Masashi Usui

Japanese jazz tenor saxophonist, composer and arranger Masashi Usui has been in Montreal since 2014. He has a special ability to interpret traditional American jazz but with a contemporary freshness. He is on a pilgrimage to Montreal, and soaking up the rich jazz scene. He graduated Masters of Music in Jazz Performance at Schulich School of Music of McGill University in which he acquired a Schulich Scholarship and a Graduate Excellence Fellowship. He has accompanied prominent jazz artists in North America, including drummer Fukushi Tainaka, André White, Dave Laing, and Mark Taylor, saxophonist Al McLean, trumpeter Kevin Dean, guitarist Mike Rud, and Greg Clayton, pianist André White, Geoff Lapp, Joe Sealy, Paul Shrofel, Marc Devine, and Richard Clements, bassist Alec Walkington, Alex Bellegarde, Elias Bailey, and Adrian Vedady. In Japan, saxophonist Akira Ohmori, guitarist Sunao Wada, pianist Hideaki Yoshioka. Education: 2017　Master of Music in Jazz Performance at Schulich School of Music of McGill University. 2014 ~ 2015　The intensive Certificate of Proficiency in English – Language and Culture at School of Continuing Studies of McGill University. 2014 ~　Study with jazz saxophonist Al McLean. 2013 ~　Study with jazz drummer Fukushi Tainaka. 2006 ~ 2007　Study with jazz saxophonist Wataru Hamasaki. 2003　Bachelor of Arts – The Instrumental Music Winds and Percussion, Department of Music, Faculty of Music, Aichi University of the Arts. 1999 ~ 2003　Study Chamber Music with bassoonist Ryohei Nakagawa, flutist Shiro Murata, and oboist Hitoshi Wakui. 1997 ~ 2003　Study with classical saxophonist Masato Kumoi. Other Achievements and Awards: 2017　Performances at Montreal International Jazz Festival. 2016　Performances at Montreal International Jazz Festival. Acquired a Graduate Excellence Fellowship valued at $1,000 from Schulich School of Music of McGill University. 2015　Acquired a Schulich Scholarship and a Graduate Excellence Fellowship valued at $22,500 from Schulich School of Music of McGill University. 2015　Acquired McGill University Certificate of Proficiency in English – Language and Culture. 2003　Acquired high school and junior high school music teacher’s license in Japan. 2003　Nagoya Saxophone Festival soloist. 1999 ~ 2001　Regular concert saxophone soloist in The Aichi University of the Arts Screening Orchestra. “Pictures at an Exhibition”, “Bolero”, “L’arlesienne Suite No. 1” and “L’arlesienne Suite No. 2”. 1998　15th Toyama Prefecture Youth Music Competition Winner. All time highest number of laureates. “Youth Music Awards”, “Education Dean Award”, “Fukui Music Awards”, “North Japan Newspaper President Award”, “Cultural League Awards”, and “Woodwinds Awards”.