Sumi Tonooka

I’m so excited to be premiering Under the Surface a CMA new jazz work in Phila and the West Coast in November with Alchemy Sound Project!Thanks to CMA and SA Jazz roads grants!@chambermusicamerica @south arts@paintedbride

Heralded by The New York Times as being a "provocative and compelling" composer and pianist, @sumitonooka brings her Alchemy Sound Project to town on Monday, November 20th. Student tickets available. Link in bio for 🎟️🎟️ and info. Our thanks to Jazz Alley Kats for sponsoring the evening. #kuumbwajazz #sumitonooka #jazz #pianist #composer #livemusic #studenttickets #santacruz #downtownsantacruz #visitsantacruz #yoursantacruz @downtownsantacruz

On October 12, 2021, @sumitonooka and I interviewed my dearest friend and mentor, @sfjazz Poet Laureate #GennyLim, who was one of the few women to whom I could turn for guidance before I moved to NYC 20 years ago, and she has consistently inspired me by her whole being and work. On that day, Sumi was in Philly logging in via Zoom, and we had an amazing time telling stories, laughing, crying, singing, and languoring in the presence of the open-hearted soul that is Genny Lim. Genny, along with the great pianist, composer and band leader #ToshikoAkiyoshi, have inspired Sumi Tonooka and me to create new music as part of {In the Green Room} which premieres at Asia Society Thu & Fri January 12 & 13 @ 7pm ET! 💫 Grab your tix now (link in bio): /new-york/events/green-room Thanks to our amazing producer @rachelanncooper at @asiasociety , and to Jean Randich and Clifton Taylor for helping us with direction, dramaturgy, and lighting design in bringing our vision to life. We were also so inspired from interviewing Terri Lyne Carrington ❤️and Linda May Han Oh ❤️ who will be joining us for this premiere 🤩 • Concept and composition: Jen Shyu and Sumi Tonooka • Performers: Jen Shyu (vocals, Taiwanese moon lute, Japanese biwa, Korean gayageum), Sumi Tonooka (piano), Terri Lyne Carrington (drums), Linda May Han Oh (bass) Funding for In the Green Room: Layering Legacies of Asian and Black American Women in Jazz is provided by the @dorisdukefdn . Additional funding has been provided by the Asia Society Performing Arts Fund and Helen and Will Little. In the Green Room: Layering Legacies of Asian and Black American Women in Jazz comprises performances, a series of video interviews with women in jazz who have inspired Shyu and Tonooka, and interactive workshops with a cohort of millennial women jazz musicians… read more at Asia Society’s website! #inthegreenroom #mutualmentorshipformusicians @mutualmentorshipformusicians

In the woodshed for a new solo project featuring the music of the one and only…..can you guess who?….. playing his composition……can you name the title? #jazz #jazzpiano #jazzpianosolo

Erica Lindsay with Alchemy Sound Project performing Under the Surface by Sumi Tonooka, at Exuberance in Philadelphia December 17th, #jazz, #womeninjazz , #jazzimprovisation , #jazzfest, #jazz🎷

Salim Washington with Alchemy Sound Project, excerpt-Interval Haiku from Under the Surface by Sumi Tonooka. #jazz#jazz saxophone#jazz improvisation#chamber jazz

Salim Washington with Alchemy Sound Project, excerpt-Interval Haiku from Under the Surface by Sumi Tonooka. #jazz#jazz saxophone#jazz improvisation#chamber jazz

Salim Washington with Alchemy Sound Project excerpt - Interval Haiku from Under the Surface by Sumi Tonooka #jazz#jazz saxophone#jazz improvisation#chamber jazz

Featuring Mekhi Boone on drums with ALCHEMY SOUND PROJECT performs UNDER THE SURFACE by Sumi Tonooka, LIVE at EXUBERANCE in Philadelphia. #jazz#jazz drums#jazz improvisation#jazz composition

Trombonist Michael Ventoso with Alchemy Sound Project, performs a beautiful open wah wah intro to Sumi Tonooka's Under the Surface Suite. Available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms.

LIVE at Exuberance in Philadelphia. Thank you Matt Yaple, Brendan Mcgeehan! Please click the Link in bio for full performance and more info

As the Artists Recording Collective (ARC) approaches its 19th anniversary in 2026, its “New Concept” model remains a distinctive alternative to traditional music industry standards. Key aspects that define its unique approach include: Zero-Commission Policy: Unlike traditional labels, ARC does not take compensation from admitted artists, nor does it claim a share of profits from commercial recordings. * Artist Ownership and Autonomy: Artists retain complete control over all aspects of their business, operating in a “safe” environment without creative restraint or traditional corporate filters. * Nonprofit Foundation Program: ARC is a program of Kansas City Area Youth Jazz Inc, a 501(c)(3) public charity, focusing on providing a professional platform rather than maximizing corporate revenue. * A “Scholarly” Brand Identity: The collective positions itself as a home for both artistic and scholarly audio publishers, bridging the gap between professional performance and academic documentation. Direct Industry Tools: As a GS1 Partner Company, ARC provides members with unique GS1 identifiers and UPC barcodes, giving independent artists the same distribution infrastructure as major labels. Historical Preservation: The entire ARC catalog is archived by the Kansas Historical Society to ensure the long-term preservation of its members’ works for posterity. Selective Peer-Led Membership: ARC does not accept unsolicited materials; instead, it operates as a curated professional brand for record producers and boutique labels. Visit the ARC label online at @arclabelkc