Jeff Kashiwa is a smooth jazz saxophonist from Seattle. He started his carreer as a member of fusion jazz group The Rippingtons. Kashiwa attended the Boston Berkelee College of Music where he developed an interest in straight-ahead jazz. Kashiwa found he liked Southern California and transferred to Cal State Long Beach to work on his Bachelors Degree in Music. In 1989, Kashiwa joined The Rippingtons when the band's original saxophonist, Brandon Fields, left the group.