ProFile

NORIAKI KUMAGAI

Born March 18, 1970. In 1989, he won the Berklee College of Music IN JAPAN Summer Seminar and received a scholarship. In 1990, he entered Berklee College of Music. He then became a member of Tigers Baku and performed at the Montreal Jazz Festival and the Portsmouth Jazz Festival. After returning to Japan, he joined CASIOPEA in 1992. He has released six CDs so far. His drumming has been highly praised overseas, including at JAKARTAJAKJAZZ'94, the first solo live performance by a Japanese artist in Korea, and the NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL. In 2004, he formed TRIX and made his debut with King Records. He has released 24 CDs and five LIVE DVDs so far. He is the leader of TRIX and also composes most of their songs.