User:Pghmusiclover/Kimiko kasai

Kimiko Kasai is a Jazz Singer who was born in Kyoto, Japan on December 15, 1945.

She went to Tokyo in 1964, and became a featured member of pianist Yuzuru Sera's group. She is referred to by her nickname of "Kemeco", also a song on one of her earliest recorded works, "The Modern Playing Mate" by Yuzuru Sera Trio Introducing Kimiko Kasai from 1968 (and recently reissued on compact disc in Japan).

Her first album as a solo artist was entitled "Just Friends" in 1970. After that time, she recorded many albums in collaboration with some of the most renowned musicians in the jazz field, such as Mal Waldron, Gil Evans, Stan Getz, and Herbie Hancock. She recorded many albums in the jazz idiom, as well as some releases that bordered more on the smooth jazz side of music, as well as even pop. She recorded mostly in English, though she seems to have recorded several albums in Japanese ("Umbrella" and "Tokyo Special"). Several of her works remain in print in Japan, being re-released with modern day technologies (i.e., compact disc, SACD, blu-spec disc).

In her personal life, Kimiko has been married to drummer Hiroshi Murakami, as well as to Richard Rudolph, the former husband of the late Minnie Riperton. Mr. Rudolph is famous as the composer of "Loving You", as well as producing recordings by Minnie Riperton, Teena Marie and Kimiko herself.

All signs point to Kimiko retiring from the jazz scene completely, circa the late-80's or early-90's.  Kimiko lives in Los Angeles, and is a jewelry designer of some note, with her own website dedicated to her new venture.

Discography

1968	The Modern Playing Mate: Yuzuru Sera Trio introducing Kimiko Kasai

1970	Just Friends

1971	One For Lady: Kimiko Kasai & Mal Waldron

1971	Yellow Carcass In The Blue

1972	Satin Doll: Kimiko Kasai with Gil Evans

1972	Umbrella: Works of Haruomi Hosono

1973	What’s New

1973	In Person

1974	Kimiko Is Here: With Cedar Walton Trio

1975	This Is My Love

1976	We Can Fall In Love

1977	Tokyo Special

1978	Round And Round

1979	Butterfly: Kimiko Kasai & Herbie Hancock

1980

1981

1982	Kimiko

1983

1984	Love Talk

1984	New Pastel

1985	Watching You

1986

1987	Perigo A Noite

References include

The Kimiko Kasai's Fascinately World Group on IMEEM

www.koolkatjazz.com

www.kimikobykimiko.com

www.discogs.com/