Mar/10/2008

Toshihiro Akamatsu's "MySpace" Open!

　clickhere

New album "TIDE GRAPH/Toshihiro Akamatsu" is continuously put on the market on August 8, 2007.

<VGDBRZ0029/Vega-Records<VME>/\3.150>

Duet by two combinations that receive high appraisal. And, it is a duo of a new style that collects the self duo that Akamatsu tried for the first time.

Toshihiro Akamatsu/vib,marimba

with

Yuki Arimasa/p Miki Matsushima/marimba

It is sales only of Japan this time. Please use HMV, Tower Record, and Amazom of Japan for the order. There is an English display. The mp3 download shopping can be done on the site of VME label.

"Stream of life/Toshihiro Akamatsu" makes it market in January, 2008.

<VGDBRZ0030/Vega-Records<VME>/\3.150>

This marvelous sound is the strongest and wide in the history of the album of Akamatsu. Because he concentrated famous player and next generation's hopes by the jazz scene in Japan.

Toshihiro Akamatsu/vib

with

Hideo Ichikawa/p Koji Goto/p Takashi Yofu/g Yoshio Suzuki/ac-b Kiyoshi Murakami/el-b Marinba-Ohoji/marimba Masahiko Osaka/ds

Album "SYNERGY/Toshihiro Akamatsu" was released on June 28, 2005.

w/Yuki Arimasa(p) Shinpei Inoue(fl) Shusei Murai(p) Miki Matsushima(marimba)

It is sales only of Japan this time. Please use HMV, Tower Record, and Amazom of Japan for the order. There is an English display. The mp3 download shopping can be done on the site of VME label.

Album "FOCUS LIGHTS/Toshihiro Akamatsu" was released on October 27, 2005.

w/Takahiro Miyazaki(sax & ewi)Mitsuru Sutoh(el-b)Keiji Takeda(ac-b)Taro Koyama(ds)Shinpei Inoue(fl)Yuki Arimasa(p)Shusei Murai(p)

I obtained the recording session of four days that got excited in April, 2005. The result is released as two albums ("SYNERGY"&"FOCUS LIGHTS"). Some of my new attempt were recorded with a young, excellent players. It is believed that everybody enjoys my new collaborations.

This album was nominated for the Jazz-magazine swing journal's jazz disk grand-prix Japan jazz prize in the 2003 fiscal year.

This “Still On The Air” is his fourth leading album released ten months after the previous album called “Six Intentions” (TBM-XR-5043). This time, it is mainly based on three formations; duo with Yuki Arimasa, his new quartet, and his Reunion Band that he formed before his visit the US in the middle of 1980’s. Some pieces were recorded with different members. It is such an appealing album, vividly showing the artist, Toshihiro Akamatsu’s present state and offering a glimpse into his roots at the same time.

**Sale all over the world

HMV Japan Tower Records Japan ・Acoustic Sounds, Inc.(USA) ・Elusive Disc(USA) ・MusicDirect(USA)・malmusic.com (Canada)・Fenn Music(EU) ・Audiophile(EU) ・PreisRoboter.de(EU)・Audio Nautes (EU/Ita,& Eng)　Loft Sound(EU)・SOUND AND MUSIC S.r.l. (Lucca)・dvdever.com (Korea)　・LAYOYO.com (Hong Kong)　

　Toshihiro Akamatsu was born in the city of Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture on January 4th, 1957. The first musical instrument he ever put his hand on was the piano when he was 3 years old.Two years after his awakening to jazz music at age 11, he began studying vibraphone on his own.

　Akamatsu was an elementary student when he saw Gary Burton playing on TV. (At that time, he naturally did not know who Burton was, or the name of "the musical instrument with glittering keys" that this maestro manipulated so beautifully with four mallets.) When he turned 16, he started taking private lessons from Keiko Abe who was regarded as the foremost marimba player around then, and soon began playing jazz too while he was still in high school (as a student in the music department of Sakuyo High School in Okayama). He continued to pursue music during the university years from when he began performing in live houses. After graduating in 1980, he moved to Tokyo and formed with his own group.

　The first turning point came in 1982 when he won the "Best Player Prize", "Judges' Special Prize" and "Guest Judge (George Duke) Prize" in the competition called "ANNEX 82" that also brought him the first ticket tomove under the spotlight. 　The second turning point was when he met Gary Burton who came to Japan in 1985 to participate in an event called "Berklee in Tokyo". Burton recognized Akamatsu's potential talent and opened his way to receive the scholarship to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1986. During his years at Berklee, Akamatsu majored in vibes and composition, and played with many talented musicians-to-be's including Makoto Ozone. During his study, he won "Gary Burton Award"and "Professional Scholarship" and to eventually grad uate this institution in 1989 with an outstanding achievement that ranked him in the second place of all those in Jazz Composition Division. After returning to Japan, he became a regular performer of Session '90 ~ '93 sponsored by NHK-FM. In 1994, he joined Terumasa Hino's group and worked actively innumerous studio sessions. 　The next leap in his career can be attributed to the formation of his own unit called "The Next Door" in 1999. Tightly bound with the young members of this group, he keeps himself busy performing in Roppongi Pit Inn and appearing in various hot events including Yokohama Jazz Promenade. And in November 2000, the group released CD under the title "Toshihiro Akamatsu Next Door - Birth of the Swift Jazz".

Live Schedule / New Album

Toshihiro Akamatsu(vib) Live Schedule 2003-2007

Jan/19/07/8:00pm/Cabin/Atsugi/Kanagawa/ duet w/yuki arimasa(p)

Feb/25/07/7:00pm/KAMOME/Yokohama/ duet w/Yuki Arimasa(p)

Mar/7/07/8:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio

Apr/12/07/8:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

May/27/07/8:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

Jun/2/07/2:00pm/Kanagawa-Seisyonen-Hall/Yokohama w/Count Seinow Orchestra

Jul/22/07/2:30pm/Hirari/Tokyo/ duet w/Yuki Arimasa(p)

Jan/12/06/8:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

Feb/3/06/7:30pm-/Jirokichi/Tokyo<w/T.Tsuruya(ds)session>

Feb/9/06/8:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

Mar/6/06/8:00pm-/KAMOME/Yokohama<duet w/R.Ogihara(g)>

Apr/6/06/8:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

May/5/06/3:30pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

May/16/06/8:00pm-/KAMOME/Yokohama<duet w/R.Ogihara(g)>

Jun/1/06/8:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

Jul/14/06/8:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

Jul/18/06/8:00pm-/KAMOME/Yokohama<duet w/R.Ogihara(g) & S.Murai(p)>

Jul/21/06/7:30pm-/Mahounoryu/Tokyo/<duet w/M.Matsushima(marimba)>

Aug/1/06/8:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

Oct/7/06/5:30pm/Yokohama JazzFes YJP2006 at Jo-bun hall/Kanagawa/<duet w/Y.Arimasa>

Oct/8/06/7:00pm-/St.Germain/Niihama/<w Jazz Reunion>

Oct/9/06/7:00pm-/Jazz Fes SV2006 Matsuyama.KeyStone/Ehime<w/Jazz Reunion @ ehime>

Oct/17/06/8:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

Oct/20/06/5:30pm/Nishi-Shinjuku Lobby Concert of Mitsui BLDG/Tokyo<duet w/S.Kawakami>

Oct/21/06/2:00pm/Nishi-Shinjuku Lobby Concert of Mitsui BLDG/Tokyo<w/M.Matsushima.Y.Shishikura>

Oct/28/4:00pm-/Hiroshima Kawai-Hall/Hiroshima/<w/Jazz Reunion>

Oct/29/7:00pm-/Saibi-Garoh/Tobe/<w/Jazz Reunion f/H.Tsutsumi(ds)>

Nov/1/06/7:30pm-/Star-Eye's/Nagoya<w/Koji Goto(p)>

Nov/3/06/7:30pm-/Mahounoryu/Tokyo/<duet w/M.Matsushima(marimba)>

Nov/15/06/8:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

Nov/25/06/7:00pm-/KAMOME/Yokohama<New Band w/T.Yoshida(g)Y.Sato(b)M.Hashimoto(ds)>

　Jan/18/05/8:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

Feb/1/05/7:45pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/S.Murai(p)session>

Mar/5/05/7:30pm-/Mahouno-ryu/Nerima,Tokyo< Duet w/Y.Arimasa>

Mar/29/05/8:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

Apr/3/05/3:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

Apr/8/05/7:30pm-/BAGU/Gifu<w/<M.Nakajima(p)H.Kitagawa(b)Y.Sawatari(ds)>

May/27/05/7:30pm-/Hey-Joe/Yokohama<S.Murai(p)Session.w/ K.Takeda(b)K.Hirai(ds)>

Jun/2/05/7:45pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

Aug/9/05/7:45pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

Aug/2nd Week/05/Radio show"Mo'Cool Jazz"/fm-tokushima,toyama,niigata<w/<Moko Ogawa(DJ)>

Aug/3rd Week/05/Radio show"Mo'Cool Jazz"/fm-tokushima,toyama,niigata<w/<Moko Ogawa(DJ)>

Aug/27/05/2:00pm-/R's Art Court-Hall/Tokyo<w/BEATec Perc Ensemble>

Oct/28/05/8:00pm-/Star-Eye's/Nagoya<duet w/Yuki Arimasa(p)>

Oct/29/05/7:00pm-/Mr.Kelly's/Osaka<duet w/Yuki Arimasa(p)>

Oct/30/05/7:00pm-/Jazz Fes SV2005 @ KeyStone/Ehime<duet w/Y.Watanabe(p)H.Yoshioka(b)Y.Sakurai(ds)>

Nov/13/05/3:00pm-/YAMAHA Tokyo Music Ginza/Tokyo<d w/Y.Arimasa(p)M.Matsushima(marimba)>

Nov/14/05/5:00pm-/FM-Kawasaki Radio Show/Kanagawa

Nov/18/05/5:30pm/Nishi-Shinjuku Lobby Concert of Mitsui BLDG/Tokyo<duet w/Y.arimasa>

Nov/19/05/2:00pm/Nishi-Shinjuku Lobby Concert of Mitsui BLDG/Tokyo<duet w/M.Matsushima.A,Oikawa>

Nov/23/05/5:30pm-/25-25Session@Kamome/Yokohama<w/Mitsuaki Kishi(p)Trio>

Nov/29/05/8:00pm-/Blue Jay Way/Tokyo<w/Y.Arimasa(p)S.Inoue(fl)T.Miyazaki(sax&ewi)S.Murai(p)M.Matsushima(mar)M.Sutoh(b)T.Koyama(ds)>

Dec/4/05/2:30pm-/Unoki,atrie Hi-Ra-Ri/Tokyo/<duet w/Y.Arimasa(p)>

Dec/15/05/8:00pm-/Max Callotte/Tokyo<duet w/H.Ichikawa(p)>

Dec/18/3:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

Jan/8/04/8:00pm- /Airgin/Yokohama<w/S.Murai(p)session>

Jan/11/04/2:30pm-/Unoki,atrie Hi-Ra-Ri/Tokyo/<duet w/Y.Arimasa(p)>

Jan/18/04/3:00pm-/Totsuka,G-Clef/25-25session/Kanagawa/<w/H.Nakamichi,M,Doumoto(tb)H.Kanazawa(b)T.Koyama(ds)>

Feb/08/04/7:00pm-/Tokushima Jazz Festival/Tokushima/<w/J.Ohta(ds)&Friends04>

Feb/22/04/7:00pm-/Takasaki(Gunma)Swing/<duet w/ Yuki Arimasa(p)>

Mar/7/04/3:30pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/S.Murai(p)session>

May/13/04/7:45pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/S.Murai(p)session>

Jul/13/04/7:30@m-/Roppomgi,Pit-inn/Tokyo<Mitsuru Sutoh Session/T.Akamatsu(vib)T.Miyazaki(sax)S.Murai(kb)M.Sutoh(b)T.Kumagai(ds)>

Jul/19/04/3:30pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/S.Murai(p)session>

Sep/17/04/8:00pm-/Mahouno-ryu/Nerima,Tokyo< Own Group>

Oct/1/04/5:30pm/Nishi-Shinjuku Lobby Concert of Mitsui BLDG/Tokyo<duet w/Y.arimasa>

Oct/2/04/2:00pm/Nishi-Shinjuku Lobby Concert of Mitsui BLDG/Tokyo<duet w/M.Matsushima.S.Imazu>

Oct/6/04/11:30am-1:00om/Piroty-Hall/Osaka Morinomiya/<duet w/Y.arimasa>

Oct/6/04/7:30pm-/JazzVibraphone Clinic Studio NECO/Osaka Fukushima

Oct/7/04/7:30pm-/Arrow/Amagasaki,Hyogo/<w/T.Taniguchi(tb)Group>

Oct/8/04/7:30pm-/Jyabikan/Tsuyama.Okayama/<w/S.Matsunaga(p) Unit>

Oct/9/04/5:00pm/TV-Show/Ai-TV/Ehime

Oct/10/04/7:00pm/Jazz Fes SV2004 Matsuyama.KeyStone/Ehime<w/Y.Watanabe Trio>

Nov/7/04/3:00pm-/25-25Session Totsuka G-Clef/Yokohama/<w/S.Inoue(fl)Y.Miyanoue(g)H.Kanazawa(b)T.Koyama(ds)

Dec/2/04/8:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

Dec/13/04/7:30pm-/Meguro,Blues Alley Japan/Tokyo<Mitsuru Sutoh Session/T.Akamatsu(vib)T.Miyazaki(sax)S.Murai(kb)M.Sutoh(b)T.Kumagai(ds)>

Dec/14/04/8:00pm-/Mahouno-ryu/Nerima,Tokyo< Duet w/Y.Arimasa>

Apl/02/03/7:30pm-/Roppomgi,Pit-inn/Tokyo<Own Group>

Apl/16/03/8:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/H.Ichikawa(p)Trio

May/13/03/8:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/H.Ichikawa(p)Trio

May/15/03/7:30pm-/Roppongi,Pit-inn/Tokyo<Shu-kei-man>

Jun/05/03/7:30pm-/Kichijoji.Sometime/Tokyo<duet w/Y.Arimasa>

Jun/07/03/7:00pm-/Imabari Jazz Towm2003/Ehime<duet w/Y.Arimasa>

Jun/08/03/7:30pm/Matsuyama.KeyStone/Ehime<duet w/Y.Arimasa>

Jun/14/03/7:30pm-/Maebashi.umesutajio/Gunma<duet w/Y.Arimasa>

Jul/08/03/7:30pm-/Roppongi,Pit-inn/Tokyo<Own Group>

Jul/16/03/8:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

Sep/07/03/3:30pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

Sep/14/03/noon/Fujino.JVA Vibraphone Clinic/Kanagawa/<w/Takashi Ohi(vib)>

Sep/16/03/7:30pm-/Roppomgi,Pit-inn/Tokyo<Own Group>

Sep/28/03/5:00pm/Shibuya NHK Radio Show/Tokyo<Own Group & duet w/Y.Arimasa

Oct/03/03/5:00pm/Nishi-Shinjuku Lobby Concert of Mitsui BLDG/Tokyo<duet w/Y.arimasa>

Oct/04/03/3:00pm/Nishi-Shinjuku Lobby Concert of Mitsui BLDG/Tokyo<duet w/M.Matsushima>

Oct/11/03/6:00pm/Yokohama JazzFes YJP2003 at Kaiko-kinenkaikan/Kanagawa/<Own Group & duet w/Y.Arimasa>

Oct/12/03/7:00pm/Jazz Fes SV2003 Matsuyama.KeyStone/Ehime<w/Y.Watanabe Trio>

Oct/16/03/8:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

Oct/26/03/2:30pm-/Azumino,Duet Concert at Azumino Concert-Hall/Nagano/<duet w/Y.Arimasa>

Nov/22/03/5:00pm-/On ITV TV show/<duet w/M.Matsushima>

Nov/24/03/1:00pm-/Duet on Ehime Prefecture Organizing"Kenmin-Bunkasai 2003 Ehime"/ Tamagawa,Ehime<duet w/M.Matsushima>

Dec/02/03/8:00pm-/Airgin/Yokohama<w/<H.Ichikawa(p)Trio>

Dec/19/03/12:20pm- 5:30pm-/Siba Lobby Concert of Mitsui BLDG/Tokyo/<Duet w/Miki Matsushima(marimba)>

Dec/28/03/7:00pm-/Maebashi Love-song/Gunma/<w/C.Nakano(b)&Monument House>

As the album title "Six Intentions" suggests, six composers including Toshihiro Akamatsu himself have contributed their creative outputs in this recording project.

The album opens with a tune titled "Reminiscence", which is a new composition by one of the representative veteran pianist Hideo Ichikawa to whom Akamatsu owes a debt of gratitude for his respectful presence as a great senior member of the Japanese jazz scene. Akamatsu formed a special quartet with Ichikawa (on piano), Hideaki Kanazawa (on bass) and Mamoru Nihonyanagi (on drums) to record this piece along with a tune he wrote on 6/8 time called "Last Student".

Another well-known player from the old school who was one of the first professionals to discover Akamatsu's potential talent was Yoshio Suzuki, a long-time leading bassist also familiar to many colleagues by the nickname "Chin-san". Akamatsu called on him to be the guest bass player to record Chin-san's original piece, "Mistral", with Takashi Yofu (on guitar), Kenichiro Shinzawa (on keyboards) and Yoichi Okabe (on percussions), the members of Akamatsu's own group "The Next Door". The same names are also credited as the recording members of Akamatsu's "Passage of Time".

Yuki Arimasa, a pianist who belongs to the same generation as Akamatsu, contributed his tune "Never Let It Pass You By" to this album. Just like the two used to play together during their days at Berklee, they recorded this song in a duo format along with "Twist Flower" and "Dream With the Past", both written by Akamatsu. This recording session marked their second occasion to collaborate in this style since their first get-together on "Next Door-Birth of the Swift Jazz".

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Details is a site of TBM record company during Toshihiro Akamatsu newest album ' SIX INTENTIONS ' &' STILL ON THE AIR ' selling now!!

Please make use of the following site for a purchase with a net.

HMV Toshihiro Akamatsu directory

Tower Records Toshihiro Akamatsu directory

The ninth track, "Jump Ahead", is a fast-driving piece as the title clearly implies and is played by trio that Akamatsu teamed with Hiraishi on electric bass and Jun Saito on drums.

Akamatsu met Shusei Murai, a composer who is one generation younger than him through the Next Door guitarist, Takashi Yofu. They were in a session held at Roppongi Pit Inn in 2001. The piece titled "Astor's Wing" that Murai wrote after being inspired by the music of Astor Piazzolla is performed by another trio, Akamatsu (on vibe), Shusei Murai (on piano) and Takashi Yofu (on guitar).

The colorful combination of impressive guest players and six composers who contributed their originals to this album vividly highlight Toshihiro Akamatsu's leadership as a top-notch vibraphonist who can express himself in whatever context he chooses to perform in, whether in a duo, trio (two sets), quartet or quintet. The fact that this new album is released from one of the most prestigious jazz labels in Japan "Three Blind Mice" that is known for its long glorious history and tradition is a delightful news. I hope Toshihiro Akamatsu will lead the future jazz scene to an exciting and stimulating direction that many have long being waiting to be oriented towards.

(Kiyoshi"Boxman"Koyama's Liner Notes)