About

Born in Ishikawa, Japan, and based in New York City since 2010, saxophonist and composer Ayumi Ishito is a pivotal force in the creative music scene. A Berklee College of Music graduate, she serves as a vital cultural bridge between the New York and Japanese avant-garde communities through regular international tours.

Ishito has performed at renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall, and is a recurring artist at major festivals including the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival. Her collaborative reach is vast, working with jazz legends like Daniel Carter, visual artists, and poets such as Fred Moten. She is also a key member of the Walter Thompson Orchestra and leads her own ensembles, including Open Question and The Spacemen.

Her work has been released on the legendary ESP-Disk’ label and has received critical acclaim from The Wire, DownBeat (Best Albums of 2022), and Bandcamp Daily, which has repeatedly honored her projects as "Best Jazz" and "Best Experimental."