About

Chihiro Yamanaka is an internationally renowned, hard-swinging jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader, whose fluid, athletic technique has drawn rave reviwes and very favorable comparison to legends such as  Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum. Born in Kiryu, Gunma, she is based in New York. She has had more than a dozen albums as a leader, most of them being released by Verve Records.

Dolce Vita is Chihiro Yamanaka's album with the meaning of tribute to Wayne Shorter and Ryuichi Sakamoto whom both died in March 2023. It is a New York recording by a trio with Yoshi and Waki. Nine Shorter and two Sakamoto compositions make up the album following two originals and a cover of the popular kayōkyoku song, A Stranger. Dolce Vita also includes many representative songs such as "Foot Prinz" and new songs written by Yamanaka for this album work.