Akiko Tsuruga

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Wikipedia

Akiko Tsuruga (敦賀明子, Tsuruga Akiko; 1 September 1967 – 13 September 2025) was a Japanese jazz composer, organist and pianist from Osaka.

Biography

Tsuruga was born in Osaka on September 1, 1967,[1] the oldest of the three children of Hiroko Tsuruga (née Kiyonaga) and Koji Tsuruga.[2] Her parents bought her a small organ when she was three and she started learning to play standards. In high school, she listened to Hammond B3 players including Jimmy Smith, then Charles Earland, Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff and Dr. Lonnie Smith.[1]

A 1988 graduate of the Osaka College of Music,[2][3] she moved to New York City in 2001. After moving to the US, she had lessons from Dr. Lonnie Smith.[1]

In addition to her solo work, she played as a sideman in various groups in New York. She accompanied Lou Donaldson since 2007.[1]

Tsuruga died on 13 September, 2025, in Brooklyn, New York, at the age of 58.[4] According to her husband, trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, Tsuruga died after a short period of terminal illness. She is survived by her mother, two brothers, and her husband.[2]

Discography

[5]

  • Harlem Dreams with Grady Tate (2004, M & I)
  • Sweet and Funky (2006, M & I; 2007, 18th & Vine; 2018, AT Records)
  • St. Louis Blues (2007, Mojo)
  • NYC Serenade with Jimmy Cobb (2008, Mojo)
  • Oriental Express (2009, 18th & Vine)
  • Sakura (2011, 1-2-3-4 GO; American Showplace Music)
  • Commencement with Jeff Hamilton and John Hart (2014, Somethin' Cool/DIW; AT Records)
  • Pelham Parkway by Kevin Golden Trio (2016, Kevin Golden Productions)
  • So Cute, So Bad with Jeff Hamilton and Graham Dechter (2017, Somethin' Cool/DIW; AT Records)
  • Pride & Joy by Lioness [all female group] (2019, Posi-Tone)
  • Equal Time with Jeff Hamilton and Graham Dechter (2019, Capri)
  • Beyond Nostalgia with Joe Magnarelli, Jerry Weldon, Ed Cherry, Byron Landham (2024, SteepleChase)
  • Coast To Coast with Jeff Hamilton and Steve Kovalcheck (2025, R.M.I. Records)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Milkowski, Bill (February 2018). "Akiko Tsuruga – Extending the Tradition". DownBeat. p. 28.
  2. 1 2 3 Alex Williams (2025-09-24). "Akiko Tsuruga, Inventive Jazz Organist, Dies at 58". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  3. ↑ "Akiko Tsuruga". AllAboutJazz. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  4. ↑ Chinen, Nate (16 September 2025). "Akiko Tsuruga, organist with a firm foothold in soul-jazz, is dead at 58". WRTI 90.1. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  5. ↑ "Akiko Tsuruga". www.allmusic.com. ALLMUSIC, NETAKTION LLC. Retrieved 2 August 2022.