Yuichi Hirakawa is a distinguished drummer who has been an integral part of the New York City jazz scene for nearly three decades. Born in Tokyo, Japan, he took to the drums in kindergarten, and started playing jazz in junior high school. He then enrolled in a university renowned for its student jazz orchestra, where his band won the prestigious Yamano College Big Band Jazz Contest, one of Japan’s most esteemed jazz competitions. Yuichi then moved to the United States with a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music. He graduated with a degree in Performance and Jazz Composition, and was honored with the Cuccinello Percussion Award and the Berklee Percussion Department Achievement Award. Yuichi relocated to New York City in mid 1990s, where he has since become a fixture in the city’s dynamic jazz scene. With performances at some of the world’s most iconic venues, including Blue Note New York, Blue Note Tokyo, Birdland, 55 Bar, Bottom Line and Side Door Jazz Club, he has earned widespread recognition from both peers and audiences alike. Since 2001, his jazz ensemble has held a weekly residency at Arthur’s Tavern in Greenwich Village, a testament to his enduring presence in the city’s vibrant jazz community.