Rie Furuse
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Rie Furuse | |
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 Rie Furuse artist photo
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | 古瀬 里恵 |
| Also known as | Rie Furuse |
| Born | February 7, 1982 |
| Origin | Kumamoto, Japan |
| Genre(s) | Jazz, Funk, Latin, Pop, Jazz-Pop, Chanson Francaise |
| Years active | 2001 - Present |
| Website | Rie furuse.com |
Rie Furuse (古瀬里恵 Furuse Rie?, born February 7, 1982 in Kumamoto) is a Japanese vocalist. Rie graduated from Dokkyo University in March 2004.
[edit] Biography
Rie grew up in Japan. At the early age of three she took up the piano and at twelve added the flute to her musical repertoire. Though she later studied piano improvisation with Andy Ostwald (the author of the book/CD series, Piano By Ear), it was her keen interest in the great jazz vocalists-Patti Austin, Lorez Alexandria, Renata Mauro and particularly Dinah Shore--that dictated her future vocation.
Whilst studying for a degree in French Literature at Dokkyo University in Tokyo, she simultaneously launched her singing career, performing with a broad gamut of international musicians. She recorded her first album in Boston, USA, with the pianist Rafael Alcala (known for his work with Sheryl Bentyne of the vocal group Manhattan Transfer) and traveled to France to sing with the renowned Pierre-Louis CAS(sax) Quartet in Paris.
She has played with the acclaimed drummer Tommy Campbell (Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, John McLaughlin), the virtuoso pianist Jonathan Katz, as well as Gregg Lee(b), Kei Shibata(pf), Hiroshi Tanaka(pf), Yoshio Suzuki(b), to name just a few. She is regularly featured in jazz clubs and hotel venues, not only in the Tokyo area but also in the major cities throughout Japan, and has developed a loyal following amongst jazz aficionados. Recently, whilst in New York, she sang with the multi reed player, Patience Higgins (known for his work with Aretha franklin and Stevie wonder etc.) and his Quartet.
Rie is trilingual, speaking excellent French and English apart from her native Japanese, and although she is an accomplished singer in most genre, her preference is jazz, latin, pops and gospel that she sings in English, French and Spanish.
At present she is composing songs with the famed lyricist Chris Mosdell (Sarah Brightman, Eric Clapton). At the meantime she studies with a great vocal coach who is the renowned vocalist Diva Gray (a former member of Chic and singer who has recorded with such luminaries as R. Kelly, Celine Dion, John Lennon and Elton John).
Rie is based in Tokyo and is getting well established on the world stage. She has been a regular singer and pianist at the exclusive Roppongi Hills Club in Tokyo since 2006. Uniquely, she is the only Japanese artist performing there. In 2007 she had a successful tour in Hawaii and was featured in an interview by the Hawaiian newspaper "Star-Bulletin".
