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Bénin Rio Tokyo

Nobie

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Nobie / Japanese singer - pharmacist
Born in Fukuoka (Kyushu) in 1981.
She started her career as a professional singer of jazz and Brazilian music when she was a pharmacy student at the University of Tokyo. At that time she was invited to Luizão Maia's (the most influential bassist in MPB) band as a front singer. (2001)

In 2011 Nobie was invited to record with Toninho Horta and performed three songs with him. These performances were released in the name of "Minas - Tokyo" on Toninho Horta's album In Brazil and Japan. In 2013 and 2014 Nobie recorded with Lionel Loueke (the most important guitarist on the Blue Note Label).
She is noted for her vocalization as well as for her live performances and interpretations of jazz and Brazilian music.

Her latest album is "BÉNIN RIO TOKYO" and it features three guitarists Lionel Loueke, Toninho Horta and Takayoshi Baba. Every song is recorded with just Nobie's voice and guitar. It contains Lionel Loueke's Kalib, Pata Pata of Miriam Makeba's 1960's worldwide hit, Nobie's original, Toninho Horta's Brazilian well-known song "Beijo Partido" etc. She also recorded Blue Rondo à la Turk (Dave Brubeck) using multiple channels (a cappela).

Testimonials
"I had a bless recording with Nobie. She is definitely one of my favorite singers because she is not afraid to explore new territories. She's not a singer who stays in her comfort zone and there are no boundaries to what she can do.
That's the type of musician I love to play with because only in unknown zone is where the magic can really happen.
Nobie on top of that has a very good sense of rhythm sings in tune and phrases like a horn.
She simply deserves the best!!! "
Lionel Loueke


"When I met Nobie at the studio in Rio de Janeiro, I was surprised by her talent, singing sophisticated melodies easily and adding creative scats with her great sense of rhythmic syncopation.
We played several times in Japan. She was so great, singing beautifully with her magical voice of colors and musicality."
Toninho Horta.

Artist Profile

  • Nobie

    Born in 1981 in Fukuoka, a prefecture in the west of Japan, Nobie initially started out singing jazz music. Her parents loved jazz artists such as Chick Corea, Clifford Brown and Sarah Vaughan. She began playing the violin at age 2 and the piano at age 7. Upon graduating from high school, she attended the University of Tokyo to major in Pharmacy. While in college, she performed gigs as a vocalist and in the process caught the attention of Luizão Maia, who is widely known as the father of the modern Brazilian bass guitar. In 2001she joined Maia's band and this inspired her to study Brazilian music. She developed a love of Brazilian music after discovering the music of Elis Regina. She appeared on Toninho Horta's album "Minas Tokyo" (2012). As a solo act, She recorded "Primary"(2011) and the live album "live at Praça 11" (2013). Nobie belongs to the trio les KOMATIS with Mayuko Katakura (p) and Akemi Ohta (fl). Les KOMATIS recorded the album "les KOMATIS" (2015). After taking a break for the birth of her two sons, Nobie recorded her new album "Benin Rio Tokyo." It was released featuring 3 guitarists Toninho Horta, Lionel Loueke and Takayoshi Baba (2022).

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