Akiko Tsuruga
Akiko Tsuruga, born in Osaka on September 1, 1967, was a Japanese organist an
pianist based in New York. Her parents bought her a small organ when she was
three and she started learning to play standards. While in high school, she
listened to Hammond B-3 players, including Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff and Jimmy
McGriff. Graduated of the Osaka College of Music in 1988, she moved to New York
City in 2001 and had lessons from Dr. Lonnie Smith, then worked her way into the
local jazz scene, performing with well-known musicians and establishing herself.
She recorded her first studio album...
