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Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Casiopea

CASIOPEA



Biography
Casiopea (カシオペア, Kashiopea) is a Japanese jazz fusion band that was formed in 1976 by guitarist Issei Noro and bassist Tetsuo Sakurai. In 1977, keyboardist Minoru Mukaiya and drummer Takashi Sasaki joined the group. The group debuted with the album Casiopea in 1979, featuring Randy Brecker and Michael Brecker as guest musicians. In 1980, Takashi was replaced by Akira Jimbo.

The album Eyes of the Mind was released in the United States in 1981. They then released the album Mint Jams in 1982, followed by Four by Four in the same year, which was a collaborative album with some members of Fourplay, including Lee Ritenour, Harvey Mason, Nathan East and Don Grusin. Their first overseas concert was held in the United Kingdom in 1983. The group has toured Europe, South America, Australia, and Southeast Asia.

ISSEI NORO(Guitar)
He is one of the founding members and the main composer of the band.
His splendid guitar work is world-famous. He has released his solo albums in '85, 89, and '96. He also works as an instructor of a guitar clinic, and as a producer. The guitar wizard enjoys to fish, paint, cook, and perform magic tricks during his private time.


MINORU MUKAIYA(Keyboard)
The melody maker of the band has taken his first piano lesson at the age of 5. He is well-known for the chord proggressions and the hooklines that he plays.He is also famous for his work as a radio personality, and as a director of computer gamewares. He is highly admired and looked up by many of the young keyboard players.



TETSUO SAKURAI(Bass)
Tetsuo was born in Tokyo on November 13th, 1957. He started playing bass when he was 13 years old. He was a member of the jazz fusion band Casiopea in 1976-1989 and Jimsaku with Akira Jimbo in 1990-1998.


YOSHIHIRO NARUSE(Bass)
The rythm titan has joined the band in '90. He has been working as a professional bass player for over two decades now. He is known for working with famous musicians such as Lee Litnour, George Duke, and Larry Graham. He is also famous for his brilliant stage performance. He also
works as an instructor of a bass clinic.



AKIRA JIMBO (Drum)
Akira Jimbo began drumming at the age of 18 when he joined the Keio University Light Music Society Big Band. He became famous through his playing with Casiopea during the years 1979-1989. These days Casiopea is recording again with Jimbo, who returned in 1997. During his solo career he formed Jimsaku-duo with Casiopea's bassist Tetsuo Sakurai in 1989. Recently, he has been working with Hiroyuki Noritake from T-Square in the drum-duo Synchronized DNA and have together performed in a series of concerts with Casiopea.

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