Biography
Bassist and Composer Nori Naraoka was born and raised in Sapporo, Japan. Growing up in a musical family, his parents managed a music school. At the age 4, he learned piano, clarinet, trombone and saxophone taught by his father, professional saxophonist/music educator Akinori Naraoka and mother, pianist Chisono Naraoka. At the age 13, he began playing principal acoustic bass/electric bass and began a professional career by playing with Akinori Naraoka Group.
He moved to America to study jazz music in 1998 and received a scholarship from Berklee College of Music, Boston MA. As soon as he finished studying at Berklee, he moved to New Orleans in 2001.
He had a rare opportunity to perform with such greats as Jason Marsalis, Russell Batiste, Delfeayo Marsalis, Wild Magnolias, Ivan Neville, Stanton Moore, Willie Green, Nicholas Pay ton, June Yamagishi, Charmaine Neville and many more.
AWARDS:
-1996 The Grand Prize (Teen’s Music Festival. Sponsored by Yamaha corporations. Sapporo, Japan.)
-1996 Powerful Sounds Prize (Teen’s Music Festival. Sponsored by Yamaha corporations. Hokkaido, Japan. )
-1999 Scholarship for “Bass player” (Berklee College Of Music. Boston, MA)
-2001 Best of the Best nominee for “Best Musical” (Musical Show Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill Directed by Tommye Marwick. Gambit Weekly. New Orleans, LA)
EDUCATION
Jazz Study with Ellis Marsalis and Terence Blanchard at University of New Orleans (2001
Diploma of Performance in Music, Berklee College of Music (1998-2001, Boston MA)
Studied Music with Akinori Naraoka (1980-1996)