Ayako Shirasaki

was a Japanese-American jazz pianist, composer and teacher living in Brooklyn, New York.

Biography Shirasaki was born September 16, 1969, and started classical piano lessons at age 5; she was also intrigued by her father's jazz trumpet-playing. She began her professional career at the age of twelve by playing gigs in her family's band at the "J" jazz club in Tokyo.

After attending the Tokyo Metropolitan High School for Arts, Shirasaki majored in classical music at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and gave concerts as a classical pianist for several years after graduating before returning to play jazz.

Career In August 2003 the Japanese indie label What's New Records released her debut trio CD "Existence" (Lewis Nash on drums, Marco Panascia on bass) in Japan. "Musically Yours" her second CD was released in June, 2005. Before giving birth to her two children, Shirasaki's solo piano album Home Alone was released in April 2006. In the same year she has been featured on Marian McPartland's National Public Radio Show Piano Jazz. and on the compilation CD An NPR Jazz Christmas with Marian McPartland and Friends, Vol. 3.

She was a finalist in the Mary Lou Williams Women In Jazz Piano Competition in 2005 and 2006 and the Great American Jazz Piano Competition in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

After taking parental leave she continued her career with a performance at the 1st International Jazz Solo Piano Festival 2009 in Germany. In 2010 she performed at the Jazz Journalists Association Awards Gala.

Discography 2003 - Existence 2005 - Musically Yours 2006 - Home Alone 2010 - Falling Leaves - Live in Hamburg 2013 - Some Other Time

Compilations 2006 - An NPR Christmas Collection with Marian McPartland and Friends 2006 - NPR Jazz Christmas With Marian McPartland and Friends III 2009 - Best of 1st International Jazz Solo Piano Festival 2009