Meet the Collective: Haruka Kikuchi

Haruka Kikuchi is a Tokyo-born New Orleans transplant who has loved traditional jazz since an early age. At 15, she picked up the trombone and began to study the music of New Orleans, most notably, "tailgate" slide trombone. She pursued music at Waseda University and began work as a full-time musician, but shortly after, a devastating 2011 tsunami and nuclear disaster shut down much of Japan.

With all concerts being cancelled, she ached to perform again, and learned of a group of musicians traveling to New Orleans that April for French Quarter Festival. She readily joined them, and fell in love with the city. Deciding to make it her permanent home, Haruka moved to New Orleans in 2014.

It wasn't long before she met her future husband and musical partner, Yoshitaka “Z2” Tsuji. They have a young son, Shouta, who sometimes makes an appearance on stage with his mother. On any normal day in New Orleans, you can enjoy Haruka and her horn with the all-female Shake'EmUp Jazz Band, Grammy-nominated Cha Wa, and of course, at Preservation Hall. We can't wait to welcome her back to 726 St. Peter.