Profile

Ken Shima, known popularly as Shimaken, is a pianist, music producer, composer and arranger. As a child he was influenced by his father who was a professional tango pianist. His music career began in his early 20s as a studio musician.

In 1978, at the age of 28, Ken relocated to Los Angeles and enrolled in the Dick Grove School of Music working on measuring music arrangements.

Shima joined the Allen Vizzutti (tr) and Bunny Brunel (bass) bands in 1981, playing regularly at such notable jazz clubs in LA such as the "Baked Potato," and "Donte's" among others.

In 1982 Ken Shima's musical career really took off as he began touring and made many recordings; he performed in jazz festivals throughout the US, and in Israel, joined in the US and South America touring companies for Jose Feliciano. Moreover, he participated in recordings for Allen Vizzutti ("RED METAL"), Bunny Brunel ("IVANHOE"),　and Kenny Rankin.

Ken played with numerous top artists while he lived in the US, including Joe Farrell (sax), Tony Williams (ds), Don Alias (per), Joe Henderson (sax), Billy Higgins (ds), and more.

After moving back to Japan in 1986, Ken not only continued to work as a jazz pianist, he expanded his activities and became a studio player; he has participated in several thousands of recordings. Meanwhile, his production career in music writing and arranging stretched out ever further to include a wide variety of music genres, including working with the Southern-All-Stars, Ayumi Hamasaki, Mika Nakashima, Gospellers, GLAY, and Ayaka Hirahara. He has also teamed up with top Japanese-Enka artists, Sayuri Ishikawa and Yoshimi Tendo, and in classical music, with Nobuya Sugawa and Ikuko Kawai, etc.

Shima has proven himself to be a gifted music producer and arranger.

After the multimillion-dollar hit single TSUNAMI (Southern All Stars) and the single, Voyage (Ayumi Hamasaki) won the Japan Record Awards in 2000 and 2002, Shima's reputation was sealed as an outstanding music arranger. His work, especially the arrangements with strings, is highly esteemed, and he is a much sought-after musician.

In 2003, Michael Brecker (sax) participated in Ryoko Moriyama's first jazz album which Shima produced. Moriyama's US tour began right after the album was released, and Shima and Brecker played together at the Blue Note in New York. Ken's long-cherished dream of playing with The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra became a reality when they joined in on the album and played a couple of numbers arranged by Shima.

His diverse range of talents also include the composition of soundtracks for film and television, and the production of original scores for live staged musicals.

Shima released two self-produced albums: "Blue in Green" in 2000 and "Shimaken Super Sessions" in 2006.

Currently, Ken is married to musical actress, Kaho Shimada, and makes his home in Tokyo, Japan.