Yuko Ota started playing the piano at the age of 4. Born in Tokyo, Japan, she traveled extensively through different cultures as a teenager and gained experience playing diverse music, from classical to pop and rock. In her early 20's, she moved to the United States (Hawaii and then California) where she developed her style in playing and composing music while living a whole new way of life. During her stay in Los Angeles from 1991 to 1993 she started playing jazz as well as bossa nova, which became a major influence to her sound. After 8 years of excitement and discoveries in North America, she took an opportunity to further advance her career in Europe.
She now lives in France, where she has written music for T.V. and radio as well as leading her own band and recording projects since 1994 as a pianist. Japanese FM radio listeners can catch her every 3 weeks, on popular morning program "That's Wakeman Show" in the "Global Eyes" sequence, where she offers fresh reports on current topics and events in Europe, direct via telephone. (Broadcast nationally on Tuesdays at around 6:15 a.m.)
Yuko has currently 2 CD's out: her solo debut album Travelin' Lite, released in June 1999 and the 2nd, Colors Of Love, released in April 2003. (Albums are available online for purchase.)
Dynamic and colorful, she has a distinctive style in her playing and composing, using different types of music as a reference. While a veritable "melodist," it's obvious that she loves to play with rhythms and grooves. Yuko believes music brings people together; her ambition is to develop her art while staying accessible to her listeners. Lately she has been putting much of her energy in giving charity concerts to assist fund raising for humanitarian organizations as well as promoting live music in local communities.
For the year of 2005, Yuko toured Japan in November/December giving a series of concerts with Remy Cousin, French guitarist and her husband.
