Keiko Kumagai is a keyboard player and composer from Tokyo (Japan) and also mastermind of Prog-Rock band Ars Nova.
Her musical style is dark and aggressive, with massive use of Hammond as main keyboard. Classical music, some Italian Prog, Prog-Metal and film music have a great influence on Keiko’s music, such as Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso, Balletto di Bronzo, Goblin, ELP, Trace, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Keith Emerson, Jon Lord, Rick Wakeman, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, Wagner, Dvorak, Beethoven, Bartok, Vivaldi.
With ARS NOVA she has performed in U.S.A. (NYC, LA, SFO, NC), Mexico, Italy, France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Finland, U.K. The band’s discography includes eight albums released by Japanese and French music labels, and also two live DVDs.
Keiko Kumagai has also appeared on some albums as a guest player, like on the Arjen Lucassen’s AYREON playing keyboard solos on the album “Flight of the migrator”.