Ryoichi Yamaki was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, on April 1, 1978.
I began music at an early age, starting with the Organ at age 4, moving to the Saxophone at age 12, and joined the Junior high school’s brass band. When I was studying the Organ with teacher, I learned the Jazz music from my teacher and I was interested about Jazz music. At 16, I was starting study of Classical music style for Saxophone with professor of Senzoku Gakuen College of Music. At the same time, I had joined in as a member of Funk style band.
By the age of 17, I decided to go to the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music, Jazz course. I was studying with Bob Zung (As), Seiichi Nakamura (Ts), Yoshihiko Katori (Jazz Harmony).
After graduated the Senzoku Gakuen College of music, I began to play as a professional musician in Japan. I joined in lot of Jazz, Funk, R&B, Pops Band and Jazz Orchestra. Also, I was playing lot of studio recording for many major and indie artists and TVCM.
2004, I received a scholarship from Berklee Collage of Music. I decided to go to Boston to attend Berklee on June 2005.
I won the outstanding soloist award at North Texas Jazz Festival in 2006 as member of Berklee Ensemble.
I played a concert with Maria Schneider as a member and soloist of Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra on November 2007.
I graduated Berklee in May, 2008.
I played a concert with Jazz Master, McCoy Tyner at Montreal Jazz Festival in Canada on July, 3rd 2008.
I studied with George Garzone (Ts, Ss), Frank Tiberi (Ts), Dino Govoni(Ts), Hal Crook (Tb), Tiger Okoshi (Tp), Jeff Galind (Tb), Scott Free (Gt), Darren Barrett (Tp), Marcello Pellitteri (Dr) and Greg Hopkins (Tp)
