Japanese music for the world

A revelation of the Festival d'accordeon de Paris

Sensitive and aware, Hiroko Ito acquired her skills with the greatest masters in the usical genre. She puts her virtuosity at the service of world music. First studying the piano and the accordion at the age of 10 in Japan, she rapidly became engrossed with popular French music and the "musette" genre. Her encounter with Marcel Azzolla was primordial in her decision to focus on accordion music. She subsequently decided to settle in Paris to study with the celebrated French master Joe Rossi, who performed along with the greatest "chanteurs a texte," from Yves Montand to Barbara, from Juliette Greco to George Moustaki. Together, they perform all over Europe and Japan....

Hiroko Ito's compositions find inspiration in her many travels and the various cultures she encountered. Her daring creations blend the vivacity and the potency of tango with traditional Japanese sound. Japan offers a great diversity of popular traditions, however this remains mostly unknown in the West. As a matter of fact, Hiroko Ito's musical creations lead to the re-discovery of a very sensitive and emotional blend of tango and milongas where the accordion, the shamisen, the bass, the taiko and the guitar harmoniously mingle.

The titles of the first CD tell it all: TANGO BAYASHI, Japonimusette, Sushi Bar, Okinawa, Tango Sumo, Onsen, Matsuri parade, etc. A wondrous sound trip to the heart of the musical sources of several worlds.

Hiroko created the group "Melting Pot" after a performing tour of Japan. This group is, like the music it performs, a ethnic blend from the five continents; each musician bringing in his/her own brick to the edifice of that musical adventure.

Hiroko participated in various TV programs (NHK, Kansai TV, FR3 Limousin, France 2, ...). In 1996, she composed and performed the soundtrack of the show "Theatre resolu" at the Hong Kong Central Theater of Art.