Tokunori Kajiwara

Tokunori "Kaji" Kajiwara a Native of Japan, was born on (born in February, 1975. "Kaji" is one of the trombone players and members of the American salsa group La Excelencia.

Kaji Started playing trombone when he was 5th grade. He tried to play piano at the early age of 5, but he quit right after beginning. Now he really regrets that he quit.

He really got into music around age of 16 when he was in high school. He was originally aiming to attend the Kyoto City University of the Arts, but changed his mind and decided to try entering Kunitachi Music College at the advice of Mr. Shigeharu Mukai, one of the most well-known jazz trombonist in Japanese jazz history. Unfortunately Kaji failed to pass the entrance exam for Kunitachi and then tried to enter several non-music schools in the Tokyo area the following year again without much success.

Kaji decided to come to the US after talking with his family, and finally arrived in Chicago, on January 6th, 1995. He studied at the Chicago MusicAL College of Roosevelt University. During this period, he met Mayo Tiana "El Padre de US" former trombone player with Ray Charles Orchestra, and Evelyn "Madre de US" Tiana, his wife. He graduated in May of 2000 with Bachelor's Degree in jazz trombone performance with Dean's Awards, and the went back to Japan.

Kaji spent the next two years in Japan shedding, and then in May of 2002, he got a scholarship from the Manhattan School of Music, and moved to New York City. At the MSM, he studied trombone under Steve Turre, and joined Bobby Sanabria's Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra and also performed with the MSM Jazz Orchestra and Concert Jazz Band directed by Justin DiCioccio. He graduated in 2004 with a Masters Degree in jazz trombone performance.

Since graduating MSM, he has been very ACTIVE in The New York City music scene. He has toured with legendary Cuban pianist Bebo Valdes (Chucho's father) in Spain, and has performed with McCoy Tyner, Paquito D'Rivera, Steve Turre, Arturo O'Farrill, Andy Gonzalez, Luis Bonilla, David Sanchez, Dave Valentin, Nicky Marrero, Oscar Brown Jr., Jerry "the Iceman" Butler, the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band, Chico O'Farrill the Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, the Lincoln Center Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, the Ray Charles Orchestra, Frank Lacy's Vibe Tribe, and the Brooklyn Big Band. He has also appeared at top venues such as Birdland, The Blue Note, Jazz Standard, Iridium, Sweet & Rhythm, The Village Vanguard, Minton's PlayHouse, Zinc Bar, Smoke, The Habana Club and Willie's Steak House.

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