Kai Ruthrof -- Piano/Flute

Available for solo or group performances

 

Originally from Perth, Western Australia, Kai moved to Melbourne in 2011 after 16 years in Tokyo.

 

He began performing in his early teens in classical ensembles, leading to residences at Fremantle restaurants in the late 1980s. A three-season stint in musical theatre in university allowed him to explore other genres and improvisation on both flute and piano. In Tokyo, he played in various bands on the local pub and live-house scene, before settling into jazz gigs with groups Groove Indigo, the Sugar Quartet, and party band The Conductors. He also played regular solo gigs at many of Tokyo’s piano bars, including the Starboard Lounge (Intercontinental) and Bellovisto (Cerulean Tower).

 

Band apperances in Tokyo include gigs at  Club Quattro,  Club Asia, Sweet Basil, JZ Brat, Ginza Yamaha Hall, the Yamanashi International Jazz Festival, the Odaiba Rocktober Festival, and the Jinan Jazz Festival. Solo highlights include a TV appearance  on Yu Aoi’s ‘Four Lies’ and accompanying a Keita Maruyama fashion show.