Naoko Terai
Born in Kaganawa Prefecture, Naoko Terai began practicing the violin at the age of four.

In 1986, she made her professional debut as a jazz player and gradually her talent and sense of music drew attention of the other jazz musicians. In 1995, a pianist, Kenny Barron invited her to join the recording of his album, “Things Unseen”, which was release in November 1997 on Polydor Records. She tool part on an increasingly broad range of musical activities, performed in many live houses and joined the recordings of a number of albums as a guest player.

In December 1998, her debut album as a headliner, “Thinking Of You” was released on One Voice/ VideoArts Music. In the following year, her second album, “Pure Moment” was released and her superb musicianship and ability demonstrated in the album were highly acclaimed. Both of these albums have recorded exceptionally good sales as jazz albums.

January 2000, she collaborated with the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra at The Symphony Hall in Osaka. She formed her own band and enthusiastically performing on stages and concert halls such as Blue Note, The Suntory Hall and other venues. She has made several appearances on the national TV programs as well as on commercial broadcasting.

In September 2000, Naoko had pleasure of inviting Lee Ritenour, one of the most popular and accomplished guitarist in the contemporary jazz scene today, as her music director and producer to release her third album, “Princess T”. On Nov. 30, 2000, she embarked on a nation-wide tour with Ritenour and his cohort musicians who were also the recording members of her third album. And, it may easily be imagined, the tour was a great success. The live recorded album of this concert was released in May 2001. In December, she released her first self-produced album, “All For You”, in which she collaborated with the prominent French accordionist, Richard Galliano.

Naoko has won a “New Star” award of swing Journal’s 33rd Jazz Disc Award and was honorably voted the top musician in “Miscellaneous Instruments” on Swing Journal’s 50th Readers’ poll.

With her distinctive interpretation and gift of music, her potential in the new century in infinite.