Pianist Keiko Matsui is an icon of contemporary jazz. With over 1.2 million units sold in the U.S. alone and sold-out appearances at concert halls across the world, she is one of the most recognized artists in the genre. Her elegant piano melodies and gentle jazz grooves have enormous appeal and never disappoint her loyal fan base, which she has cultivated with over 20 albums and hundreds of stunning live shows.

Counting artists as diverse as Stevie Wonder, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Frederic Chopin, Maurice Jarre, and Chick Corea among her influences, Matsui released her first album, A Drop of Water, in the US in 1987. Her albums Sapphire (1995), Dream Walk (1996), and Deep Blue (2001) all broke into the Top 10 on Billboard's weekly Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, and she was named Billboard's No. 3 Top Contemporary Jazz Artist for 1997. Her releases after the turn of the millennium, including The Ring (2002) and Wildflower (2004), revealed a broadening of her stylistic scope as they dabbled in world and classical music.

In addition to being a world-renowned musician, Matsui is also an active humanitarian, supporting the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, the National Marrow Foundation, the United Nations World Food Programme, and efforts to provide relief to Japan after the recent earthquake and tsunami. After a brief hiatus from recording at the end of the last decade, she released her latest album, The Road, early in 2011.

Keiko Matsui Website
Keiko Matsui Facebook Page
Keiko Matsui Myspace Page