Saori Yano

Born on 27 Oct. 1986 in Tokyo, Japan. 1996? age 9 ?4th grade? Joins the school band. She originally hoped to play the flute, but losing in a battle of ?rock-paper-scissors?, she found herself stuck with the alto saxophone. 1998? age 11 ?6th grade? Finds the Jaco Pastorius album in her father's CD collection. Shocked by Charlie Parker's ?Donna Lee? , falls in love with Jazz. Begins to learn Jazz by herself. 2001? age 14 ?8th grade?

in Tokyo, Japan.

1996? age 9 ?4th grade?
Joins the school band. She originally hoped to play the flute, but losing in a battle of ?rock-paper-scissors?, she found herself stuck with the alto saxophone.

1998? age 11 ?6th grade?
Finds the Jaco Pastorius album in her father's CD collection. Shocked by Charlie Parker's ?Donna Lee? , falls in love with Jazz. Begins to learn Jazz by herself.

2001? age 14 ?8th grade?
Inspired by Billie Holiday's biography, and the fact that Billie at 14 was performing in Jazz Clubs to make a living, begins promoting herself to local Jazz Clubs. Landing a gig in Nishiarai's Cafe Clair, she begins her own career on stage.

February 2002? age 15 ?9th grade?
Word of mouth brings her to a record producer, lands a records deal.

March 2003? age 16 ?10th grade?
Plays the Lenox Lounge and the Zynk Bar in New York in a jam session with artists like Frank Wess.

September 2003? age 16 ?11 th grade?
The debut album ?YANO SAORI? is released to raving reviews as the newest star of Japanese Jazz. She is the second Japanese artist to release an album for the SAVOY label.

April 2004? age 17 ?12 th grade?
Records her second album ?02? at Avatar Studio in New York with guest artists Harold Mabern Trio, Eric Alexander, and Peter Bernstein. Taking the stage in a jam session at New York ?s famous Smoke Jazz Club ? Lounge, receives the highest praise from George Coleman.
Her music is chosen to be the theme tune of the ten o'clock news on TV-Asahi (Hodo Station). A producer of the program heard her album ?YANO SAORI?, and insisted on using her music.

March 2005? age 18 ?12 th grade?
Releases her third album with guests Nicholas Payton and Eric Alexander. This album titled ?SAKURA STAMP? was her first attempt with an organ trio.
To support this album, she launched her first Blue Note tour, performing on stage with the Jazz Giant (famous for their works with Miles Davis etc.), Jimmy Cobb. Jimmy Cobb called Saori the ?Japanese Cannonball Adderley?.

July 2005? age 18
Invited by Jimmy Cobb, Saori headlined at New York's Smoke for two nights. With the Jimmy Cobb Trio supporting her, she set the jazz-savvy New York crowd on fire.

November 2005? age 19
The live recording from the Smoke session was released as ?Parker's Mood?Live In NY?. This was Saori's first live album. She sets out on a nation wide tour together with Jazz legend James Moody. She is featured in the NHK television program ?Top Runner?.

June 2006? age 19
Records her album ?Groovin' High? at Clinton Studio in New York with guest artists Jimmy Heath, Slide Hampton, and Randy Brecker. These big name artists were invited by James Moody, who has spoken highly of Saori's talent ever since meeting her on her Japanese tour.

October 2006? age 19
Releases ?Groovin' High?. Launches a nationwide tour with artists James moody, Slide Hampton, and Randy Brecker.