A Journey o f Love G ives B i r th to “Obsess ion.”

Erika Matsuo’s debut album, OBSESSION, takes listeners on a journey of love that travels between jazz and BrazilianPopular Music (Musica Popular Brasileira or MPB), culminating with her original compositions. A special treat for worldmusic lovers as well as jazz fans, with classics by the likes of Billy Strayhorn and Cole Porter, OBSESSION also includes inter-pretations of tracks from Brazilian greats Antonio Carlos Jobim, Chico Buarque and Djavan in Portuguese, and two of her orig-inal tracks in Japanese. Whether or not one understands the lyrics, through Erika’s delivery nothing is lost in translation.

A native of Japan, Erika’s love for music surfaced at an early age when she began to study classical piano in her pre-teenage years. By the time she reached her late teens, her all-girl rock group, Tear Drops, had won first prize in one ofJapan’s most respected teen music competitions, the Yamaha Teen Music Festival. Through a chance meeting withQuasimode pianist Yusuke Hirado, Erika was invited to New York to tour as the lead vocalist of his jazz group.

After relocating to New York City, she immersed herself in the city’s jazz scene, exploring the genre’s wide spectrum ofcolors with everything from straight-ahead to Brazilian jazz. Along the way, she had the opportunity to study under andperform with notable musicians the likes of Sheila Jordan, and at such distinguished venues as BB Kings, Sweet Rhythmand S.O.B.’s. The contribution these combined experiences have made to her artistry is evident in the accolades she con-tinues to gain back home in Japan where she tours regularly. In March of 2007, Erika won first prize in the Asakusa JazzContest, Japan’s number one jazz contest. Later that year, featured in Coca Cola’s So-Ken-Bi Cha TV commercial, her voicebecame one of the most recognized in the nation.

Supported by a dynamite team of musicians, with OBSESSION Erika delivers interpretations of jazz classics and MPB hitswith an innocence and range of emotion that is engaging. From the excitement and anticipation of being with the objectof one’s affection expressed in the Van Morrison’s classic,“Moondance,” to the saudade* (or setsunai**) found in MiltonNascimento’s “Bridges/ Travessia,” as stated by legendary jazzman and Hammond B3 organist Dr. Lonnie Smith,“Erika’svoice is filled with sentiment and warmth… integrating both passion and gentle emotion into her lyrics. ”

*Saudade – a feeling of nostalgic longing for something or someone that one was fond of and which is lost. **Setsunai – TheJapanese equivalent of Saudade.

ERIKAB I O G R A P H Y

"Erika’s voice is filled with sentiment and warmth. She integrates both passion and gentle emotion into her lyrics"- Dr.Lonnie Smith

"Her singing is heartfelt and honest. She sings with a depth and passion...what a joy to hear her!" - Sheila Jordan

Shukan NewYork Seikatsu

"I want to send "Love and Energy" through music with my best friend's soul"

Review in JapaneseERIKA MATSUO is great jazz vocalist who lives in New York. Dr.Lonnie Smith also evaluated her voice as"Erika’s voice isfilled with sentiment and warmth. She integrates bothpassion and gentle emotion into her lyrics" Erika was born inFukuoka,Japan. She started to take a classical piano lesson when she was 4 years old.She graduated at The City CollegeofNew York and studied with Sheila Jordan in 2003. After graduation she started to sing Jazz club in New York and startedto tour to Japan. She won the first prize in Tokyo Asakusa Jazz Contest 2007. She sung famous jingle on Coca Cola "So-ken-bi-cha" She released "Obsession" in 2009.

When Erika was in high school she met great pianist Rui Matsuo. After she organized girl's rock band called "Tear Drops".She composed many original songs with her best friend who was pianist Rui. One of the originals won the first prize inYamaha Teen's music festival. When she graduated college in Japan she started live with Rui. One day Rui had a trafficaccident and passed away. That accident made Erika's life completely.

Erika says " I want to prove her excitement and I want to connect with her soul through music and grant musical dreamwith Rui. I want to live with her soul. She still cannot get over sadness of Rui's death. Her original songs in latest CD"Obsession" are for Rui. Now Erika says “I try to express love and positive energy through music.

When I see face of audience after show I also receive love from them. It is magic love cycle" Sheila Jordan taught memany things and she used to say"Do not give up! Keep singing. Dedicate your life to music then music will save your lifetoo" There is a bump in the road for sure but I don't want to give up, not to be cold and still pass love to people throughmusic".

ERIKAP R E S S

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Nishi Nipon Shinbun

Review in JapaneseAugust 23, 2007 issueEngrave it into a dream with the late best friend,Rui dedication for Rui Matsuo who taught pleasure of the music.

Born in Setakamachi, Japan, New York based jazz singer, ERIKA (aka Erika Matsuo) opened her return home tour at AfterHours Ban jazz club in Kurume, Japan. She performed an original piece called "I Close My Eyes." The song was written forher best friend, Rui Matsuo, who was also a musician and shared Erika's dreams.

Erika met Rui in high school where they formed their rock band Tear Drops. After graduating high school, she was invitedto join another band and learn jazz in New York City. Three months later in 1998, she returned to Japan and moved inwith Rui. Six months after her return, Rui was killed in a car accident. Erika lost all motivation, and for a while stoppedsinging. Struggling to get over her friends death, she decided to return to New York and dedicate herself to studying jazz.Rui taught me what a joy it is to express ones feelings and connect with people through music.

Erika enrolled in The City College of New York and studied with Sheila Jordan. She graduated in 2003, and now sings reg-ularly at Grace Church in Harlem as well as many jazz clubs around New York. In addition, Erika goes on tour in Japantwice each year. In 2007, Erika won first prize at the renown Asakusa Jazz Contest in Tokyo. Later that same year she waschosen to sing the jingle for Coca Cola's Sokenbi-cha. Since then, she is steadily gaining notoriety across Japan . Herunique way of interpreting music based on life experience has helped her reputation to grow. She recently released hernew CD "I Close My Eyes."

Erika says, "I am happy that I was able to meet a lot of people through music. They are all really important to me, and Iam so happy to be able to continue singing. Without the support of my family, friends and fans, I would not be able to.Love is such a powerful thing."