Sumi Tonooka Solo
Sumi Tonooka "Giant Steps" live from CultureWorks on Vimeo.
NOW-Sumi Tonooka solo piano
Sumi in the studio, preparing for her live solo piano CD “NOW.”
Click image to see a solo performance of “Phantom Carousel.”
Click image to see a solo performance of “Phantom Carousel.”
Sumi performs music from NOW, her latest solo release, a first set of standards dedicated to her teachers and influences including Mary Lou Williams and Thelonius Monk and a second set of originals that trace her journey as a composer.
Long recognized by her peers as a scintillating improviser, Tonooka offers an authoritative statement with her first solo session, confirming her status as a capaciously creative composer and a keyboard stylist of the highest order.
"Fierce, fascinating composer and pianist . . . a thoughtful, fresh voice . . . delicate and articulate . . . driving and dramatic."
– Jazz Times
Sumi Tonooka Trio
Click image to see a trio performance of “All of You.”
The trio performs tunes from Tonooka’s latest trio CD "Long Ago Today" as well as standards and new compositions by Tonooka.
This video features the trio with Mark Helias on bass and Otis Brown III on drums, LIVE at The Philadelphia Art Museum Jazz Series in 2010.
“Tonooka’s music is beautifully conceived and enthralling.”
-All About Jazz
“Her assets are speed, power, harmonic and rhythmic ingenuity, at her best she can knock you down and run you over” -Jazz Times
This video features the trio with Mark Helias on bass and Otis Brown III on drums, LIVE at The Philadelphia Art Museum Jazz Series in 2010.
“Tonooka’s music is beautifully conceived and enthralling.”
-All About Jazz
“Her assets are speed, power, harmonic and rhythmic ingenuity, at her best she can knock you down and run you over” -Jazz Times
Sumi Tonooka / Erica Lindsay Quartet
Click image to see a quartet performance of “Black Urgency.”
The quartet program features original music from their celebrated CD “Initiation” and new music for upcoming release.
Quartet performing an Erica Lindsay original at The Philadelphia Art Museum Jazz Series
“Sumi Tonooka brings to the music a formidable presence as a composer, player and leader that cannot be denied… a must listen…”
— Cadence
“[Erica’s] profound soul-searching technique straddles Coltrane’s spirituality and Joe Henderson’s fiery versatility, making hers
a name to watch.”
— Bob Margolis
Quartet performing an Erica Lindsay original at The Philadelphia Art Museum Jazz Series
“Sumi Tonooka brings to the music a formidable presence as a composer, player and leader that cannot be denied… a must listen…”
— Cadence
“[Erica’s] profound soul-searching technique straddles Coltrane’s spirituality and Joe Henderson’s fiery versatility, making hers
a name to watch.”
— Bob Margolis