Results for "Japan"

Takuya Kuroda: Fly Moon Die Soon's Delicious Future-Funk Throwback

by Rob Garratt
September 17, 2020

Last time All About Jazz spoke to Takuya Kuroda, just days after the release of his smoky, neo-soul-styled breakthrough Rising Sun (Blue Note, 2014), the Japanese trumpeter was asked what he wanted to record next. “I see myself doing more of a straight-ahead thing," he said at time. “I might do an album with strings."

Yasushi Gonjo

Born: May 24, 1985

Yasushi was born in Yamaguchi, Japan. He learned the cornet, alto saxophone and guitar at an early age. He switched to the contrabass when he became sixteen years old. In 2004, he studied at Osaka College of Music in Osaka and he took lessons from Mr. Terumasa Hino, Tomoyuki Kimura, Ken Sakakura. Yasushi started playing career as a professional from a student. He experienced performed with top musicians such as Othello Molineaux, Eddie Henderson, Lewis Nash. Yasushi has made 8 CDs as a leader. His own band “GINGERBREAD BOYS” got number one Japanese Jazz Band of “Jazz Page’s A Popularity Vote 2012” And he has recorded 10 CDs an a side man. In 2010, he started to produce concert event “CHANGES” series to introduce young jazz bands. He has made successful 10 times the event. And 2011, he founded the independent record label “OPEN E MUSIC”

Yuto Mitomi

Born: January 26, 1984

Yuto Mitomi is a saxophonist, woodwinds player, jazz composer, and arranger based in New York City. As an internationally recognized artist hailing from both Japan and the USA, Mitomi has garnered acclaim for his innovative approach to jazz and a distinctive sound that blends tradition with modernity.

After moving to New York City and graduating with a BFA in Jazz program from The City College of New York, Mitomi began performing regularly in the local jazz scene. He has appeared at venues such as Antique Garage, Shapeshifter Lab, and Rockwood Music Hall. Since 2016, Mitomi has been a regular performer at Tomi Jazz, a renowned jazz venue in New York City with over 20 years of history.

Zac Zinger

Born: January 8, 1989

A multi-talented performer, Zac plays saxophones, flute, clarinet, shakuhachi, EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument), and a host of ethnic flutes. In 2019 he released his debut album, Fulfillment, which includes twelve original tracks for jazz quartet combining jazz fusion and Japanese traditional music. He has recorded woodwinds for the soundtracks of Final Fantasy XV: Assassin's Festival, Just Cause 4, Street Fighter V, RWBY, Lazer Team, Moonlight Blade OL, and many more. He has also had the pleasure of performing in twelve countries with the likes of Anat Cohen, Kirill Gerstein, Mario Frangoulis, Nobuo Uematsu, and Wataru Hokoyama

Machrijazz: A New Happening In Jazz Guitar by Martin Connolly

July 16, 2019

Machrijazz is the second album by solo guitar artist Machrijam. It features twelve tracks played exclusively on guitar, overdubbed. As the title suggests, Machrijazz represents a sui generis jazz, not easily categorized. It is blues-infused, but some tracks incorporate Country ‘n' Western or even a rock feel. The playing is assured and dynamic, the songs short ...

RINA

RINA was born and raised in Saitama, Japan and is now based in New York City, USA. RINA holds a Degree from the Kunitachi College Of Music in Japan where she studied with pianist Makoto Ozone. After graduation, RINA took an audition for the Berklee College Of Music in Boston, USA and her talent and exceptional abilities were clearly noticed. She received a full-scholarship to attend the college in consequence. She then graduated in 2018. RINA placed second in the Ellis Marsalis International Jazz Piano Competition and also won the Nu Jazz Agency’s Chico & Lupe O’Farrill Award for Best Original Composition (2018)

Fabio Bottazzo

Born: January 3, 1971

FABIO BOTTAZZO
Guitarist, composer and educator. His playing is often praised for its delicacy and attention to space. Born in Padua, Italy. He studied at the "UM" music school in Rome and with Charlie Banacos. He attended the Berklee College of Music summer school and master classes with P. Metheny and W. Muthspiel. After playing in several metal bands, he began his career as a jazz guitarist in the 1990s. He moved to Niigata (Japan) in 2004. He has performed with many musicians such as Yasuhito Mori (b), Sebastiaan Kaptein (d), Yoichi Okabe (perc), and Ove Ingemarsson (sax). "What We Like" by Rich & Ricci became his fourth CD since coming to Japan. He has released performance videos incorporating the beautiful scenery of Niigata city.

Meet Hiroyuki Masuko

by Tessa Souter and Andrea Wolper
October 2, 2018

Although the Super Fans column started out with a New York focus, we realize there's a world of jazz--and jazz fans--beyond. Since those first columns in 2016, we've presented Super Fans from across the United States, including some who live part-time in other countries. But now we've officially gone international, with our first Super Fan from ...

Stephen Nomura Schible: I wanted to make an intimate portrait of Ryuichi Sakamoto

by Nenad Georgievski
March 10, 2018

Japanese composer, pianist, and producer Ryuichi Sakamoto has always resisted an easy definition or description. Taken into account his illustrious and vast output which has spanned over different decades and fashions, he has been at the center and outer fringes of shaping contemporary music. For many, he is one of the greatest exponents of ...

John Kelman's Best Releases of 2017

by John Kelman
December 24, 2017

For those who may have noticed, there have been no best of lists coming from yours truly since 2014; sadly, the chronic health problem that has reduced my previous writing pace to a crawl continues without much respite. My best of the year lists have always been predicated upon having reviewed the releases chosen, and with ...