PIANIST SUMI TONOOKA AND SAXOPHONIST ERICA LINDSAY RELEASE FIRST STUDIO ALBUM

New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Artists Recording Collective) - 'Sumi Tonooka brings to the music a formidable presence as a composer, player and leader that cannot be denied... a must listen...' � Cadence

'[Erica's] profound soul-searching technique straddles Coltrane's spirituality and Joe Henderson's fiery versatility, making hers a name to watch'� Bob Margolis, Ulster Publications

Initiation, the dynamic new Artists Recording Collective CD by pianist Sumi Tonooka (pronounced To-NO-ka) and tenor saxophonist Erica Lindsay, showcases their shared skills as composers and bandleaders. Though they've been playing together since they first met in the spring of 1994, this is their first in-studio collaboration. 'We wanted to document and reveal something of our musical dynamic together,' says Tonooka.

Initiation features bassist Rufus Reid and the late drummer Bob Braye, both of whom were on Tonooka's previous trio release, Long Ago Today, which earned critical acclaim and a place on numerous top CDs of 2008 lists. Initiation will be released on January 12, 2010.