Makiko Hirabayashi is a Japanese pianist/composer, based in Copenhagen, Denmark since 1990. Her latest release "Weavers" won Jazz Album of The Year at Danish Music Awards 2021. She is widely recognized as a personal voice on the international jazz scene, and as a composer, received the Honorary Award from the Danish Composers Association in 2020. Makiko Hirabayashi has toured extensively throughout Europe and Asia with her trio, featuring Marilyn Mazur and Klavs Hovman. She has released 8 studio albums as a leader, including 4 albums with her trio, a duo album “Gong” with saxophonist Bob Rockwell, and “Binocular” with trumpet/flügelhorn player Flemming Agerskov. Born 1966 in Tokyo, Japan, Makiko started playing piano at the age of 4. Spending 5 years of her childhood in Hong Kong has had a lasting impact on her life. At age 20, she won a scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston to study film scoring, but her interest quickly shifted towards improvising and composing. Her multicultural background and musical diversity is reflected in her music. Elements of jazz, classical music, Far Eastern music and Nordic moods are all molded uncontrivedly into an intriguing, compelling sound of her own.