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Casiopea
, now known in its fourth iteration as Casiopea-P4, is a Japanese jazz fusion band formed in 1976 by guitarist Issei Noro, bassist Tetsuo Sakurai, drummer Tohru "Rika" Suzuki, and keyboardist Hidehiko Koike. In 1977, keyboardist Minoru Mukaiya and drummer Takashi Sasaki ( ja) joined, replacing Koike and Suzuki. They recorded their debut album ''Casiopea'' (1979) with guest appearances by American jazz musicians Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker, and David Sanborn. In 1980, drummer Akira Jimbo joined the band. Casiopea had released over 40 albums in Japan and around the world. The group suspended all activity in 2006. Starting from 2012, they formed Casiopea 3rd as a spin-off from the original, featuring Kiyomi Otaka on keyboards and returning members, Issei Noro, Akira Jimbo, and Yoshihiro Naruse. On July 1, 2022, it was announced that Yoshinori Imai would be the band's new drummer after Akira Jimbo left Casiopea 3rd, and the band would be rebranded as Casiopea-P4. History Casiop ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Issei Noro
is a Japanese jazz fusion guitarist who is one of the founding members and the main composer of the band Casiopea. He has released 6 solo albums and a compilation. He also works as an instructor of a guitar clinic, and as a producer. In 1983, Yamaha had manufactured a guitar specifically for Issei Noro, known as the Yamaha SG-IN (I.N. represent his initials.) In 1987, he joined forces with The Square (now T-Square) guitarist Masahiro Andoh and Hirokuni Korekata. They released 2 live albums and 1 studio album under the name Ottottrio as a side project. In 1989, Issei Noro was a guest musician who performed with the Sega Sound Team. It was announced on August 1, 2006 that Casiopea would take a hiatus until further announcement, due to Noro's constant exhaustion from touring and recording. The closest Casiopea came to a reunion prior to 2012 was Issei Noro's band Inspirits, which included previous Casiopea drummer Akira Jimbo, bassist Yuji Yajima, Ohgiya Kento on Electric Pi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mint Jams
''Mint Jams'' is the seventh album and the second live album by Japanese jazz-fusion band Casiopea, released on May 21, 1982. The album's title is an arrangement of the band members' first and last initials. Description Live sound recordings from a two-day performance at Tokyo Kaikan were used, and subsequently remixed at Alfa Studio 'A' by Shunsuke Miyazami, Satoshi Nakao, Norio Yoshizawa and Atsushi Saito. The songs were specifically re-arranged with the studio work in mind, and no dubbing was performed in the studio for segments such as the outro to 'Time Limit'. To achieve the likeness of a studio quality sound, the audience noise from the Chuo Kaikan live performances were cut from the mix, except for during the bass guitar and drum solos in 'Domino Line', and the rag-time piano breakdown in 'Swear'. Besides the title of the album being an arrangement of the band members' first and last initials, it derives the word 'mint' to imply 'a mint condition' and 'high performance ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
T-Square (band)
T-Square (formerly known as The Square), stylized in all-uppercase T-SQUARE, is a Japanese jazz fusion band formed in 1976. They became famous in the late 1970s and early 1980s along with other Japanese jazz bands. They are known for songs such as "Truth", "Japanese Soul Brothers", "Takarajima", "Omens of Love", among others. During the first years simply The SQUARE was printed on the frontsides of their albums. After the renaming of the band to T-Square the imprint changed to T-SQUARE (all in Capital letters) and their typical logo became a capital letter T printed over a red square. During the years with the changing names of the band the logo got modified several times, reflecting the changing band names such as T-Square alpha (where an α sign got added to the logo), T-Square plus where the text "plus" was added centered next to the T in smaller letters. "Truth" has been used as the theme for Fuji Television's Formula One coverage from 1989 to 2000 and since 2012. A spec ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tetsuo Sakurai
is a Japanese bassist. To date, he has released a total of 37 albums as a member of Casiopea and Jimsaku and solo artist, and has also made 3 bass instructional videos. History Tetsuo Sakurai started playing bass when he was 13 years old. In 1976, Sakurai, with Issei Noro, founded jazz fusion band Casiopea. He released 19 albums while in Casiopea but later left the band with Akira Jimbo in 1989 over musical differences. Both of them then went on to form a new jazz fusion supergroup, Jimsaku. Jimsaku was active for nine years, until 1998, when it was disbanded and both Sakurai and Jimbo went on to pursue individual solo careers. Solo Sakurai's third solo album ''TLM20'', released in 2000, was recorded live in a concert with Casiopea members Issei Noro and Minoru Mukaiya, Akira Jimbo, and Kazuki Katsuta of Dimension. The fourth solo album ''Gentle Hearts'', released in 2001, was recorded with Greg Howe & Dennis Chambers. The fifth solo album ''Cartas do Brasil'' was released in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Akira Jimbo
, is a Japanese jazz fusion drummer who combines electronic drum technology and acoustic drums. Aside from his solo work, he was the drummer for the Japanese jazz fusion band Casiopea and had participated in side projects with Keiko Matsui, Shambara, and Brian Bromberg. Background Akira Jimbo began drumming at the age of 18 when he joined the Keio University Light Music Society Big Band. He became a member of Casiopea in 1980. During his solo career, he formed Jimsaku-duo with Casiopea's bassist Tetsuo Sakurai in 1989. He has also worked with Hiroyuki Noritake from T-Square in the drum-duo Synchronized DNA. Jimbo has a drumming style which is best demonstrated in his drum videos and at his drum clinics. By using the DTX drum triggering system, he is able to play a full band sound without a backing track. Jimbo has assisted in the design of K Custom Hybrid Series of cymbals by Zildjian. His drum hero is Steve Gadd. In 1999, he won second place in the British drum magazine ''RHY ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Casiopea (album)
''Casiopea'' is the debut album of Japanese jazz fusion group Casiopea, released on May 25, 1979. Recorded between December 1978 and March 1979 in Japan, it is Casiopea's self-titled debut album. The record includes the participation of some notable contemporary jazz players such as David Sanborn on the saxophone, giving a special touch to Issei Noro's compositions. Tunes like Black Joke are part of the multiple performances and variances along Casiopea's career. This album was recorded on LP in 1979 as ALR-6017 and years later in 1986 on CD under the 32XA-104 catalog numbers, being the first editions on both LP and CD. The cover depicts two racecars racing each other on a raceway. The cars are based on Can Am cars running in the japanese Fuji Grand Champion series at the end of the seventies, most likely a Lola T290 Mazda and a March 74s from the 1978 & 1979http://www.classicscars.com/wspr/results/gc/gc1979.html championships. Track listing All tracks were written and arrange ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Masaaki Hiyama
is a Japanese jazz drummer who participated in some of Japan's more well known fusion bands. He was a former member of jazz-fusion band Casiopea. Biography In 1979, he joined a fusion group called Guitarist Creek. They participated in Cross-Wind (a large fusion concert also known as East-West). Masaaki met Casiopea at this time and they became good friends. He also met Hidehiko Matsumoto and his group. He played with the jazz vocalist Henri Kanno, Mikio Masuda, jazz pianist, and other jazz groups. In 1990, Tetsuo Sakurai and Akira Jimbo left Casiopea to form Jimsaku is a Japanese drum and bass duo formed by Akira Jimbo and Tetsuo Sakurai in 1990, after they left the jazz/fusion band Casiopea , now known in its fourth iteration as Casiopea-P4, is a Japanese jazz fusion band formed in 1976 by guitaris .... Yoshihiro Naruse and Hiyama joined Casiopea. In August 1992, Masaaki resigned from Casiopea under doctor's advice due to health issues because of his smoking habit. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Super Flight
''Super Flight'' is the second studio album by Japanese jazz fusion band Casiopea, released via Alfa Records on November 25, 1979. Recording took place at Studio A in Shibaura, Tokyo from August to October of that year. The album cover arts depicts a blimp with "Casiopea" written on the side flying during a sunset near Lower Manhattan, New York. Track listing Credits and personnel Recorded and mixed at Studio "A", Shibaura, Tokyo, August 27 – October 13, 1979 ;Musicians *Issei Noro – electric guitar, fretless guitar, arrangements *Minoru Mukaiya – keyboard, organ, pedal bass, synthesizers, vocoder on "I Love New York", "Flying" and "Magic Ray", string arrangement on "Take Me" *Tetsuo Sakurai – bass guitar, fretless bass *Takashi Sasaki – drums *Kanya Kazama – backup drums *Penny (Toshitaro & Riverside) – percussion *Debrah Correll – vocals (B3) *Jun Fukamachi – conductor, horn arrangement on "Mighty Mouse" *Koji Hatori – trumpet *Toshio Araki – trumpet ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eyes Of The Mind
''Eyes of the Mind'' is the fifth album and the fourth studio album by Casiopea, released in 1981. The album was recorded in Los Angeles. Track listing All Arranged by Casiopea and Harvey Mason except "Space Road" arranged by Kenny Mason. Personnel CASIOPEA are :Issei Noro - Electric Guitar (YAMAHA SG-2000 & SG-1000 Fretless) :Minoru Mukaiya - keyboards ( Fender Rhodes 73, Roland VP-330, Prophet-5, Yamaha GS-1, Mini Moog, Polymoog, ARP 2600, Korg 800 DV, Korg Trident) :Tetsuo Sakurai - Bass (YAMAHA BB-2000) :Akira Jimbo - drums (YAMAHA YD-9000R) Guest Players: * Harvey Mason - Percussion * Paulinho Da Costa - Percussion Synthesizer arrangements for "Magic Ray", "Black Joke" and "Take Me" by Bob James. Synthesizer programming for "Magic Ray", "Black Joke" and "Take Me" by Michael Boddicker. Production * Producer - Harvey Mason *Associate Producer - Kenny Mason *Engineers - Peter Chaikin *Assistant Engineers - Terry Moore *Project Coordinators - Shunsuke Miyazumi, Hide kat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
4x4 (Casiopea Album)
''4×4 FOUR BY FOUR'' is the eighth album and sixth studio album by Casiopea recorded and released in 1982. Lee Ritenour, Harvey Mason, Nathan East, and Don Grusin participated in the recording of this album. Lee Ritenour, Harvey Mason and Nathan East, along with pianist Bob James, rather than Don Grusin, went on to become the Original members of Fourplay in 1991. Track listing Personnel *Issei Noro – Electric guitar (YAMAHA SG-2000, SG-1000 Fretless), Acoustic guitar (on B2), Percussion (on A2, A3, B3) *Lee Ritenour – Electric guitar (Ibanez, Fender Stratocaster, Ovation Nylon Strings), Classical guitar (on A2), Acoustic Guitar (on B2) : *Minoru Mukaiya – Keyboards (YAMAHA GS-1, CS-70M, CP-35, Oberheim OB-Xa, Moog the SOURCE) *Don Grusin – Keyboards (Acoustic Piano (on A2), YAMAHA CP-80 (on A1, B1), Oberheim OB-Xa (on A2, B2), Rhodes (on A3, B3)) : *Tetsuo Sakurai – Electric Bass (YAMAHA BB-2000 Milk Bass) (on A2、B1、B3), Percussion (on ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Minoru Mukaiya
is a Japanese musician best known as the former keyboardist of the jazz fusion band Casiopea and producer of the Train Simulator series of Japanese video games. Mukaiya joined Casiopea during its formation in 1977 (with guitarist Issei Noro, drummer Takashi Sasaki ( ja) and bassist Tetsuo Sakurai) and remained in the group until their hiatus in 2006. Since leaving the band he has created his own musical production team, "Mukaiya Club." He also serves as the President and CEO of the company Ongakukan ( ja), which produces professional train simulators for Japanese transit systems and has distributed video games to the general public. Mukaiya has also appeared in the event of Nico Nico Douga. Mukaiya has composed around 200 distinct melodies for over 110 subway stations in Japan. In 2019, British television presenter James May interviewed Mukaiya for episode 3 of '' James May: Our Man in Japan'', discussing Mukaiya's involvement in composing melodies for train stations. __TOC__ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cross Point (album)
''Cross Point'' is the sixth album and the fifth studio album by Casiopea recorded and released in 1981. Track listing Personnel CASIOPEA are :Issei Noro - Electric guitar (YAMAHA SG-2000 & SG-1000 Fretless, KORG Guitar Synthesizer, Lynn Drum Computer), Arrangement :Minoru Mukaiya - keyboards ( Fender Rhodes, YAMAHA CP-80, GS-1, CS-30, KORG 800DV, Trident, Mini Moog, Prophet 10, Roland Jupiter-8, Acoustic Piano) :Tetsuo Sakurai - Bass (YAMAHA BB-2000) :Akira Jimbo - drums (YAMAHA YD-9000R), Percussion * Eiji Urata - Synthesizer programming Production * Producer - Shunsuke Miyazumi * Co-Producer - Harvey Mason * Associate producer - Satoshi Nakao * Executive producer - Shoro Kawazoe * Engineers - Norio Yoshizawa * Assistant Engineers - Atsushi Saito * Art Direction - Tsuguya Inoue * Designer - Tsuguya Inoue * Illustrator An illustrator is an artist who specializes in enhancing writing or elucidating concepts by providing a visual representation that corresp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
