13th Annual Jazz Critics Poll Spanish Harlem Orchestra – Anniversary (ArtistShare) Latin – Karl Ackerman (All About Jazz) New Releases – Russ Musto (New York City Jazz Record, DownBeat) Henry Conerway III – With Pride For Dignity (Self-released) New Releases – Richard B. Kamins (Step Tempest) New Releases – Peter Quinn (Jazzwise, The Arts Desk) Debut – Richard B. Kamins (Step Tempest) … Read More
Raul da Gama, Jazz da Gama Meg Okura and her Music of Motherhood and Exodus The big canvas has enormous appeal for Meg Okura. She gave notice of this a long time ago. Miss Okura has been drawn to things of historical significance both in art and in life and that has to do with … Read More
Doug Simpson, Audiophile Audition NPO Trio – Live at the Stone – Chant Records, 64:53 [3/15/18] ****: (Jean-Michel Pilc – piano; Meg Okura – violin, electric violin; Sam Newsome – soprano saxophone) There’s an opening moment on the NPO Trio’s 64-minute record, Live at the Stone, when it sounds like a classical trio is warming up. … Read More
Justin Tedaldi, JQ Magazine Monday, Aug. 20, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Meg Okura & the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, 10 Columbus Circle $35, $25 students Violinist, vocalist, composer, bandleader, and 2018 Chamber Music America grant recipient Meg Okura returns for a special live performance presenting Ima Ima, her fourth album of … Read More
George Harris, Jazz Weekly The trio of Meg Okura/vi, Sam Newsome/ss and Jean-Michel Pilc/p team up for a 2016 concert in NYC’s The Stone Club. The mood and music is intuitive and free form, as piano and violin go rhapsodic on “A Four Forty” and team with Newsome’s crying soprano during “Pleading.” Pilc scrambles to … Read More
Lorens Chuno, Doing Jazz Podcast MEG OKURA is a distinguished violinist/composer who has been decorated with several awards. Her latest album, Ima Ima, is a collection of well thought out and very well executed compositions that stem out of her role as a mother. Join Meg and Lorens as she talks about composing, motherhood, David … Read More
Richard Kamins, Step Tempest NPO Trio is Meg Okura(violin), Sam Newsome (soprano saxophone) and Jean-Michel Pilc (piano and its debut is an often dazzling, free-wheeling, improvisational collection titled “Live at The Stone” (Chant Records). Ms Okura, born in Japan, is married to Mr. Newsome and both have known and played with the pianist for the past two decades. After her move … Read More
