Results for "Japan"

The Uncalled Capital

Active since: 2024

Staying true to the idioms of jazz while expanding its sound into the contemporary realm, The Uncalled Capital is a critically acclaimed sextet based in Tokyo featuring Shunya Aramaki on trumpet, Yu Yoshimori on alto saxophone, Jun Umegaki on tenor saxophone, Minami Yazaki on piano, Wataru Tamura on bass, and Jun Sato on drums. The ensemble draws inspiration from the likes of Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers and the SFJAZZ Collective and showcases a dynamic repertoire that includes both original compositions and arrangements of jazz standard tunes by its members. Having performed at various venues in Tokyo, The Uncalled Capital is set to release its much-anticipated debut EP in the spring of 2025.

Pat Metheny at Sumida Triphony Hall

by Tomoyuki Kubo
July 31, 2025

Pat Metheny Sumida Triphony Hall Tokyo, Japan May 27 & 28, 2025 The announcement of Pat Metheny's 2025 Japan Solo Tour arrived unexpectedly, thrilling fans. The Dream Box Tour solo concerts, held across Japan from January to February 2024, marked a striking departure from Metheny's previous performances, leaving an ...

Dré Matsumoto

Born: June 21, 1972

Dré Matsumoto (aka André Marcel Ajamu Akinyele) is an American-Canadian residing in Yokohama. The bassist and multi-instrumentalist is known for his jazz-fusion-funk. His inspirations include Herbie Hancock, Esperanza Spalding, and Ron Carter, to name a few. He was born in San Pablo, California as André Marcel Wilson, and changed his name to André Marcel Ajamu Akinyele in 2004. Why the name Dré Matsumoto? He stated that “Dré is half my name André, and Matsumoto is a Japanese name that I love the sound of.” A native of the San Francisco bay area, he currently resides in Toronto, Ontario Canada and Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan

Craig Mod: Things Become Things That Last

by Lawrence Peryer
May 10, 2025

Today, the Spotlight shines On Craig Mod, a writer, photographer, and walker. Criag's latest book, Things Become Other Things (Random House, 2025), is a walking memoir that traces his 300-mile journey along ancient pilgrimage paths in rural Japan. The book blends sharp prose with striking photography, capturing conversations with aging fishermen, inn owners, and ...

Flamenco-jazz Fusion Crosses Borders At The First International Oh! Jazz Festival In Japan

May 1, 2025

Flamenco Jazz Festival Japan Hightlights The inaugural Flamenco Jazz Festival Japan will blend Spanish flamenco traditions with jazz in iconic venues such as the historic Kencho-Ji Temple. It will take place between May 22 and 31 in the cities of Tokyo, Yokohama and Kamakura. The Flamenco Jazz Festival Japan redefines the traditional jazz festival experience by ...

Sora Ichikawa: Straying in Alpacas

by Scott Lichtman
March 21, 2025

The song “Straying in Alpacas" is an immensely satisfying and hard-driving tune, filled with melodic turns, alto peals, rhythmic stops, and thundering walking bass lines. While it sounds as if it could come from Steps Ahead or Yellowjackets in an earlier era, the piece is actually a concoction of rising Japanese pianist Sora Ichikawa. Ichikawa released ...

Sora Ichikawa

Born: May 7, 1998

Sora Ichikawa is a Japanese jazz pianist, composer, singer-songwriter.

He began learning classical piano at the age of 4. At 14, he was deeply impressed by ragtime piano, which inspired him to pursue jazz music.

In 2017, he entered Senzoku Gakuen College of Music. He graduated at the top of his class from the jazz course at the same college in 2021. In May 2023, he released his first album, "Genseki!!!!!!" digitally. Later that year, in August, he participated in the Seiko Summer Jazz Camp and won the Best Arrange & Composition Award. In May 2024, the physical CD version of his first album was released. He is active not only in jazz but also in genres such as pop, R&B, and contemporary music. In addition to performing, he also produces music and composes tracks using DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations).

Yuki Yamamura

Born: June 25, 1990

Born in Inagi Tokyo and raised Fujisawa Kanagawa in Japan , he began playing electric bass in bands at the age of 15. He played energetically with his own group, and participated in the prefectural competition as a member of the Fujisawa Comprehensive High School Light Music Club, and in 2007 he participated in the finals of the Yokohama High School Music Festival in Yokohama Arena, won the Kanto Koshinetsu region in a competition sponsored by Yamaha in 2008, and appeared on the music program "Otomoe" on the Nippon Television Network.After entering university, he joined a big band club and began playing jazz and the contrabass

Michika Fukumori

Born on Japan's main island, Michika grew up in the city of Mie and began playing the piano at the age of three. Within the next three years, she was composing and performing her own music. After studying classical composition at Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music, Michika studied with renowned Japanese pianist Colgen Suzuki and began working professionally at various jazz clubs in and around Tokyo.

In 2000, she moved to the United States and studied with Ron Carter and Geri Allen at City College of New York, while also taking private lessons under the tutelage of Steve Kuhn. She earned her Master’s Degree at CCNY in 2003.

Michiyo Yagi

Born: November 21

Michiyo Yagi studied koto under the late Tadao Sawai, Kazue SawaiandSatomi Kurauchi, andgraduated from the NHK Professional Training School for TraditionalMusicians. Between 1989 and1990 she was Visiting Professor of Music at Wesleyan University inConnecticut, U.S.A. During hertenure she premiered numerous modern compositions for koto andcameunder the influence ofmaverick American composers such as John Cage, Conlon Nancarrow,andJohn Zorn.

Her solo koto CD "Shizuku" was produced by Zorn and released on theTzadik label in 1999. In 2001she recorded "Yural" with her koto ensemble Paulownia Crush for theEastWorks label. Under theauspices of the Japan Foundation, Michiyo toured Russia withPaulowniaCrush in the fall of 2004.Subsequent CD releases include "Seventeen" (Zipangu, 2005), entirelyrecorded on the giant 17-stringbass koto, and "Live! at SuperDeluxe" (Idiolect/Bomba, 2006), a trioperformance with bassistIngebrigt Håker Flaten and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love. A studiorecordingwith Dresser andRothenberg, a duo album with Sharp, a “Nordic” session with EivindAarsetand Raymond Pellicer, andlive recordings of the touring trio Brötzmann/Yagi/Nilssen-Love areforthcoming. An eclecticperformer who continually challenges conventions, Michiyo has madefrequent appearances onJapanese TV and has performed at the Kongsberg Jazz, Moers Jazz,Punkt,Musique ActuelVictoriaville, Archipel, Bang on a Can, Tokyo Summer, and VisionFestivals.