.C.

Jay Sawyer -Drummer-

Born in Grand Rapids, MI, Jay Sawyer is one of the most in-demand rising star drummers in New York City. He has shared the stage with artists such as Freddy Cole, John McNeil, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Stefon Harris, Donny McCaslin, Benito Gonzalez, and Shai Maestro among others. Jay is also a first call drummer for many up-and-coming musicians in New York including Itamar Borochov, Caroline Davis, Tomoko Omura, John Raymond and many more. He has toured extensively in the USA and Europe, including performances at the Montreal, Detroit and Chicago Jazz Festivals, Festival Eclats d’Email in Limoges, France and more.

André Feliciano

André Feliciano is a Brazilian born artist working between Berlin and New York City with a passionate interest in cultivating art, nature, and togetherness in multiple forms. Feliciano has presented and exhibited work internationally, published several books, and spent the past three years working with Olafur Elaisson's Little Sun Foundation. Feliciano has coined the term "Floraissance" whereby he interrogates the future of Contemporary Art.

Floraissance Vivarium

Lindsay Smilow

Experienced Project Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the fine art industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Art Education, Fundraising, Art History, and Social Media. Strong arts and design professional with a Master’s Degree focused in Art History, Criticism and Conservation from City University of New York-Brooklyn College.

lindsaysmilow.com

Tucker Viemeister

Tucker Viemeister, FIDSA, brings new meaning to the term “multimedia.” His life (not just his work) is a convergence of innovative ideas and physical stuff. Trained as a product designer, he is also involved in architecture, graphics, new media, branding and strategy. He helped create the widely acclaimed OXO "GoodGrips" universal kitchen tools. He also writes, teaches and lectures, serves on a few boards, was named after a car and still has time for volunteer work, his family and his transdisciplinary company, Viemeister Industries, focusing on creating integrated brands, products and places. Partners include JCDecaux, Design Within Reach and Omhu.

Viemeister Industries

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