Keiko Matsui to Play U.S. Shows Feb 11 to May 21, 2011, in Support of New Album
In 2011 eJazzNews posted a notice that pianist and composer Keiko Matsui would play U.S. shows from February 11 to May 21, 2011, in support of a new album. The original page has not survived, but the jazz blog Candid Jazz and Conversations kept its headline as a link, with a short summary that names the album: The Road… on Shanachie. Matsui was still on concert calendars in 2026, with two shows listed at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix in July.
What is known about the 2011 notice
The headline reads: “Keiko Matsui To Play U.S. Shows Feb 11 – May 21 In Support Of New Album.” The summary printed under it on the blog says Matsui had recently released The Road…, her first new recording in four years and the follow-up to Moyo (2007), and mentions drummers Vinnie Colaiuta and MB Gordy and her co-writing with bassist and singer Richard Bona on “Nguea Wonja.” The same blog page collected other jazz news from 2011, including the Jazz for Japan benefit recording made after the March 2011 earthquake and the protests over the Recording Academy’s decision to drop the Latin jazz Grammy category. The individual cities and venues of the tour are not recorded in any source found for this page.
The album: The Road…
The Road… (Shanachie 5188, 2011) was produced by Matsui, with bassist and singer Richard Bona and Derek Nakamoto credited as co-producers. Its musicians included Bona, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and saxophonists Jackiem Joyner and Kirk Whalum. The nine tracks run from “Secret Pond” and “Falcon’s Wing” to “Bohemian Concerto” and the title piece. Matsui’s collaboration with pianist Bob James, the duo album Altair & Vega, followed on eOne.
Who Keiko Matsui is
Matsui is a Japanese pianist and composer whose music sits between contemporary jazz and new age, with Eastern melodic influences. She began recording in Japan in the 1980s, including her solo album A Drop of Water and recordings with Kazu Matsui, before signing with American labels such as MCA and White Cat. Her album Sapphire (1995) reached No. 1 on Billboard’s contemporary jazz chart, and her label describes a long run of top 10 contemporary jazz hits. She is also known for dedicating her music and concerts to charitable causes.
What happened next
Matsui kept recording for Shanachie after The Road…, with Soul Quest (2013) and Journey to the Heart (2016), followed by Echo (2019) and Euphoria (2023). Her label still describes her touring as relentless and worldwide, and the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix listed two concerts by her for July 18, 2026. For more players in this line, see our guide to jazz pianists.
Where to start listening
- Sapphire (White Cat, 1995): the album that topped Billboard’s contemporary jazz chart.
- The Road… (Shanachie, 2011): the album of the 2011 tour period, with Richard Bona and Kirk Whalum.
- Euphoria (2023): her most recent studio album listed in the sources.
Sources
- “Candid Jazz and Conversations: The Jazz Buzz,” blog, 2011.
- Discogs, “Keiko Matsui: The Road…,” Shanachie 5188, 2011.
- Discogs, “Bob James, Keiko Matsui: Altair & Vega.”
- Shanachie Entertainment, “Keiko Matsui,” artist page.
- Musical Instrument Museum, “Keiko Matsui, July 18, 2026.”
- Wikipedia, “Keiko Matsui.”
This page is based on an article from the original eJazzNews archive (2001 to 2018), with background and sources added in 2026. The original text is not republished here.
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