Results for "Japan"

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 ...

Keiko Higuchi and Shin-ichiro Kanda: Passing and Longing and There Is Only a Trace Left

by Geno Thackara
April 15, 2017

With a resume in music that tilts heavily toward the avant-garde end of the listenability scale, Keiko Higuchi is nothing if not challenging. Small groups dedicated to free (in every sense) improv are alternated with solo abstract sound paintings using her voice and occasionally processed piano. She sticks to vocalizing and leaves the keys to Shin-Ichiro ...

New Releases On NoBusiness Records -- March 2017

March 20, 2017

NoBusiness Records has just released four new vinyls and three new CD's. Look for them on NoBusiness Records website. NoBusiness Records in cooperation with Japanese Chap-Chap Records has started a series of releases of unreleased concerts that took place in Japan in the 90s. Concerts were organised by big fans of free jazz and improvised music ...

Otomo Yoshihide Special Big Band: Live At Shinjuku Pit Inn

by Nicola Negri
September 9, 2016

Is it possible to maintain impeccable avant-garde credentials and be a popular culture phenomenon? This is the case with Otomo Yoshihide, a central figure in the Tokyo improv community, known internationally since the late '90s thanks to his participation in the downtown New York scene alongside John Zorn and many others. The Japanese guitarist and turntablist ...

Nobuki Takamen: Live in Japan

by Mark Sullivan
August 5, 2016

When last heard from, guitarist/composer Nobuki Takamen had released his first solo album, Solo Guitar (2014). He is active on the New York scene, but has returned to his native Japan for an annual tour for many years. For his sixth album he has chosen to document live performances of his trio with bassist Toshiyuki Tanahashi ...