律子
RITSUKO
22nd March 1962 - 17th May 2007
On Thursday 17th of May, 2007 jazz pianist; Ritsuko lost her brave battle against cancer and the Australian Music Industry, in particular the jazz community, lost a great composer and fellow musician.
Ritsuko would have wanted us to celebrate her life and achievements and take pleasure in our memories of her.
Ritsuko, affectionately known to her fellow band members as “Risky”, came to Australia 18 years ago as a young Japanese woman who happened to play the piano and organ but couldn’t speak much English.
Who would have thought that 18 years later she would become one of the most well known, loved and respected jazz pianists in the country.
During her career she has performed to thousands of people, toured the country, including a couple of stints overseas, rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous and left her mark on the Australian music scene with her exquisite, melodic playing always accompanied by her magical smile that would light up a room.
Ritsuko was the sweetest, kindest, selfless, most considerate person you could ever have hoped to meet in your life – until she got mad that is – and then watch out she was fierce! She was also a very determined, strong willed and passionate woman.
My beautiful friend had a great quirky sense of humour as well as a high tolerance level (which she certainly needed) and graciously bore the brunt of Mike and Damien’s teasing with the ability to laugh at herself. I don’t too many Japanese people who would be game enough or brave enough to try saying Wollamolloo or Arrarat ten times in a row. This endearing quality was actually highlighted the other day. Looking through Ritsuko’s phone we found our friend Derek listed as DELLIK.
Throughout the past difficult months when Ritsuko was ill everyone was amazed by her bravery, particularly at her last ever performance at none other than the Festival Theatre with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra where she shone from the moment she walked on the stage. She was inspirational, dignified, elegant and graceful.
Ritsuko achieved so much in her too short life. Luckily for me and her colleagues we shared many special moments and will cherish those memories forever. We are all blessed to have a little bit of Ritsuko still within us and in her numerous stunning recordings.
Her music will live forever.
Having studied jazz piano in both Adelaide and London, Ritsuko performed in the Adelaide University Big Band at the Montsalvat International Jazz Festival where her arrangement of "My Funny Valentine" was played. Always composing, Ritsuko periodically performed her own works with a quintet. One of her songs was published in the South Australian Real Book. Individually Nominated for "Best Pianist" at the 2004 South Australian Music Industry Awards.