Quick Facts
Biography
Glenn Horiuchi (February 27, 1955 – June 3, 2000) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and shamisen player. He was a central figure in the development of the Asian American jazz movement.
He gave performances all around the world for example at the Berlin Jazz Festival, Vancouver Jazz Festival, Mexico's Japan Fest, Seattle's Earshot Festival, Asian American Jazz Festival in San Francisco and Chicago, New York's Japan and Asia Societies, Los Angeles Festival, at Yale University, and Brown University.
Horiuchi performed with Joseph Jarman, Wadada Leo Smith, George Lewis, John Tchicai, Art Davis, Francis Wong, Miya Masaoka, Tatsu Aoki, William Roper, Mark Izu, and San Jose Taiko. He recorded for the Asian Improv and Soul Note labels.
He also lectured and gave workshops at universities around the U.S. such as U.C. Berkeley, Wesleyan University, Northeastern University, and Stanford University. Horiuchi had many diverse talents and interests: besides attending graduate school in mathematics he had work experience as an auto mechanic, construction worker, and music teacher. He also had a long history of student and community activism including the campaign for Japanese Americans to win Redress/Reparations for the World War II incarceration in American concentration camps.
He served as an Artist in Residence teaching at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, California. He was also a Zen practitioner of the Kwan Um School.
Horiuchi was diagnosed with colon cancer in August 1999, and died on June 3, 2000. His final concert was held at the Japan America Theater a few months before his death.
Discography
Fair Play, Horiuchi, Soul Note 121328, 1999
Elegy for Sarajevo, Asian Improv AIR-0035, 1999
Pachinko Dream Track 10, Jarman/Horiuchi/Wong, Music and Arts CD-1040, 1998
Dew Drop, Horiuchi, Asian Improv AIR-0031, 1997
Mercy, Horiuchi, Music and Arts CD-962, 1997
Hilltop View, Horiuchi, Music and Arts CD-935, 1996
Calling is It and Now, Horiuchi, Soul Note 121268, 1995
Kenzo's Vision, Horiuchi, Asian Improv AIR-0022, 1995
Live in Berlin, Horiuchi, Asian Improv (cassette only), 1993
Oxnard Beet, Horiuchi, Soul Note 121228, 1992
Poston Sonata, Horiuchi, Asian Improv AIR-0008, 1992
Little Tokyo Suite, Horiuchi, Asian Improv (cassette only), 1992
Manzanar Voices, Horiuchi, Asian Improv AIR-0006, 1989
Issei Spirit, Horiuchi, Asian Improv AIR-0005, 1989
Next Step, Horiuchi, Asian Improv AIR-0002, 1988
What's the Difference Between, Miya Masaoka, Victo 0058, 1998
Golden Hearts Remembrance, Leo Smith, Chap Chap CPCD 002, 1997
Pilgrimage, Francis Wong, Music and Arts CD-974, 1997
Devotee, Francis Wong/Genny Lim, Asian Improv AIR-0030, 1997
The Asian American Experience, Primary Source Media 7909 (CD-Rom), 1997
Sounds like 1996: Music by Asian American Artists, IEL 0002 1996
RMB Sampler, various artists, Marc Sabatella, 1996
Family, Anthony Brown, Asian Improv AIR-0027, 1996
Ming, Francis Wong, Asian Improv AIR-0020, 1995