Meg Okura
Meg Okura (born August 9, 1973) is a jazz violinist, erhu player, composer and leader of the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, based in New York City. She is also a member of the band Pharaoh's Daughter, led by Basya Schechter.
Okura was born in Tokyo, Japan. She has bachelor's and master's degrees from The Juilliard School, and worked with jazz and pop legends such as Michael Brecker, Lee Konitz, Dianne Reeves, Steve Swallow, David Bowie and Mariko Takahashi. Okura has also been the featured violinist in the Cirque du Soleil shows Varekai, Corteo and Wintuk.
Honors
Okura has received numerous honors and awards both as composer and violinist, including American Composers Forum Jerome Composers Commissioning Program (JCCP), Independent Music Awards, Meet the Composer Metlife Creative Connections Grant, UAI/NYC Urban Artist Initiative / NYC, American University Saxophone Symposium Composition Contest.
Discography
As A Leader
- Naima (Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble) (2010)
- Meg Okura's Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble (2006)
- Be Thou My Vision (Life Music Japan)
- Peace In My Heart (Life Music Japan)(1998)
- Never Alone (Life Music Japan)(2000)
With Other Artists (Partial List)
- Candelabra Cadabra by Patti Rothberg (2000)
- Global Unity by Sam Newsome (2001)
- Heathen by David Bowie (2002)
- Slow Burn by David Bowie(2002)
- Exile by Pharaoh's Daughter (2002)
- Dragonfly by Ziggy Marley (2003)
- Don't Take Your Time by Erin Bode (2003)
- Times Like This by Heidi Grant Murphy (2003)
- Close To My Heart by Jeremy Pelt (2003)
- Another Girl by YOLA (2003)
- L'Aventura by Dean & Britta (2003)
- Christmas Time Is Here by Dianne Reeves (2004)
- L'Histoire Du Clochard: The Bum's Tale by Steve Swallow (2004)
- While the Music Lasts by Jesse Harris (2004)
- Baila! Gitano Baila! by Roberto Rodriguez (2004)
- Queen's Dominion by Basya Schechter (2004)
- Three Fingers by Roger Sisters (2004)
- Oy Vey! Ole! by Roberto Juan Rodriguez (2006)
- Haran by Pharaoh's Daughter (2007)
- Welcome To My Bad Behavior by edibleRed (2007)
- Blood Pressure by George Colligan (2008)
- First Basket by Roberto Juan Rodriguez (2009)
- In My Life by Rondi Charleston (2009)