Biography
Yutaka Yokokura brings a distinctive touch to the keyboard while also mastering the koto, frequently weaving elements of his Japanese background into a deep affinity for Brazilian sounds. Classical piano training began for him at age four, alongside an immersion in contemporary pop, until Brazilian music captured his attention at fifteen during the mid-1960s. Before long he formed his own ensemble and focused primarily on Brazilian repertoire shaped by the influence of Sergio Mendes. Relocating to the United States in 1972, he enrolled at Cal State Long Beach, and his subsequent tenure with Hiroshima from 1975 to 1978 unexpectedly deepened his connection to Japanese traditions. His first album, Lovelight, appeared on a Japanese label in 1978 under the production of Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen. Following an extended period of session work, he issued Yutaka on GRP in 1988, now incorporating koto alongside his keyboard parts, and followed that release with Brazasia, whose title encapsulates the fusion at the heart of his work.
Albums
