Meet Aoi Murakoshi | Saxophonist & Composer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aoi Murakoshi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aoi, why did you pursue a creative career?
Since my parents love music, I was exposed to various genres from an early age, including wind ensemble music, classical, j-pop, and fusion.

When I was 8 years old, I encountered a jazz big band made up of elementary and junior high school students. This was the first time when I met jazz. When I just started to play saxophone, I listened to fusion and funk saxophonists, but discovering Michael Brecker and Chris Potter led me to explore jazz artists like John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, Dexter Gordon, and Kenny Garrett. I began performing at local jazz clubs in Sapporo and began to envision a future as a jazz artist.

What fascinates me about jazz is that it constantly let me know the new aspects of tunes. Jazz offers some room of “interpretation”and “space”, which vary depending on the player and situation. It’s like seeing a piece of the musician’s personality through their playing. Someone once said that jazz is a “momentary art. “and being able to experience those fleeting moments—sometimes legendary or historic—is what makes jazz so special to me. The space created by jazz musicians has a unique, almost otherworldly atmosphere.

I aspire to be someone like my favorite musicians who can deliver to the audience the joy and excitement of jazz. Whether in performance, composition, or arrangement, I try to be creative and proactive. Jazz allows me to contribute to society and also pursue my own “good my life.”and “good me.” These are the reasons I pursue jazz.

Please tell us more about your career. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
When I was 9, I started playing alto saxophone in a local children’s big band, but it wasn’t until I became lead alto at age 14 that I took jazz seriously. Before this, I mainly loved funk and Japanese fusion, then eventually decided to dive deeper into jazz sax. I found Charlie Parker too difficult, so I started with jazz players like Michael Brecker, who played in various genres. I then began listening to John Coltrane, then Kenny Garrett, then became more and more interested in jazz alto players. People used to say I didn’t sound “jazzy”, but over time, I improved and was glad to be accepted in the Sapporo jazz community. My playing still blends various genres. I do not feel like it fits the “traditional jazz alto saxophone” mold, but my uniqueness is what I am proud of. I like to mix jazz with other styles to create interesting performances.

Around two years ago, I started composing. I enjoyed it so much that I am currently studying jazz composition and performance at Berklee. Here, I am also learning more music theory to deepen my understanding of my music and improve my compositions. Every day, I enjoy creating tiny different pieces, whether it’s just a 4 bar melody, a harmony, or a small drawing that I later adapt into a sound or idea.

At Berklee I am surrounded by talented musicians and I face both excitement and challenges. I didn’t have much contact with many musicians my age as there were very few in my big band who wanted to pursue jazz seriously. Sometimes I compare myself to others and it takes me a long time to complete my assignments in English. Progress doesn’t come as quickly as I like, and though frustrating, I believe this struggle is temporary. Through trial and error, I hope to continue to discover more new things and eventually solidify my musical identity.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Although I’ve only been in Boston for a year, there are already many places I absolutely love. For example, I recommend the MIT Museum. Here, you can see a lot of cutting-edge technologies across a wide range of fields, like space, the environment, medical technologies, and design for daily life. There are many hands-on exhibits, making it a fun experience. It’s a great place for anyone interested in new technologies and futuristic ideas.
I also really love the Museum of Fine Arts Boston (MFAB). Here, you can learn about the history of Boston and other regions and countries through artwork and explanatory panels, and beautiful colors and shapes of the arts. The museum’s gift shop is a lot of fun.
Walking around Newbury Street and the Boston Public Garden is also a nice way to relax and refresh. Newbury Street is good for shopping, and it’s so much fun to walk around. In the Public Garden, you can enjoy nature and just relax. Actually, if you walk from Berklee to Newbury Street, you’ll reach the Public Garden, and further along, there’s Chinatown. Just this one line alone offers a perfect mix of shopping, dining, and the many charms of Boston.
The area around Berklee also has a lot of nice cafes and restaurants. For example, Tatte Bakery & Cafe and Caffè Bene are both delicious and ideal for spending a relaxing time. As someone who loves ice cream, I’m especially fond of J.P. Licks.
Lastly, Berklee College of Music is such a wonderful place. Since it’s an area where music students gather from world, you can often encounter people playing various music, and the vibe there is crazy in the best way. During the summer, you might even run into street performers. It’s a place full of music and art, and you’re constantly inspired by the creativity around you.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
In music, I am able to get to where I am today with the help of many people.
First, I’d like to thank my parents. Although my father had expected me to pursue a career like his in law enforcement (because that was what I always have told him), he fully supported my decision to become a jazz musician and to study at Berklee from his heart. My mother, who was my first saxophone teacher, has always been my greatest supporter. When I was a little child, she took me to jazz shows in Sapporo, attended all my performances, and offered invaluable feedback. My first solo performance, 10 years ago, was the transcription of Dexter Gordon’s solo from Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man,” which my mother and I worked on together. (We didn’t even know that it was Dexter Gordon’s solo!! )
I’m also very grateful to the jazz community in Japan. The mentorship and encouragement I’ve received from musicians in Hokkaido and Honshu (main island of Japan) and the opportunities to play with them have been essential to me.
Today, I’m studying jazz composition and performance at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where I’m finding new things every day and given great support from my friends, mentors, and professors. I would especially like to thank Tiger Okoshi for encouraging me to go to Berklee, even though I had never even considered studying abroad.
Finally, I’m thankful to everyone who has supported me along the way. My family, friends, colleagues, teachers, and people who listen to my music have been crucial in my growth, and their encouragement continues to drive me forward.

Website: http://trilogic.jp/aoi.html

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aoi_am2247/

Twitter: https://x.com/aoi_murakoshi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1A6KeXP2fn/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Aoi_Murakoshi

Other: Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/artist/1SkqY3ZdC2Z5mcJWKvs5g1