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Keiko Matsui

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 To provide a safer environment for the public and significantly expedite fan entry into our venues, Rialto Theatre & 191 Toole have instituted a clear bag policy as of March 1st, 2022. The policy limits the size and type of bags that may be brought into our venues. The following is a list of bags that will be accepted for entry: Bags that are clear plastic or vinyl and do not exceed 12in x 6in x 12in One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags (Ziplok bag or similar) Small clutch bags, approximately 5in x 7in All bags subject to search. Clear bags are available for sale at the box office.

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ABOUT THE ARTIST

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Known for her crossover mix of smooth jazz, fusion, and new age music, Japan's Keiko Matsui is an internationally acclaimed pianist and composer. Emerging in the late '80s, Matsui has issued a stream of albums including 1989's Under Northern Lights, 1995's chart-topping Sapphire, and 2016's Journey to the Heart, that employed her acoustic piano in a central role, and displayed a grasp of both Western and Eastern musical traditions and her love of nature and spirituality. It marked her 30th anniversary as a recording artist. 2019's electro-acoustic Echo showcased her most sophisticated collection of compositions to date. 2023's Euphoria was performed by a handpicked all-star cast of musicians. Born in 1961, Matsui grew up in Tokyo and took her first piano lesson at the age of five. Influenced by and as well as early fusion masters and , Matsui began composing while in junior high but studied children's culture at the Japan Women's University (Nihon Joshidaigaku). She moved to the Yamaha Music Foundation in Tokyo after graduation and formed Cosmos, recording four albums with the new age group. Her first album as a leader, 1987's A Drop of Water, was released in the U.S. two years after the fact on . The LP also featured her touring partner and husband, shakuhachi player , and was financed with their honeymoon money. A contract with that year resulted in two albums, Under Northern Lights and No Borders, both of which featured guest spots by artists like saxophonist , guitarist , and others. Matsui moved to the label in 1992 and started gaining notice on the contemporary jazz charts. Her 1995 album Sapphire hit number one, and its follow-up also reached the Top Ten the following year. Whisper from the Mirror followed in 2000; Deep Blue appeared the next year. The Ring from 2002 recalled the composer's classical background, while 2004's Wildflower flirted with world music. Walls of Akendora appeared in 2005 with a smooth jazz flavor and an updated version of Matsui's early hit "Mountain Shakedown." Moyo, an album that placed Matsui's piano in an orchestral setting, followed in 2007 on the imprint. After a world tour and numerous festival appearances, Matsui took some time off, eventually returning with The Road... in 2011 on Shanachie. She produced most of the disc herself -- and received help on some cuts from , Craig Burbridge, and Joe Chicarelli. The nine-tune set showcased Matsui's playing in a variety of settings from trio to octet. Some of her musical guests included , , , and . That same year she collaborated with on Altair & Vega on , which featured both pianists simultaneously sharing a single piano. 2013's Soul Quest featured all-new compositions, but its personnel included many old friends. It climbed to number six on the jazz charts and was followed by a two-year world tour that culminated in Live in Tokyo, an audio-visual disc package issued in 2015. Early the next year, while on retreat on Catalina Island, Matsui began reflecting upon her recent musical directions and commenced writing melodies toward the goal of a simpler, more organic recording. She enlisted the veteran Cuban rhythm section of bassist Carlitos Del Puerto and drummer . Peruvian guitarist Ramon Stagnero, and Venezuelan percussionist Luis Quintero, harmonicist , and a string section also assisted. The completed album, Journey to the Heart, was issued in August, marking her 30th anniversary as a recording artist. Echo followed in 2019 and featured contributions by saxophonist , bassists and , and vocalist . Matsui returned in March 2023 with Euphoria. Imbued with an abundance of optimism and hope, the pianist enlisted an all-star roster for the recording that included , , , , , and an orchestral string section.

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