Keiko Doi's mother Emiko brought her to her first piano lesson in the June following her fifth birthday. Japanese tradition holds that a child who is introduced to lessons at this time will continue in those studies for a long time. The tradition held true for Doi, who studied piano throughout her school years. Though her early training focused on classical music, in junior high school she developed an interest in jazz and began composing her own music. Some of her musical influences at this time included Stevie Wonder, Rachmaninov, Maurice Jarre and Chick Corea.
Doi studied children's culture at Japan Women's University (日本女子大学, nihon joshidaigaku?), but she also continued to study music at the Yamaha Music Foundation. Doi was a top student in the Yamaha System and was selected at the age of seventeen to be a recording artist for them. Thus she joined the Japanese jazz fusion group Cosmos, which recorded seven albums.
At age 19, Yamaha sent Doi to America to record an album, and there she met Kazu Matsui, who had been selected as a producer for the project. They married, and Keiko relocated from Japan to America. Kazu Matsui would produce all of his wife's future albums.
In 1987 Matsui recorded her solo debut LP A Drop of Water using money from her honeymoon. The album's title, the name of a song by Carl Anderson, was in memory of those who had died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster the year before. Its success led to a record deal with MCA Records.

Recording success
Cover of Dreamwalk album.

Keiko Matsui released two albums under the MCA label before moving on to White Cat, Countdown, Unity and currently Narada. The 1990s saw Matsui's albums rising in the charts. Sapphire hit number two on Billboard magazine's weekly Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, and Dream Walk reached number three. Matsui was rated Billboard's number three Top Contemporary Jazz Artist for 1997 (where she was the only female jazz artist in the top ten), and both Dream Walk and Sapphire appeared in Billboard's Top Ten Indie Contemporary Jazz Albums for the same year.[citation needed]
Matsui received the Oasis award for Best Female Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year in 1999 and again in 2000. In 2001, Matsui's first album with Narada, Deep Blue, finally took her to the number one spot on Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and held the position for three weeks.[citation needed]
When United States President George W. Bush visited Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's residence on February 18, 2002, Keiko Matsui was invited to the reception and met both men and members of their administrations.
Matsui discovered saxophonist Paul Taylor, who appeared on Sapphire, Dream Walk, and Full Moon and the Shrine before going on to a successful career of his own [1].

Charitable causes

Matsui has taken an interest in a variety of charitable causes. Her 1997 mini-CD A Gift of Hope went to support the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, and her music appeared in a Lifetime channel special about breast cancer, "Say It, Fight It, Cure It." Matsui also played at a special ice skating benefit in 1997 to support the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Proceeds from Matsui's 2001 mini-CD A Gift of Life went to the National Marrow Donor Program and the Marrow Foundation in support of their program Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches, which promotes the registration of people of ethnic minorities as marrow donors in hopes of improving the chance of finding matching donors for people of similar descent in need.
Royalties from the title track of Matsui's 2004 CD Wildflower went to support of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). Matsui played at the United Nations headquarters building in New York City on December 17, 2003, to benefit the WFP and fight world hunger.

The Keiko Matsui sound

Matsui's music is powerful and introspective, blending both Western and Eastern musical influences. She has a very spiritual view of composing music, feeling out each composition as though it were, in her words, "coming to me from another space, another dimension," and "catching notes from the silence and then simply placing them together" [2]. Matsui sees music as "the great gifts from the human souls from the past, for the children of the future" [3]. She believes that music has a power to bring people together and change their lives. "We are connected by music," Matsui wrote, "as the Ocean connects the continents" [4].
A lover of nature, Matsui often makes reference to plants, animals, the elements, and other natural features and phenomena in her song titles. She shows an especial fascination with the moon as a number of her compositions refer to the moon in their titles.
Matsui's music shows signs of evolving over the years. Her American debut album A Drop of Water showed a promise of east meets west with a jazz fusion flavor. However, her recordings for MCA Records in the early 1990s lacked this appeal and, for many, sounded indistinguishable from the rest of what is now known as smooth jazz. Starting with Cherry Blossom, though, her music increased in popularity as she differentiated herself from the rest of contemporary jazz. By the time Sapphire was released in 1995, her music flirted with everything from funk music to Latin and world music.
Whisper From the Mirror from 2000 showed Matsui leaving the smooth jazz style and moving towards new age with a soundscape sound. A number of her fans had a problem adapting to her new style of music (though she continued to play smooth jazz at her concerts). But many welcomed the change. Over time her post-2000 albums show a more worldbeat flavor to them. Her 2005 release Walls of Akendora, however, is a return to her pre-2000, smooth jazz days.

'A Gift Of Life'

Artist: Keiko Matsui
CD title: A Gift Of Life
Released date: July 23, 2001
Label: Narada,
Genre: Jazz
Sub-Genre: Smooth jazz / New age / Contemporary jazz
Type: MP3 format sound
Quality: 320 Kbit
Channels: 44Khz, j.stereo
Duration: 16' 28"
Total size: 38.5 mb
Info: Set covers

Song title
1. Hope (exclusive acoustic version)
2. Between the Moons
3. Crescent Night Dream
4. Beyond the Light (exclusive acoustic version)

"Moyo"

Artist: Keiko Matsui
CD title: "Moyo"
Released date: April 24, 2007
Label: Shout Factory
Genre: Jazz
Subgenre: Contemporary jazz
Type: MP3 format sound
Quality: VBR(HQ) Kbit
Channels: 44Khz, j.stereo
Duration: 52:43
Total size: 73.1 mb
Info: Set covers
Producer: Keiko Matsui

Song title
1. Heart And Soul (Moyo)
2. A Great Romance
3. Into The Night
4. Caricias
5. An Evening In Gibraltar
6. When I Close My Eyes
7. After The Rain
8. Allure
9. Black River
10. Old Potch Road
11. Um Novo Dia (A New Day)
12. Marula

Guests
Legendary trumpeter Hugh Masakela,
Sax player Gerald Albright,
Soprano sax player Paul Taylor,
Bassist/vocalist Richard Bona,
Drummer Akira Jimbo
Vocalist Waldemar Bastos.

"The Very Best Of"

Artist: Keiko Matsui
CD title: "The Very Best Of"
Released date: May 21, 2004
Record Label: Grp Records
Genre: Jazz / Collections
Type: MP3 format sound
Quality: 320 Kbit
Channels: 44Khz, stereo
Duration: 49' 58"
Total size: ~112 mb
Info:

Song title
Contents:
01. Flight Of The Angels 03:36
02. The First Four Years 04:44
03. Mountain Shakedown 04:21
04. Light In The Rain 04:31
05. Secret Forest 04:29
06. The Wind And The Wolf 05:22
07. The Morning Moon 04:30
08. The White Corridor 04:40
09. Under Northern Lights 04:22
10. Mover 04:40
11. Souvenir 04:37

"White Owl"

Artist: Keiko Matsui
CD title: White Owl
Released date: October 07, 2003
Record Label: Narada
Genre: Jazz / Live performance
Type: MP3 format sound
Quality: 160 Kbit
Channels: 44Khz, stereo
Duration: 73' 58"
Total size: 85.4 mb
Info: Set covers A cd art

Song title
01. White Owl
02. Moonlight Sailor
03. Steps Of Maya
04. Precious Time (Solo Piano)
05. Kappa
06. Across The Sun
07. The White Gate
08. Doll
09. The Next Plateau (Solo Piano)
10. Safari
11. Light Above The Trees
12. The Wind And The Wolf
13. To The Indian Sea
14. Forever, Forever (Solo Piano)

Personnel
Keiko Matsui (piano, keyboards);
Michael Ghegan (saxophone);
Kazu Matsui (shakuhachi);
Alberto De Almar (guitar);
Mel Brown (bass);
Jonathan Dresel (drums).

Recorded live at Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo, Japan, in 2002.

"The Ring"

Artist: Keiko Matsui
CD Title: "The Ring"
Released date: October 1, 2002
Label: Narada Records
Genre: Jazz
Type: MP3 format sound
Quality: 192(cbr)Kbit
Channels: 44Khz, j.stereo
Total time: 49' 19"
Total size: 68.5 mb
More info: front cover, M3U file
All files have recovery record

Song title
01. Steps Of Maya
02. Venus Of The Sea
03. Moon Circle
04. Prism
05. The Next Plateau
06. Messenger
07. Deity In The Silence
08. The Ring
09. White Owl
10. Prescious Time

"Dream Walk"

Artist: Keiko Matsui
CD Title: "Dream Walk"
Released date: July 29, 2003(96)
Record Label: Shout Factory Records
Genre: Jazz
Type: MP3 format sound
Quality: 320(cbr) Kbit
Channels: 44Khz, j.stereo
Total time: 45' 34"
Total size: 104 mb
More info: front cover, M3U file
All files have recovery record

Song title
1. Dream Walk 4:50
2. Bridge Over The Stars 4:19
3. Children Of The Oasis 4:38
4. Fire In The Desert 4:38
5. Mask 4:36
6. Presence Of The Moon 4:17
7. Tribal Boat 4:32
8. A Cat On The Chimney 4:34
9. Passage 4:24
10. Valley 4:27

Personnel:
Keiko Matsui (piano, keyboards);
Molly Pasutti (vocals);
Paul Taylor (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone);
Kazu Matsui (shakuhachi);
DDerek Nakamoto (keyboards, synthesizer, bass, programming);
Bernie Dresel (drums, percussion);
Rob Chiarelli (programming).

Note
Recorded at Poi Dog Studios, Santa Monica, California and Pacifique Studio, North Hollywood, California in 1996.

"Cherry Blossom"

Artist: Keiko Matsui
CD Title: Cherry Blossom
Released date: 1992
Record Label: Pioneer / Countdown Records
Genre: Smooth jazz
Type: MP3 format sound
Quality: 320(cbr) Kbit
Channels: 44Khz, j.stereo
Total time: 43' 31"
Total size: 100 mb
More info: front cover, M3U file
All files have recovery record

Song title
1. Rainy Season
2. Sail South
3. Walking On The Bridge
4. Crescendo
5. She Prays To The Wind
6. Cherry Blossom
7. Frontier
8. Foot Steps
9. Dawn Opener

Personnel
Keiko Matsui (keyboards);
Arnold McCuller (vocals);
Jon Clark (saxophone, English horn);
Gerald Albright, Sam Riney, Steve Tavaglione (saxophone);
Clay Jenkins, Bill Armstrong (trumpet);
Alex Iles (trombone);
Kazu Matsui (shakuhachi flute);
Derek Nakamoto, Gary Stockdale (synthesizer);
Jorge Strunz, Anas Allaf (acoustic guitar);
Ron Komie (guitar);
Richard M. Schmidt (steel guitar);
Brad Cumming, John Pena, Jimmy Johnson (bass);
Ed Smith, Bernie Dresel (drums);
Lenny Castro (percussion).

Recorded at
Milagro Sound, Aire L.A. Studios, Glendale, California;
Pacique Studio, North Hollywood, California;
The Club House, Burbank, California.

Keiko Matsui, born in Tokyo as Keiko Doi on July 26, 1961, is a Japanese smooth jazz/new age pianist and composer whose career spans three decades, during which time she has released twenty CDs (in addition to various compilations) and has received international acclaim.

"Night Waltz"

Artist: Keiko Matsui
CD Title: "Night Waltz"
Released date: December 6, 1991
Record Label: Sin-Drome Records
Genre: Jazz / Smooth jazz / Contemporary Jazz
Type: MP3 format sound
Quality: 320(cbr) Kbit
Channels: 44Khz, j.stereo
Total time: 41' 23"
Total size: 98.9 mb
More info: front cover, M3U file
All files have recovery record

Song title
1. Night Waltz 4:07
2. Moonlight Sailor 5:03
3. The White Gate 3:44
4. Eyes Were Made To Cry 4:28
5. Hope 4:57
6. Lake Of The White Owl 4:11
7. Where Wildflowers Grow 5:49
8. Grey Cliffs 4:30
9. Seagull 4:30

"The Piano"

Artist: Keiko Matsui
CD Title: "The Piano"
Released date: May 6, 2003
Record Label: Shout Factory
Genre: Smooth jazz
Type: MP3 format sound
Quality: 256(cbr) Kbit
Channels: 44Khz, j.stereo
Total time: 43' 58"
Total size: 71.7 mb
More info: front cover, M3U file
All files have recovery record

Song title
1. Presence Of The Moon
2. Water Lilly
3. Whisper From The Mirror
4. Between The Moons
5. Light Above The Trees
6. Doll
7. Beyond The Light
8. Trees
9. Forever, Forever
10. See You There
11. Dawn
12. Distance
13. Be With Me

"Whisper From The Mirror"

Artist: Keiko Matsui
CD Title: "Whisper From The Mirror"
Released date: May 16, 2000
Record Label: Narada Jazz Records
Genre: Smooth jazz
Type: MP3 format sound
Quality: 320(cbr)Kbit
Channels: 44Khz, j.stereo
Total time: 54' 22"
Total size: 126 mb
More info: front cover, M3U file
All files have recovery record

Song title
1 Whisper From The Mirror 4:38
2 Invisible Wing 5:11
3 Tears Of The Ocean 5:30
4 Between The Moons 5:29
5 Beyond The Light 4:27
6 Torches On The Earth 5:01
7 Dimensions 4:24
8 Savanna, No Problem 5:11
9 Midnight Stone 4:29
10 See You There 4:19
11 Ever After (Four-Hands Piano With Bob James) 5:42

Personnel
Keiko Matsui - piano
Kazu Matsui - shakuhachi
Derek Nakamoto - synthesizer, programming
Also: Bob James

Producer: Kazu Matsui
Engineers: Derek Nakamoto; Ken Freeman

"Collection"

Artist: Keiko Matsui
CD Title: "Collection"
Released date: October 21, 1997
Record Label: Grp Records
Genre: Jazz
Type: MP3 format sound
Quality: 320(cbr) Kbit
Channels: 44Khz, j.stereo
Total time: 53' 59"
Total size: 124 mb
More info: front cover, M3U file
All files have recovery record

Song title
01 Mountain Shakedown
02 The Wind and the Wolf
03 Under Northern Lights
04 Light in the Rain
05 The Morning Moon
06 Believer
07 Walls of the Cave
08 Kappa (Water Elf)
09 Secret Forest
10 In the Mist
11 Souvenir
12 The Gate

"No Borders"

Artist: Keiko Matsui
CD Title: "No Borders"
Released date: 02/05/1997
Record Label: MCA Records
Genre: Smooth Jazz
Type: MP3 format sound
Quality: 320(cbr) Kbit
Channels: 44Khz, j.stereo
Total time: 46' 15"
Total size: 106 mb
More info: front cover, M3U file
All files have recovery record

Song title
01. The First Four Years
02. Light In The Rain
03. The White Corridor
04. Mover
05. The Wind And The Wolf
06. In The Mist
07. Three Silhouettes
08. Kappa (water Elf)
09. Souvenir
10. Believer

"Full Moon & The Shrine"

Artist: Keiko Matsui
CD Title: "Full Moon & The Shrine"
Released date: April 7, 1998
Record Label: Countdown Records
Genre: Smooth Jazz
Type: MP3 format sound
Quality: 320(cbr) Kbit
Channels: 44Khz, j.stereo
Total time: 46' 34"
Total size: 107 mb
More info: front cover, M3U file
All files have recovery record

Song title
01. Night Hawk’s Dream
02. Steps In The Night
03. Bonfire In The Piano
04. Southern Crossings
05. Legend Of The Trees
06. Full Moon & The Shrine
07. Spirit At The Corner
08. Toward The Sunrise
09. Forever, Forever
10. Meadow

"Deep Blue"

Artist: Keiko Matsui
CD Title: "Deep Blue"
Released date: July 17, 2001
Record Label: Narada Records
Genre: Smooth Jazz
Type: MP3 format sound
Quality: 320(cbr) Kbit
Channels: 44Khz, j.stereo
Total time: 43' 11"
Total size: 100 mb
More info: front cover, M3U file
All files have recovery record

Song title
01. Deep Blue
02. Water For The Tribe
03. Across The Sun
04. Trees
05. Mediterranean Eyes
06. Rose In Morocco
07. Moonflower
08. Crescent Night Dream
09. To The Indian Sea
10. Mystic Dance