Donald Surtain Jr & Keiko Komaki Duo

Donald Surtain Jr-------- was born and raised in the 7th ward area of New Orleans.
He started playing violin at the age of 6 years old and taught himself to play the instrument. Donald received his musical knowledge from NOCCA (New Orleans Creative Center for the Arts), he studied classical music, advanced 4 part harmony, and composition with Dr. Stephen Dankner and jazz with the late Ellis Marsalis, and Clyde Kerr Jr. He also studied music at Indiana University and Loyola University.
In his professional musical career, he has toured in 48 states and Europe in various bands and musical genres (latin, southern rock, country, and funk). Other than being an exceptional musician, Donald gained experience as an actor on the big screen. He has performed on HBO’s “Treme” series (Season 4, Episode 3), and was also featured in a movie alongside Chiwetel Ewefor playing the violin in the Grammy award-winning movie 12 Years a Slave.

Keiko Komaki -- Piano
Arriving from the strong winds of Japan, one of New Orleans’ brightest stars is pianist, composer, and arranger Keiko Komaki. Today’s dynamic performer began her study of the piano at the age of 5, studying classical music from her Aunt. When Keiko was old enough, she was accepted into the Kunitachi College of Music where she later graduated with a degree in music. Though taught in classical music her love for New Orleans funk music took hold of her, so much so that she moved to New Orleans where she has lived and performed for the past 14 years. She learned a punchy, shuffle style of playing the keyboards from the great blues mavericks of the Crescent City, which included Marva Wright and Benny Turner. She learned the NOLA vibe quickly. Since then, she has played with many of the New Orleans most beloved musicians
including Charlie Wooton, Brass-a-holics, Marc Stone, George Porter, Johnny Vidacovich, Vasti Jackson, Ed Willis, Tara Alexander, Jeffery Jellybean” Alexander, and many more. In 2014, Keiko was selected to perform on a world wide tour with Playing for Change Band (PFC), that soon became a permanent opportunity. Performing with PFC has taken Keiko to stages in more then 20 countries in US, Europe, Australia, Japan, and South America. Though she has traveled the world and hit stages that she had only dreamed about, New Orleans will always be home. This is where she is found today working on her own material.