Entrepreneur-turned-painter Kazuo Ooka takes his inspiration from the musicians of the New York jazz scene. His solo exhibition, Musicians' World, at the Nippon Club gallery from Feb. 22 to 28, showcases New York's range of musicians with some 30 oil paintings of young unknowns and famous performers, including Toshiko Akiyoshi, Shunzo Ono and Lew Tabackin.
"As I live in the Upper West Side (of Manhattan), I hear jazz music from small jazz clubs while walking around," Ooka said in a recent interview.
"One day I dropped by a small bar and was so moved by the musicians' expressions and teamwork. With just a little eye contact, a player who arrived late joined in. It was just great," he said.