Suga Dairo

Dairo Suga is a Japanese jazz pianist known for his boundary-pushing approach to the instrument and his roots in free jazz. His musical range spans from avant-garde improvisations to non-standard interpretations of classic jazz standards. Suga has gained recognition through diverse projects, including the duo "Phase" series with vocalist EMiKO VOiCE, starting with Phase 1 (2006) and followed by Phase 2 ~Twist & Shout~ (2009). In these recordings, he is noted for a style that balances bebop precision with a sense of structural danger, reinventing favorites like "Summertime," "Solitude," and "Confirmation" through one-take sessions. His extensive collaborative history includes the group "blacksheep" with baritone saxophonist Ryuichi Yoshida and trumpeter Hiroyuki Ishikawa, and the duo "Akazangetsu" with legendary drummer Tatsuya Nakamura. He also leads the Suga Dairo Trio featuring bassist Hikaru Toho and drummer Masatsugu Hattori. His discography includes solo works available on Bandcamp, the trio album Koushakutsuki e Iku (The Marquis Goes to the Moon), and the solo release La saison. An active performer on the international stage, his schedules include extensive tours across Japan and Taiwan. Whether performing solo or in configurations ranging from duos with saxophonist Ken Ota or guitarist Natsuki Kido to full trios, Suga remains a prominent figure in the contemporary Japanese improvisational scene.