Monday Michiru

Monday Michiru (full name: Monday Michiru Mariano), so named to reflect her Japanese, Italian and American heritage, is also the genesis of renowned jazz musicians, NEA Jazz Master Toshiko Akiyoshi and cult jazz saxophonist Charlie Mariano, as well as jazz saxophonist-flutist Lew Tabackin who helped raise her. While she showed natural talent playing flute from a young age, studying classically at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy on scholarship, her inspiration in music caught fire with singing, composition and music production. In 1987, Monday was scouted by Japanese movie director, Shinji Somai, to debut in the lead role as an opera singer in his movie “Hikaru Onna” (“Luminous Woman”). Somai was renowned to pick up unknown talent and throttle them to stardom, and the film did not disappoint, garnering Monday Best New Actress awards from the Japan Film Academy (Japan’s equivalent to the Academy Award in the U.S.), Kinema Junpo, and the Yokohama Film Festival. Opportunities continued for Monday through lead roles in movies, stage theatre and television, as well as in other fields such as hosting her own radio programs (J-Wave, FM Tokyo), modeling for major campaigns (Four Roses, Kinema Junpo, Japan Postal System, Yves St. Laurent, etc.), writing columns in Japanese publications, and DJing in clubs.

Starting in 1991, Monday began releasing solo albums in Japan of original material for major record labels (Universal, Virgin, Sony), as well as collaborating with then up-and-coming artists DJ Krush, United Future Organization, Kyoto Jazz Massive, Mondo Gross and others, the releases making their way to the Asian, European, Australian, South American and the U.S. markets. Collaborations continued with worldwide renowned artists such as Basement Jaxx, Masters At Work, Joe Clausell, Lisa Ono, Da Lata, Jazztronik, P'taah, Jephte Guillaume, Louie Vega, Steal Vybe, and more. 

While Monday's name has become synonymous with the ‘90s Japanese underground club scene, even earning her the title as the "acid jazz diva," she is quick to rebuke such labeling. One only needs to explore her vast collection of works to hear the musical development over the years in which she has crossed over and beyond the scope of dance music to a style that is undeniably hers; Monday is the rare female singer/songwriter who also produces her own works.

Monday has appeared in numerous music festivals and clubs worldwide as a solo artist, including the Blue Note Clubs in NYC and throughout Japan, Innervisions Festival in London, Birdland in NYC, Brasil SummerFest in NYC, Billboard Clubs in Osaka and Tokyo, Joe’s Pub in NYC, Taichung Jazz Festival in Taiwan, Java Jazz Festival and Jak Jazz in Indonesia, Newport Jazz Festival in Madarao, Bohemian Caverns in D.C., North Sea Jazz Festival, the Montreux Jazz Festival, Stuttgart Jazz Festival, and many more. 

While she has won countless favorable reviews over the years for her numerous releases largely in Japan (her biggest hit “You Make Me” remained #1 on Japan’s music charts for 8 consecutive weeks), Monday has enjoyed prominence amongst house music lovers worldwide starting with the Masters At Work remix of her single “Sunshine After the Rain,” and the Blaze remix of Mondo Grosso’s “Star Suite,” which she co-wrote and is featured, both considered classics today. Her 2012 album "Soulception" (Adventure Music) is the first to catch the attention of the American jazz and Latin media winning favorable reviews. That same year, she won American fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar's "Fabulous At Every Age" award in the 40s category, and also got signed to a two year contract to be the face of Indonesian make-up brand PAC as their "brand ambassador." In 2014, Monday was cast for Toshiba’s Regza TV promo video with her performance at the Tokyo Blue Note Club recorded live as a commercial demo, and is often asked to perform for fashion events such as with Fendi, Mikimoto, De Beers, Cartier, Veuve Clicquot, and many other top international brands. From 2016-19, Monday became the face and muse for Japanese fashion brand Madison Blue, breaking the mode yet again in establishing uncharted territory in Japan for mature female models.

Following a successful duet tour in 2014 with her mother Toshiko Akiyoshi, they recorded a joint project “Jazz Conversations: The Other Side of Monday Michiru” in 2015 released through Victor Japan, followed by another duet album with guitarist Yoshihiro Suzuki entitled “Naked Breath 2,” a format she often performs in for a more intimate musical setting. Monday’s most recently recorded soon-to-be released project “Enso” is a fully produced album featuring collaborations with Grammy award winning producers Gil Goldstein and Miho Hazama, Brazilian sensation Lucas Arruda, Philly poetess Ursula Rucker, and many other noted musicians. Each project showcase Monday’s emerging musical journey with no signs of slowing.

Since 2019 Monday has also ventured into teaching with LYRICIZE, a series of lyric writing masterclasses. Monday currently resides in New York, and continues to record and perform worldwide with her own group as well as collaborating with other artists, always plotting her next musical adventure.
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