Yoko Suzuki is an alto saxophonist working in Pittsburgh and New York City. She started to play the alto saxophone upon joining a jazz ensemble at Osaka University in Japan, teaching herself jazz theory, improvisation and repertoire. After working as a musician in Osaka, Japan and New York City, she moved to Pittsburgh in 2006. She received a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology and a PhD certificate in women’s studies at the University of Pittsburgh in 2011. She has taught a wide variety of courses including “Jazz Improvisation,” “History of Jazz,” “Introduction to Feminist Theory,” and “Gender and Sexuality in Black Popular Music” at the University of Pittsburgh.

A Youngstown native, Cliff Barnes, has been working as a professional musician since he was 11. He plays the piano, the organ, and the bass in diverse genres including gospel, funk, R&B, and jazz. He has performed internationally with David Sanborn, Pieces of a Dream, Gerald Veasely, and Johnny Gill just to name a few. Most recently, Cliff appeared on Marcus Miller’s album, Afrodeezia (2015).

Tutored by his father, a legendary jazz pianist, James Johnson III has been playing the drums since the age of 5 and has been a regular fixture in local jazz circles since he was 15. He has toured with legendary jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, launching his worldwide career. James is a drum instructor at the University of Pittsburgh. As a trio, they have been performing in and around the Pittsburgh area since 2014.

Featured Musicians:
Yoko Suzuki (sax)
Cliff Barnes (organ)
James Johnson III (drums)