Since the age of sixteen, Vancouver based pianist and composer, Sharon Minemoto has been performing to audiences around the world.
In 1997, Sharon started her own quintet which performs her original compositions and has recorded four shows for CBC Radio as well as a CD released on Cellar Live Records entitled, “Side A”.
In addition to composing, she puts her arranging talents to work on standards and pop tunes for her trio which came out with their debut CD called “You Can See The Ocean From Here” in the spring of 2008. Both albums spent considerable time in the Top 10 Jazz Albums on Canada’s Chartattack.
More recently, she has been working with her new quartet which includes Jon Bentley on saxophone, bassist Adam Thomas, and drummer Bernie Arai.
Sharon holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Performance from Capilano College in North Vancouver. While she was a student there, she was selected from applicants across North America as the pianist for the IAJE (International Association of Jazz Educators) College All-Star Band.
Since graduating, she has studied with pianist Geoff Keezer in 1999 and in 2000 she received a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to study composition with Don Thompson in Toronto. From September-December of 2010 Sharon studied with pianists, Renee Rosnes and Kenny Werner in New York City with funding from The Canada Council for the Arts and the BC Arts Council.
Sharon Minemoto – piano
Jon Bentley – saxophone
Adam Thomas – bass
Bernie Arai – drums
Sharon Minemoto at Frankies
