Keiko Matsui facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Keiko Matsui
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Matsui performing at DAR Constitution Hall in 2009
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| Background information | |
| Native name |
松居 慶子
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| Birth name | 土居 慶子 (Keiko Doi) |
| Born | July 26, 1961 Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | Smooth jazz, new-age |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Keyboard |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Labels | MCA, White Cat, Countdown, Narada, Shanachie |
Keiko Matsui (松居 慶子, Matsui Keiko, born 26 July 1961, as Keiko Doi) is a talented Japanese musician. She plays the keyboard and writes her own music. Keiko is famous for her smooth jazz and new-age music. She was born as Keiko Doi in Tokyo, Japan, on July 26, 1961.
Contents
About Keiko Matsui
Early Life and Music Journey
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Keiko Matsui was born in Tokyo, Japan. When she was six years old, her mother, Emiko, took her to her first piano lesson. In Japan, there is a tradition that says if a child starts something at this age, they will continue it for a long time. This was true for Keiko, who studied piano throughout her school years.
At first, she focused on classical music. But in junior high school, she became interested in jazz. She then started writing her own music.
Starting Her Career
Keiko studied children's culture at Japan Women's University. She also studied at the Yamaha Music Foundation. She formed a band called Cosmos, which released four albums.
In 1987, she released her first solo album, A Drop of Water. She worked on this album with her husband, Kazu Matsui. Later, she signed with MCA Records and released albums like No Borders and Under Northern Lights. In 1995, her album Sapphire became very popular. It reached number one on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart.
Recent Music and Collaborations
Keiko Matsui continued to create new music. In 2011, she produced her album The Road. She worked with famous musicians like Richard Bona and Kirk Whalum on this album. She also collaborated with Bob James on another album that same year. Her album Soul Quest, released in 2013, reached number six on the jazz chart. Her latest album, Euphoria, was released in 2023.
Keiko's Musical Style
Blending Cultures in Music
Keiko Matsui's music mixes sounds from Western and Eastern cultures. She has a very spiritual way of creating music. She feels that each song comes to her from "another space, another dimension." She describes it as "catching notes from the silence and then simply placing them together."
Music's Power and Nature's Influence
Keiko believes that music is a "great gift from the human souls from the past, for the children of the future." She thinks music can bring people together and change their lives. She once wrote, "We are connected by music, as the Ocean connects the continents."
Keiko loves nature very much. Many of her song titles mention plants, animals, and natural things. She is especially fascinated by the moon. Several of her songs have titles that refer to the moon.
Charity Work
Keiko Matsui uses her music to help others. In 1997, her mini-CD A Gift of Hope supported the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization. Her music was also featured in a TV special about breast cancer. She performed at an ice skating event in 1997 to support the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Proceeds from her album A Gift of Life helped the National Marrow Donor Program. This program helps people of ethnic minorities find matching marrow donors. Royalties from her album Wildflower supported the United Nations World Food Programme. She performed at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City in 2003 to benefit this program.
Discography Highlights
Keiko Matsui has released many albums throughout her career. Here are some of her notable works:
Solo Albums
- A Drop of Water (1987)
- Under Northern Lights (1989)
- Sapphire (1995)
- Deep Blue (2001)
- Wildflower (2004)
- The Road... (2011)
- Soul Quest (2013)
- Journey to the Heart (2016)
- Echo (2019)
- Euphoria (2023)
Live Albums
- Keiko Matsui Live (1999)
- Live in Tokyo (2002)
EP Albums
- A Gift of Hope (1997)
- A Gift of Life (2001)
With Cosmos
- Hyoryu (1980)
- Can Can Can! (1982)
Videos
- Full Moon and the Shrine
- The Jazz Channel Presents Keiko Matsui (2001)
- Live in Tokyo (2015)
See also
In Spanish: Keiko Matsui para niños
