Maiko Hata

Maiko Hata swings lightly, with a purity of tone and a delicate and beautiful voice. Ms. Hata digs deeply to convey the story of each song with honesty and true motion.

Amy London

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Bio

Maiko is a Japanese born jazz singer who moved to New York in her teen age to pursue Jazz singing. She started classical piano at age 7 and began theater, ballet, and musical performance from early school years. She has tasted the joy of performing for audience for local theater performance. During high school, she developed an interest in classical singing, began performing as a lead singer in the school choir and performed at local music festivals. Her father, Hirota hata, was a big fan of jazz and he put jazz local radio show as Maiko's alarm clock. Maiko didn't like at first yet it became the source of her jazz journey later on.

After graduating high school she attended the Arrow Jazz School, Hyogo Japan and began studying with Mari Shinonome who is a former student/roommate of Evelyn Blakey ( Art Blakey's eldest daughter). Maiko had a strong interest in R&B but Mari introduced her to sing jazz.

In 2001, Maiko moved New York to study both Jazz and Music Therapy. After long years of raising her son as a single mother she began private lessons from Teri Roiger, Jay Clayton, and Kevin Mahogany. Maiko soon started to perform at local venues and clubs in New York and Japan. She has performed at Cornelia Street Cafe, Sylvana's, Falcon, Zinc Bar, Smoke, and multiple festivals in New York.

In 2017, Maiko was awarded a scholarship to attend Circle Singing Workshop under the guidance of Bobby McFerrin. That same year she has recorded her debut album "Peaceful Erosion" with Nick Hetko, Josh Evans, John Menegon, and Jeff Siegel arranged by Billy Harper and Nick Hetko produced by Scott Petito.

Maiko was a member of Billy Harper's NYC vocal choir.

Over the years, she has performed as an opening act for legendary musicians, such as The Cookers( David Weiss, Eddie Henderson, Cecil Mcbee, Billy Harper, George Cable, and Billy Hart), Aaron Parks, Craig Handy, and David Weiss's Point of Departure. She has also shared band stands with Doug Weiss, Eric Person, Jay Anderson, Peggy Stern, Francesca Tinkly, Lawrence Clark, Miki Hayama, Darrell Green, Tony Jefferson, Alex Smith, Ray Blue, and Malcom from Stevie Wonder.

Out side of jazz performance Maiko also studied Music Therapy at State University Of New York at New Paltz and worked as a music therapist. She served variety of people in psychiatric facilities, inner city youth program, rehabilitation center, private homes, nursing homes, and schools for children with special needs.