|
Way back in the early 90's, I first met Shuya Okino of Kyoto Jazz Massive along with Mondo Grosso at a tiny club called Metro in Kyoto where one of the shows I planned with the editor in chief, Paul Bradshow of an alternative music and culture magazine based in London called "Straight No Chaser". The show was to present what was happening in London at the time as a fruit of "Dance Jazz" movement born in the mid 80's and as the result of re-discovering the real charm of jazz in the dance floor, about which I heard that still the major public in the US never understand from a professor of Yale University covering Snow Boy's club in London some years back. The headliner of the tour was a unit called "That Fuss Was Us" and the main musician was a wicked sax player, Steve Williamson, along with a guitarist, Tony Remy, who I should describe "Jimi Hendrix playing jazz funk", a drummer, Peter Lewinson, later playing with Massive Attack, a bassist, Steve Lewinson, would be a part of Courtney Pines's band, a funky trombonist, Dennis Rollins, a percussionist, Karl Vanden Bosh and a vocalist Noel McCoy. The boys literally rock the hose in Tokyo and those who were there still remember that steamy and sweaty night of their 3 hours show. I guess it was a dawn of the club scene in Japan as there are all of the key DJs and musicians there. U.F.O. was there with DJ Krush and Shuya Okino of Kyoto Jazz Massive and we all witnessed the first appearance of Mondo Grosso in Tokyo. Also there was a guest appearance of US3 who would be having a massive hit of "Cantaloop" soon after. The majority of the media jumped on this phenomenon as the show was packed and called it a new trend of jazz, but, at the same time, nobody of the media believed it would last more than a few years. In fact, thre was ups and downs as you could guess, but the vibes were there in a tiny club called The Room in Shibuya, kept bubbling and the light of the movement did never go away. Shuya Okino and Kyoto Jazz Massive was the main force of all of these and they started this massive event called Tokyo Crossover Jazz Festival back in 2003. This is the 4th time round and we could witness the fruit of their works there. Started at 22:00 and closing at about 06:30 in the morning, music of freedom with jazz and funk tips were there boiling the venue as well as the audience. There the Smashing Mag was covering the whole things with two photographers, Hanasan and Yusuke, and you are about to witness where happened in the hot house in the cold air outside. |
Tokyo Crossover Jazz Festival 2006
|
comment photos by hanasan |
|
Mark De Clive-Lowe / Cro-Magnon / Frank McComb / Shuya Okino / Sleep Walker / Koop / Kyoto Jazz Massive / Jam Session |
 mag files : Tokyo Crossover Jazz Festival photo report : (06/12/08 @ Shinkiba Studio Coast) : photos by hanasanphoto report : (06/12/08 @ Shinkiba Studio Coast) : photos by yusukephoto report : (06/12/08 @ Shinkiba Studio Coast) : photos by hanasanintro : (06/12/08 @ Shinkiba Studio Coast) : comment and photos by hanasan |
|
The official site Tokyo Crossover Jazz Festival http://www.tokyocrossoverjazzfestival.jp The official site Kyoto Jazz Massive http://www.kyotojazzmassive.com The latest album  "10th Anniversary |
The latest album " Especial Records presents Essence of Especial" Compiled by Especial Records&Kyoto Jazz Massive previous works
"Jazz Kitchen"
"Inspiration - Exclusives" "Kyoto Jazz Massive presents スペルバインダー" "Kyoto Jazz Massive presents サクセション・オブ・スピリット" "BY KJM" "For KJM" "RE : KJM" "Traditional Tokyo Club" "Blue Note Re Visited" (国内盤 / US impport) "The Room - 10th Anniversary" "Spitir of the Sun" (国内盤 / US impport) "Kyoto Jazz Massive" (国内盤 / UK impport) "Kyoto Jazz Massive presents Crossbreed2" "Kyoto Jazz Massive presents Crossbreed" ... and more check the albums? |