Guitarist and composer Miles Okazaki (1974) grew up on the west coast of the US, as the child of a painter and a photographer. Although he started playing the guitar, his initial passion lay in the visual arts. But when he wasin his twenties he finally decided to focus on music. In 1997, Okazaki moved to New York, in order to study guitar with Rodney Jones at the Manhattan School of Music. Meanwhile he was working as an arranger on jazz artists' records, like those of Donald Harrison, Lena Horne and R&B singer Ruth Brown. Following his graduation, Okazaki toured with Regina Carter and Jimmy Turrentine as a session artist, along with others. He continues to work for Rodney Jones. Later he studied Brazilian guitar techniques and Indian views on rhythm. All these influences can be found in his compositions. His third solo album, Figurations, appeared recently. This year Okazaki will make his debut at the North Sea Jazz Festival.
