1. Tatsu Aoki was born on September 19,1957 and is a multi-instrumentalist trained in traditional Japanese music, educator and experimental filmmaker.
16 Facts About Tatsu Aoki
1. 2.
Tatsu Aoki directs cultural events that promote the history of Japanese artistic traditions and contemporary Asian influences in jazz.
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Tatsu Aoki is an advocate for the Asian American community as well as a filmmaker, educator, composer and a performer of traditional and experimental music forms.
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Tatsu Aoki was born in Tokyo in 1957 to Toyoakimoto, an artisan family proficient in okiya, the tradition of working as booking and training agents for geisha in downtown Tokyo.
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Tatsu Aoki began to work in small-gauge and experimental films, influenced by his biological father, who was a movie producer at Shintoho studio.
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In 1977, Tatsu Aoki left Tokyo to study experimental filmmaking at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he has taught film production and art history.
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Tatsu Aoki has produced more than thirty experimental films and performs on double bass, shamisen, and taiko.
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Tatsu Aoki was a visiting professor at Northwestern University, teaching courses in Asian American Arts Practices and Identity.
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Tatsu Aoki is the founder and artistic director of the Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival.
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Tatsu Aoki has managed or produced more than fifty albums for the label, including the Max Roach and Jon Jang collaboration The Beijing Trio.
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Tatsu Aoki has worked with Hamid Drake, Von Freeman, Nicole Mitchell, and Jeff Parker and has had extensive recording processes with Roscoe Mitchell, Don Moye, Wu Man, Joseph Jarman, and Malachi Favors.
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Tatsu Aoki's suite Rooted: Origins of Now, a four-movement suite for big band, premiered in 2001 at Ping Tom Memorial Park and was performed at the Chicago Jazz Festival and MCA Stage as part of the Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival.
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Tatsu Aoki leads Tsukasa Taiko, a traditional Japanese drumming group, and has performed with Toyoaki Shamisen Ensemble and Shubukai Classical Dance.
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Tatsu Aoki began making films in regular 8 gauge in early childhood.
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Tatsu Aoki's biological father, Wahei Hoshino, was a movie producer in the 1960s and influenced his work in small gauge, experimental filmmaking.
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Tatsu Aoki presented the documentary That Asian Thing in 2008 and worked as a composer for the short film Farewell, Mr Griswell in 2010.