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After graduating from Mukogawa Women’s University where she majored in
English literature, Hiromi Shimizu honed her skills as a jazz singer while
working as an announcer and emcee. In December 2000, she opened her own jazz
club “Jazz on Top” in the center of Osaka’s entertainment district. Besides
being the club’s vocalist-in-residence, she has also appeared at numerous jazz
festivals, concert halls and jazz clubs throughout Japan.
Hiromi appeared at the Blue Note New York in 2004 and 2005 to rave reviews.
This accomplishment in the jazz capital of the world helped solidify her
reputation. In 2010, she was invited to perform at two major European jazz
festivals – the Festival International de Jazz d’Antibes Juan les Pins in France
and the Umbria International Jazz Festival in Italy – where she was
enthusiastically received.
Hiromi has released five albums.
SMILE with the Emiko Tada Trio
(2004)
ROUND MIDNIGHT with the Emiko Tada Quartet (2005)
HIROMI AS IS IN
NEW YORK with the Kenny Barron Trio (2006)
WALTZ TENDERLY, a duo outing with
Don Friedman (2008)
LIVE AT JAZZ ON TOP with the Don Friedman Trio (2010)
Among these recordings, the ones she did with Kenny Barron and Don Friedman
were the first ones by a Japanese vocalist to receive excellent reviews from
jazz magazines around the world. This only attests to why Hiromi Shimizu is
currently attracting attention both internationally and domestically as the
Japanese jazz singer most likely to make it in the international jazz scene.
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