Event

Yu Ooka & Richard Taylor Duo

Yu Ooka ...
Born in Osaka, Japan.
After studying at Koyo Consevatory in Kobe, Yu decided to move to Los Angeles to persue his career and experience different culture.
Yu started playing at many LA local live clubs where he was introduced to legendary Jazz pianist, Billy Mitchell and has been playing in the Billy Mitchell Group over 10 years.

In 2007, Yu became a lead guitarist of A.P.B. and has won the Best Performance prize at Hori Production Audition in the United States.
Yu is a leader of Contemporary style of Japanese Folk Music group, Minyo Station.
They feature Japanese traditional songs with different eastern arrangement.(Rock, R&B, Jazz, & Latin etc).
This Unique Fusion group became popular in Southern California area and started performing many renowned venues such as LACMA and Ford Amphitheatre etc.

Yus appearance was Blue Note in Osaka, Sedona Jazz on the Rock, the Music Center of Los Angeles, John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, Los Angeles County Museum of Art(LACMA), many more...
Besides performances, he attends many recording sessions.
(ABC TV drama songs, Yama Moto Yama commercial songs, French movieMadama Butterfly, etc)

Worked with
Billy Mitchell, Barbara Morrison, Patrice Rushen, Michael Paulo, Janice Johnson(A Taste of Honey), Freeda Payne, Munyungo Jackson, Dr.Bobby Rodriguez, Eric Marienthal, Garret Morris, many more

Richard Taylor.....
Has sung Rigoletto in Rigoletto with San Jose Opera, Leporello in Don Giovanni with Nevada Opera, Porgy in Porgy & Bess with Houston Grand Opera and Scarpia in Tosca among others
He was a soloist in Carnegie Hall in Faure Requiem and Mozart Requiem. Toured Asia singing Elijah with the Pacific Chorale.
As a bassist he has performed or recorded with Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, H. B. Barnum,
Kenny Lattimore , Marlena Shaw, Booker T Jones,(Booker T and the MG's), Ollie Woodson, Les McCann, Branford Marsalis, Marcus Belgrave, Clarence McDonald and Barbara Morrison to name a few
He has 3 recordings. 2 of which feature his own compositions