Shota Watanabe Pf
junko Vo
Ikuto Shimizu Gt
Go Shimada Ba
Genki Hashimoto Dr
Shota Watanabe
Born 1988, Nagoya, Japan.
Starting classical piano from age four, Watanabe grew up with the musical influence of his father, guitarist Norio Watanabe. As a teenager, Watanabe became interested in jazz and in 2003, started to study under Donny Schwekendiek.
Watanabe started performing music in public from 2004, joining the jazz funk band ‘Akamon’ in 2005. From 2009 he devoted himself to playing jazz, participating in many tours with bands such as the Wataru Hamazaki Quartet, Kaoru Tsubakida Quintet, noon and the Hideaki Kanazawa Trio.
In 2010, Watanabe took part in the recording for the album “Once upon the summer time” by Japanese singer “noon”, performing at Tokyo STB, Osaka Billboard and Blue Note Nagoya, on the recording release tour. In 2016, Shota joined Mei Inoue’s Stereo Champ and also recorded for Mononkul’s new album ‘Sekai ha koko ni shika nai tte jouzu ni itte’.
Shota Watanabe currently performs with his own band, in addition to providing musical support in a wide range of music genres to various other artists, mainly in the Tokyo and Nagoya areas of Japan, as well as nationwide.
http://shotapf.wixsite.com/music
junko
junko graduated from the Aichi Prefectural Meiwa High School, School of Music, specialising in the trumpet . After entering Nagoya University of Art’s (NUA) music business course, she encountered jazz vocal and began her professional career as a singer in 2003. She has released four albums so far: ‘Across The Stars’, ‘Jazz no Mori – Ghibli Jazz’, ‘LAVENDER – Aroma Jazz -‘, and ‘My Christmas List’.
In addition to jazz clubs, junko performs at a wide range of venues, including cafes and concert halls, inviting the audience to experience her unique world of music.
junko also actively carries out collaborations with aromatherapy, and concerts supporting animal charities.
Ikuto Shimizu
A Jazz guitarist/composer/instructo
Born 1987, Gifu, Japan
Ikuto Shimizu began playing rock guitar at sixteen and became interested in jazz at eighteen. He entered the Koyo Conservatory of Music.In August 2010, Shimizu moved to Boston where he studied on a scholarship at the Berklee College of Music. He studied under musicians and instructors such as Mick Goodrick, David Fiuczyinski, Jon Damian, Bret Willmott, Tim Miller, John Wilkins and Bruce Saunders, whilst learning harmony, improvisation and ensemble from Dave Santoro, Hal Crook, Ed Tomassi and Joanne Brackeen
During his time in Boston, Shimizu performed with his own trio, Sideman. He graduated from Berklee in 2012, at the top of his class. After graduation, he moved to New York where he studied with his mentor, Gilad Hekselman.Since returning to Japan, Ikuto Shimizu continues his musical endeavors in the Tokai region.
Go Shimada
Go Shimada was born in Hamura, Tokyo 1973. Go started to learn the technique of playing electric organ while he is in his elementary school. Go started playing in punk rock band when he entered junior high school. Go experienced all of the instruments in the band — guitar, bass guitar, and drums.
Go started playing wood bass when he attended Nihon Fukushi University. While in the university, Go attended many jam session with local musicians and gradually started his professional career as a sideman for famous musicians.
In 1997, Go joined ‘Hiroshi Murata and tha bop band’ CD and start playing nationwide with the band.
As a member of CUG Jazz Orchestra, go recorded six CDs so far. The big band joined Earshot Jazz Festival in 2001. Local newspaper singled him out for praise. He recorded three CDs as a memberof Koji Goto Trio since 2002.Go acquires a high reputation from many musicians by his broad sense of musicality and stable technique. His emotional playing with imagination attracts audience. Go recorded his first leader album featuring Mark Turner in 2008
Go Shimada currently playing in many bands based on Tokyo, as well as his own group.
Genki Hashimoto
Genki Hashimoto is born in Hyogo 1987. Genki started playing drum set when he is six years old. Genki entered YAMAHA music academy and studied with Toshio Kaneko and Kozo Suganuma. He started playing jazz music in his twenties and has been absorbed by its musical depth. Until 2016, he has kept playing regularly at St. James in Kansai area with his own group.
Genki released his first album ‘Brilliant Jazz Machine’ in 2014. The album acquired good reputation among a couple of jazz magazines. Genki moved his bases to Tokyo after he release the album.
Currently Genki Hashimoto is performing widely at various live venues, as well as at music festivals.
Genki Hashimoto endorses Bosphorus Cymbals.
