Music @NYPL presents The Chiemi Nakai Latin Jazz Quartet

A native of Japan, Chiemi Nakai moved to New York City in 1998 and graduated from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College with Masters of Art in Jazz Performance in 2002.  Since then she has performed and toured with international Latin music stars such as trombonist Jimmy Bosch and Grammy-Award nominee Juan Carlos Formell.   In 2006 she performed at Carnegie Hall with the Carlos del Pino Cuban project and Cuban-America composer, Dr. Tania Leon.   In 2002 she formed her own ensemble,  "Chiemi Nakai & the Afro-Cuban Jazz Project."  The group’s first album, “Bridges,” was released in March 2008.  The album was nominated that year for Top 6 Latin Jazz CDs by Diskunion Japan/Union award, and for Best Next Generation Artist by Latin Jazz Corner.  That same year LJC also nominated Ms. Nakai for the title of  Pianist of the Year.  Ms. Nakai continues to perform with the ensemble Afronaughtica, which she co-leads with Japanese jazz vocalist Mari Koga, as well as with her own band.