Takeshi Ohbayashi

Piano icon Piano

37 age

Hiroshima, Japan Birthplace

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About

Takeshi Ohbayashi is a jazz pianist based in New York City. He performs regularly as both a band leader and a sought after side man. In addition to leading his own trio, Ohbayahi also co-leads the New Century Jazz Quintet with Grammy award winning drummer Ulysses Owens Jr.

Trivia

Ohbayashi was awarded the Best Player Award and the Audience’s Favorite Award in the 2009 Yokohama Jazz Competition.In 2016 Ohbayashi became the first Japanese pianist to win 1st place in the Jacksonville Piano Competition.Ohbayashi's recording, “Manhattan”, received “Jazz Japan 2016 Album of the Year.”

Early Life

Takeshi Ohbayashi was born and raised in Hiroshima, Japan and began playing the piano at age 2. Ohbayshi studied the trumpet in high school and film scoring and composition at Tokyo College of Music but his interest in jazz was not sparked until he attended a jazz piano clinic during his freshman year. He went on to study at the Berklee College of Music where he ultimately was chosen to be part of the opening class of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. After graduating in 2011, Ohbayashi moved to New York and began playing around the city.