by Nick Christophers
It is worth noting that when you are offered a gift from above you should strive to make it grow and share it wherever possible. This is the case for Japanese native, Nonoka Nagao. As a young lady she was majorly influenced by both her parents who had a love for music. When she reached her sixteen birthday, she developed an avid interest in the Hammond organ especially after viewing her soon to be favorite musician, Joey DeFrancesco at the Blue Note in Manhattan which in turn motivated her to move to New York in 2020.
“My mother is a huge fan of Jimmy Smith who plays drums and keyboards, so jazz music has always been a part of my life from the very beginning. At the time, I didn’t fully understand the music, but I still remember how comforting it felt. Watching my mother play the keyboard, I started learning the piano at the age of four, and it quickly became a part of my life. As my mom listened to Jimmy Smith, I fell in love with the funky sound of the Hammond organ and dreamed of playing it one day.”
One must understand that the Hammond organ is a rare instrument that has been discontinued in 1970. Nonoka joined her Junior High school brass band and took up the trumpet since she was a fan or Lee Morgan. At this time jazz music became an interest to her and she began performing at jazz clubs. At one specific club “Zatto Four” she found they had an organ and asked the owner if she can play it. This is when she met the CEO of YS Corporation, Osamu Yamamoto. Since then, Osamu has been a supportive hand for Nonoka with gigs and sound advice.
Upon following her musical journey to New York, she earned a scholarship to the New School and did a mentorship with jazz legends Dr. Lonnie Smith and Tony Monaco. Nonoka would soon learn how to master both the Hammond organ and the trumpet and perform both at the same time. Which is what her favorite organist does, Joey DeFrancesco. At the New School she studied jazz trumpet but also took courses in film scoring and orchestration. Nonoka also collaborated with classical music students that broadened her musical canvas.
“The trumpet and organ are totally different instruments, and it’s hard to play different instruments at the same time. The keys and range of each instrument are different, too. So, in my head, I imagine two people doing their own thing. If I think of it as ‘I am playing two instruments,’ I sometimes get confused. So, I have my own band in my head.”
Nonoka has performed from Los Angeles to Japan. Some notable venues have been Grand Performance California Plaza, Reggae on The Mountain Music Festival, Broadway night LA place Theatre and many more. One of her more memorable performances was when she collaborated with Robert Vargas, the artist who painted the Shohei Ohtani mural in Little Tokyo. In addition, she performed with her favorite rapper Murs. Her talent was so appreciated that she was asked to join the Neighborhood
Orchestra, by the leader Memo. At the Neighborhood Orchestra she also teaches composition, trumpet, and piano both in person (at the school) and online.
“My long-term goal as a musician is to become a versatile, multi-genre artist, and for audiences to immediately recognize my sound as Nonoka’s. Growing up, I only listened to jazz music, but recently, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to play and explore a wide variety of genres. This has opened my eyes to the endless possibilities in music, and I’m eager to continue experimenting and expanding my musical horizons. Since moving to LA, I’ve started connecting more deeply with hip-hop. It’s been an exciting journey of discovery, and I hope to collaborate with some of my favorite rappers one day, blending my influences with theirs to create something truly original. Ultimately, I want my music to transcend genres and speak to people on a global level.”
