Noriko Satomi was born in Yokohama. She graduated as violinist from the department of instrumental music, Tokyo University of the Arts. As a university student, she worked in recording studios, and played in the orchestra of Shiki Theatre Company, a producer of musicals. However, Noriko wished something more than just playing other composers’ music on violin, and she found herself in jazz, which gives space for improvisation.
From 1998, she performed in the band Jazz Strings with Mukai Shigeharu (trombone) and Yokoyama Tatsuji (percussion), and in a string orchestra headed by guitarist and singer Itachiyama Denbei, with drummers Gene Jackson, Masahiko Osaka, Shuichi Murakami, Toshihiro Nakanishi (violin), and Masahiro Sayama (piano).
In 2011, she recorded in New York with singer Hiromi Shimizu and US jazz pianist Kenny Barron.
On December 24, 2017 Noriko Satomi released her first solo album Project-N, which was a great success.
Currently, she teaches jazz violin to beginner musicians, and writes music for commercials. Some of her compositions have received ACC Tokyo Creativity Awards.
