Survey of Famous Japanese Jazz Bassists

Definition

Japan, as one of the earliest Asian countries to embrace jazz, boasts a rich history in the genre, marked by the emergence of numerous talented musicians and remarkable compositions.

Context

I am eager to acquaint myself with this vibrant “neighborhood” through an exploration of Japanese jazz bassists, aiming to draw inspiration from their artistry and contributions.

History

Isao Suzuki

2 January 1933 – 8 March 2022 was a Japanese jazz double-bassist. Born in Tokyo, Japan, Suzuki learned to play bass on United States military bases, and played early in his career with Shotaro Moriyasu, Hidehiko Matsumoto, and Sadao Watanabe. He led his own ensemble in Tokyo from 1965–1969, also performing with Hampton Hawes in 1968. He moved to New York City from 1969 to 1971, playing with Ron Carter, Paul Desmond, Ella Fitzgerald, Jim Hall, Wynton Kelly, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, and Bobby Timmons. Returning to Japan, he played with Kenny Burrell and Mal Waldron in addition to his own ensembles. Later in the 1970s, he began expanding his instrumental repertoire, playing cello and piccolo bass. He was a cofounder of the Japanese Bass Players Club with Hideto Kanai, and opened a jazz club in Osaka in 1987.
Suzuki played wildly, but pensively. He was awarded Fumio Nanri prize in 2008. [1] He died from COVID-19 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, on 8 March 2022, at the age of 89, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KojpyMdIcXA

Takashi Seo

Born in July 1, 1979 in Sapporo, Japan. In 2001, In 2001, joined many sessions while taking a trip to Cuba and U. S. A. In 2006, appeared for Yokohama Jazz Promenade Competition by "Mikio Ishida Trio" and won the grand prix and Yokohama citizen Prize. He recorded album "Hariusu" by the trio.

He played with many musicians such as Fumio Itabashi (pf), Achim Kaufman(pf),Takase Aki (pf),Simon Nabatov(pf),Yoriyuki Harada(pf), Eiichi Hayashi (sax),Akira Sakata(sax), Yukihiro Isso(Noh musician), Daisuke Takaoka(Tuba), Tetsu Saito(Cb),Akira Sotoyama(ds), Syota Koyama(ds), Min Tanaka(dance), Jean Laurent Sasportes(dance), Leona(tap dance),Taketeru kudo(butoh)

Takashi Seo presides over a contrabass group “Teigen” by ten several bass from 2003. He invited a bassist on behalf of Japan such as Hideto Kanai, Nobuyoshi Ino, Tetsu Saito.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cus6DpxjDFY

He performed many music festival, Yokohama Jazz Promenade, Singaporean WOMAD, RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL in EZO, PERCPAN(Rio de Janeiro,Salvador),ASIAN IMPROVISATION ART EXCHANGE2010(Seoul), International society of BASSISTS Convention 2013(Rochester. NY) a lot…

Continues collaboration with not only jazz but also free improvisation and baroque music, every world music, dance and art and experiences most

Tatsu Aoki

Tatsu Aoki is a leading advocate for the Asian American community, as well as a prolific composer, a performer of traditional and experimental music forms, a filmmaker, and an educator. He was born in 1958 into the Toyoakimoto artisan family, and performing by the age of four. In the early 1970s, Aoki was active in Tokyo’s underground arts movement with experimental arts and music. In 1977, Aoki left Tokyo and is now one of the most in-demand performers of bass, shamisen, and taiko, contributing to more than ninety recording projects and touring internationally over the last 35 years. He is noted for being the longest associated bassist for the late Chicago legend Fred Anderson. Aoki is a Founder and Artistic Director of Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival, which celebrates its silver anniversary this year (2020).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAKA4aUif70&t=2985s

References (example)

Reference Isao Suzuki’s personal website homepage

Reference Takashi Seo’s Wikipedia page

weblink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqa4_TV3hJY&t=900s