"forcola" is a project by Koichi Tsukamoto(piano) and Takako Umehara(vocal) in Japan. Contemporary Jazz based harmony with classical taste and lyrical words and vocal characterize their works. The name of the project comes from an Italian word "forcola", which means the oars of a gondola in Venice, Italy, aiming to create a piece of music to support emotion of each person like forcola tailored to gondolier to support his oar and his life.
[Member profile]
Koichi Tsukamoto (piano)
He specializes in improvisation and composition/arrangement that develops and extends simple, pastoral and lyrical melodies with a unique harmony sense based on European contemporary jazz. He learned both instrument and theory by himself and seeks his own sound under the influence of John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler and Vardan Ovsepian. Currently, he is focusing on composition, arrangement and performance activities while he works as software engineer/architect for AI and robot systems. He also contributes to the community by creating opportunities for adults and children to contact with music and technology through workshops at local schools.
Takako Umehara (vocal)
A singer-songwriter with graceful and dignified voice. After aspiring a poet and a painter, she found her own expression in music and decided to become a singer. She creates a number of songs characterized by melody that evoke American and European traditional music that she was influenced. Her expression with Japanese lyrics with both tranquility and emotion have a good reputation. Currently, she is collaborating with various musicians and releases music and video works as a singer and songwriter.
← photo by Yamamoto Seisakusho