Yosuke Yamashita
Encyclopedia
Yōsuke Yamashita is an acclaimed jazz
pianist
, composer
, essayist, and writer
from Tokyo
, Japan
.
He is praised by critics for his unique piano style. In 2003 he was conferred the Imperial Medal of Honor by the Japanese government for his contributions to the arts and academia.
Yosuke first began to play professionally at the age of 17 in 1959, and attended the Kunitachi College of Music
from 1962 to 1967. His first printed recording was released in 1963, and he became a pioneer of avant-garde
and free jazz
. In 1969, Yosuke formed the Yosuke Yamashita Trio, which has been through various incarnations, each introducing and highlighting the skill of the new member. In the 1980s, Yosuke formed the "New York Trio" with bassist Cecil McBee
and drummer Pheeroan akLaff
. In 1990, he was awarded the prestigious Fumio Nanri
award. In 1994 he was invited to perform at the 50th anniversary concert of jazz label Verve
, held at Carnegie Hall
. Yosuke moved into film scoring in 1998, scoring the Shohei Imamura
film Kanzo Sensei, and his work earned him the "Minister of Education Award," amongst others.
He has been a visiting professor of music at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music
, Nagoya University of Arts
, and his alma mater, Kunitachi College of Music
, in addition to published work on improvisation and music.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, essayist, and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
from Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
He is praised by critics for his unique piano style. In 2003 he was conferred the Imperial Medal of Honor by the Japanese government for his contributions to the arts and academia.
Yosuke first began to play professionally at the age of 17 in 1959, and attended the Kunitachi College of Music
Kunitachi College of Music
The is a private music school in Tokyo, Japan. It was founded in 1926 as the Tokyo Conservatory of Music.It is located at Kashiwa-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo.-Notable alumni:*Masamichi Amano, composer*Ahn Eak-tai, composer and conductor...
from 1962 to 1967. His first printed recording was released in 1963, and he became a pioneer of avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
and free jazz
Free jazz
Free jazz is an approach to jazz music that was first developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the music produced by free jazz pioneers varied widely, the common feature was a dissatisfaction with the limitations of bebop, hard bop, and modal jazz, which had developed in the 1940s and 1950s...
. In 1969, Yosuke formed the Yosuke Yamashita Trio, which has been through various incarnations, each introducing and highlighting the skill of the new member. In the 1980s, Yosuke formed the "New York Trio" with bassist Cecil McBee
Cecil McBee
Cecil McBee is an American post bop jazz bassist, described by the Guinness Who's Who of Jazz as "a full-toned bassist who creates rich, singing phrases in a wide range of contemporary jazz contexts." Allmusic called him "One of post-bop's most advanced and versatile bassists".-Biography:McBee...
and drummer Pheeroan akLaff
Pheeroan akLaff
Pheeroan akLaff is an American jazz drummer. Pheeroan akLaff began playing in his hometown of Detroit, and Ann Arbor, Michigan with Travis Biggs, Ars Nova, The Ebony Set, The Last Days, and Rod Lumpkin, recorded with Major Lansky. Moved to New Haven, Connecticut and formed DejaVu with Dwight...
. In 1990, he was awarded the prestigious Fumio Nanri
Fumio Nanri
was a jazz trumpeter nicknamed the "Satchmo of Japan" by Louis Armstrong. He was one of Japan's first jazz musicians to become known outside his native country...
award. In 1994 he was invited to perform at the 50th anniversary concert of jazz label Verve
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
, held at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
. Yosuke moved into film scoring in 1998, scoring the Shohei Imamura
Shohei Imamura
was a Japanese film director. Imamura was the first Japanese director to win two Palme d'Or awards.His eldest son Daisuke Tengan is also a script writer and film director, and worked on the screenplays to Imamura's filmsThe Eel , Dr...
film Kanzo Sensei, and his work earned him the "Minister of Education Award," amongst others.
He has been a visiting professor of music at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music
Senzoku Gakuen College of Music
is a private university in Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki Kanagawa prefecture, Japan, established in 1967. A women's school, was founded in 1924. The present name was adopted in 2003. The college shares its campus with Senzoku Gakuen Junior College....
, Nagoya University of Arts
Nagoya University of Arts
is a private university at Kitanagoya, Aichi, Japan, founded in 1970.-External links:*...
, and his alma mater, Kunitachi College of Music
Kunitachi College of Music
The is a private music school in Tokyo, Japan. It was founded in 1926 as the Tokyo Conservatory of Music.It is located at Kashiwa-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo.-Notable alumni:*Masamichi Amano, composer*Ahn Eak-tai, composer and conductor...
, in addition to published work on improvisation and music.
Discography
- Breathtake (West 54 Records, 1975)
- Clay (Enja, 1974) trio with Akira Sakata (as, cl) and Takeo Moriyama (dr)
- Banslikana (Enja, 1976) solo
- Inner Space (Enja, 1977)
- It Don't Mean A Thing (DIW, 1984) solo
- Kurdish Dance (VerveVerve RecordsVerve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
1993) with Joe LovanoJoe LovanoJoseph Salvatore "Joe" Lovano is a post bop jazz saxophonist, alto clarinetist, flautist, and drummer. Since the late 1980s, Lovano has been one of the world's premiere tenor saxophone players, earning a Grammy award and several nods on Down Beat magazine's critics' and readers' polls...
, Cecil McBeeCecil McBeeCecil McBee is an American post bop jazz bassist, described by the Guinness Who's Who of Jazz as "a full-toned bassist who creates rich, singing phrases in a wide range of contemporary jazz contexts." Allmusic called him "One of post-bop's most advanced and versatile bassists".-Biography:McBee...
und Pheeroan akLaffPheeroan akLaffPheeroan akLaff is an American jazz drummer. Pheeroan akLaff began playing in his hometown of Detroit, and Ann Arbor, Michigan with Travis Biggs, Ars Nova, The Ebony Set, The Last Days, and Rod Lumpkin, recorded with Major Lansky. Moved to New Haven, Connecticut and formed DejaVu with Dwight... - Dazzling Days (Verve, 1993)
- Fragments 1999 (Verve, 1999) with McBee & akLaff
- Resonant Memories (Verve, 2000) solo
- Delightful Contrast (Universal, 2011) with McBee & akLaff