Migiwa Miyajima (Composer, Piano)
Saxophones: Ben Kono, Alejandro Aviles, Quinsin Nachoff, Sam Dillon, Carl Maraghi
Trombones: John Mosca, Jason Jackson, Jennifer Wharton, Douglas Purviance
Trumpets: Dan Urness, David Smith, Matt Holman, Nadje Noordhuis
Rhythm section: Jared Schonig (drums), Pete McCann (Guitar)

Composer and pianist Migiwa Miyajima takes the stage to lead Miggy Augmented, a 17-piece jazz orchestra that showcases her vibrant, original compositions. Migiwa’s music reflects the complexities and hues of her own journey, while her passion to “make the world a better place through music” instantly touches the heart of the listener.

Migiwa’s career path began in Tokyo on a very different trajectory—she worked as a director of real estate ads, an IT engineer, and then an editor-in-chief of a travel magazine. But in 2004, at the age of 30, she decided to follow her true passion and become a musician. Five years later, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, a New York–based ensemble with more than a
half-century-long history, recognized Migiwa’s talent and invited her to produce their Japan tour, which she has done every year since. In 2011 and 2014, she was nominated for a Grammy Award as associate producer on the
orchestra’s albums.

In 2012, having received a Japanese government scholarship and a Japan-US Friendship Commission Fellowship, Migiwa picked up and moved to New York. She now leads big bands on both sides of the Pacific that play her compositions, and she also composes for artists such as world-renowned saxophonist Steve Wilson. In 2015, she arranged, produced, and played piano on Fly Free, an album by Yukiko Miyazaki (vocalist).

July 2017 marks Migiwa’s first appearance at one of New York’s most storied
jazz clubs, Birdland. The concert will be a send-off as she begins
recording her US debut album, Colorful, at the prestigious Sear Sound
studio in Manhattan the following month.