Ken Okada Group

Bassist, composer, and bandleader Noriyuki “Ken” Okada leads the Ken Okada Group in a special album release concert celebrating the debut of the band’s third studio album. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, this forward-looking modern jazz-fusion ensemble brings together groove-driven compositions, high-energy improvisation, and a distinctly global musical voice.

Born in New York and raised in Brazil and Japan, Okada draws on a wide range of cultural influences to shape his musical language. Since settling in the Bay Area in 2002, he has established himself as a respected bassist, composer, and collaborator within the modern jazz scene. With the Ken Okada Group, Okada focuses on original music that blends jazz-rock fusion, funk, and contemporary jazz into a cohesive and deeply expressive sound. In 2025, the group expanded its international presence with a successful European tour, performing to enthusiastic audiences and further solidifying its growing global profile.

The band features the extraordinary drummer YOYOKA, a native of Japan whose musical journey began at age two and who first gained international attention with a viral drumming performance at age eight. After moving to the United States in 2022, she has continued to develop as a versatile and expressive artist through major performances, recordings, and international appearances. In 2025, YOYOKA appeared alongside Jack Black in a widely shared tribute performance honoring Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, introducing her artistry to an even broader audience. Her playing combines exceptional technical command, musical sensitivity, and an unmistakable sense of joy — qualities that have become central to the evolving sound of the Ken Okada Group.