My Story

Akihito (Aki) Gorai is an NYC born-and-based musician striving to create exciting and fresh innovations in the contemporary jazz scene. As a pianist and composer, Aki released his debut album, "I Don't Know Aki", in March 2025. It contains 12 original compositions and features young New York jazz powerhouses Nathan Nakadegawa-Lee, Kate Pass, and Rintaro Mikami. Aki also composed "Be That as it May", a piece featured on world-renowned drummer Matt Wilson's 2024 album "Good Trouble". His most recent work is "Itaminashi", a contemporary jazz quintet playing all original compositions written for those with migraine disorders. The instrumentation is vocals, saxophone, trumpet, drums and bass.

As a drummer, Aki is featured on the 2025 album "What it Was Like Being Awake" by Likely Lucas, as well as on the podcast "Northern Loop" by Eoin O'Mara. He performs frequently in New York City across genres, including indie city-pop trio "Subak", folk/pop groups "Good News" and "Likely Lucas", and in various jazz formations, such as the "Eoin O'Mara Trio".

Aki is also a rising force in world music as a shamisen and koto player. He most recently toured across the United States with "Naruto: The Symphonic Experience" as its shamisen soloist, where he played to audiences of up to 3000 people in over 30 cities. He has also performed extensively as a shakuhachi player with the Columbia Shakuhachi Choir.

Aki's upcoming projects include the release of his quintet record "Itaminashi" as well as an untitled shamisen record both slated for release in 2026.