Piano: Yuki Futami
 
Yuki Futami is an award-winning jazz pianist from Japan whose sensitive touch and warm tone reflect that of his musical idol, the legendary Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson. After winning 1st place in competitions such as the Yokohama Jazz Competition and Asakusa Jazz Contest in Japan with his energetic performances, Yuki decided to relocate to New York City in 2013 in order to further his knowledge of jazz. He now lives in Boston as a student of Jerry Bergonzi at the New England Conservatory, refining his musical sense of excitement, agility and hard-hitting swing.
 
Yuki was born in Saitama prefecture in 1987 and started playing music at the early age of three when his parents bought him his first keyboard: a 44 key Casio. Within a few months, Yuki was enrolled in the YAMAHA music school. When he was in junior high school, he played trombone in the local brass band. His experience of playing big band pieces with the brass band awakened his interest in jazz. Soon after graduating from high school, Yuki decided to pursue a career as a professional jazz pianist. In addition to many great jazz pianists of the 20th century, he is also influenced by the current contemporary jazz scene in New York City. His goal is to assimilate all these influences into a personal style of his own. It is a life-long journey from which he learns everyday.