TAKAO IWAKI

Iwaki Takao

Born in Kobe, Started playing saxophone in his club's big band when he was in his first year of junior high school.
Studied jazz under saxophonist Hiroshi Ozone from the age of 19.

From 2000, he studied at the Berklee College of Music in the U.S., where he studied with saxophonist George Garzone.

Since graduation, he has played in the orchestras of Royal Caribbean Cruises and Princess Cruises ships in the U.S., while returning to Japan several months a year to perform at jazz clubs in Kobe.

During his stay in New York from 2008 to 2010, he performed at Showman's and Cleopatra's Needle, and produced his own leader album.