Ayako Hosokawa

Ayako Hosokawa is a Japanese pianist whose work in Soul-Jazz and Jazz-Funk made her a distinctive voice in 1970s Japanese jazz. Her career is marked by her association with the Three Blind Mice label, where she released albums like “Burnin’ Waves” that showcased her rhythmically driven style and ability to blend funk grooves with jazz improvisation. Her playing emphasized percussive attack and groove-oriented compositions, distinguishing her from the more bebop-focused pianists of the era. She worked alongside other Three Blind Mice artists and contributed to the label’s reputation for high-quality recordings and progressive approaches to jazz. Her relatively small but impactful discography represents an important chapter in Japanese jazz’s exploration of American funk and soul influences.