The Jazz Organ Scene
Japan
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寒川 敏彦
Toshihiko Kankawa was born in Osaka. Starting piano lessons at the age of three, he made
his professional debut at 18. He moved to the USA the following year where he studied under
the organ master Jimmy Smith, having received a great impact from his music in Los Angeles.
(Toshihiko Kankawa) After returning to Japan in 1978, Kankawa played regularly in one of the most popular late night TV programs of the time called "11pm"for two years. He released his first leader album "Hobo's Blues" in 1983 and in 1984 "Quarter Run "in which Jimmy Smith played as a guest. In 1986, Kankawa played in the first Mt.Fuji Jazz Festival Blue Note with Lou Donaldson, a rare opportunity given to Japanese musicians by the major summer jazz festival known to feature top international artists. In 1986, he had the tour with Bady Tate & Arnet Cob, in 1987 with Joe Hendeson, and in 1988 with Rechard Tea & Cornel Dupree. Kankawa continued playing jazz festivals and touring clubs in Japan and became the No. One organ player in the country. After releasing another album "Mr. Soulman" in 1987, he moved to New York in 1989 and played on jazz festivals around the world, including the North Sea Jazz Festival, and performed at clubs such as the Blue Note in New York. He also had a regular combo in Harlem/New York. In 1996, Kankawa went on to create a new type of music, inheriting the tradition of jazz, but at the same time incorporating essence of funk, fusion, and rock. With "BIII", his new album, he has succeeded in creating another dimension in the organ music. In 2001, he introduced Jack Mcduff to Japan, and played double organ concerts and had the live recording album "Organ Meeting". In 2002, Kankawa had a great successful Japan tour entitled "Organ Jam 2002" with a star band of the New York Jam scene, "SOULIVE" with his new project named "KANKAWA 122". In 2004, he founded a new band with DJ Kensei named NUDE JAZZ. This band released released their first album "cynodontia" in 2005. In 2006, a trio jazz album called "Jazz Time 3 - Soul Finger-- Tribute to Jimmy Smith" followed. |
| contact: | offthet@s2.dion.ne.jp |
| homepage: | kankawa.org |
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Click on the logo to see Kankawa's tour dates. |
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Harlem Swing Forest Music NNCJ-6001 recorded August 1992 in Tokyo/Japan |
Toshihiko Kankawa, Hammond B-3 organ, melodica Jimmy Ponder,guitar Greg Bandy, drums |
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Organ Meeting What's New WNCJ 2104 recorded live January 2000 at the jazz club Bash in Roppongi, Tokyo/Japan |
Toshihiko Kankawa, Hammond B-3 organ Jack McDuff, Hammond B-3 organ Nao Takeuchi, tenor sax Kenichi Nishio, trumpet Marvin Horn, guitar Greg Bandy, drums |
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Kankawa Meets Gary Bartz Forest Music NNCJ-6001 recorded live July/August 2003 in Nango and Kuchan/Japan |
Gary Bartz, alto sax, soprano sax Toshihiko Kankawa, organ, keyboards Greg Bandy, drums |
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The Heavy Cats Forest Music NNCJ-6003 recorded 2004 (?) in Japan |
Hiram Bullock, guitar, vocals Toshihiko Kankawa, organ, keyboards Kenji Hino, bass Fuyu, drums |
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Henderson Meets Kankawa Forest Music NNCJ-6004 recorded September 1987 live at Loft-6 in Osaka/Japan |
Joe Henderson, tenor sax Toshihiko Kankawa, Hammond B-3 organ Keith Kilgo, drums |
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Soul Fingers Forest Music NNCJ-6005 recorded July/August 2005 in Tokyo/Japan |
Toshihiko Kankawa, Hammond B-3 organ, Roland sacral organ Jun Yamagishi, guitar Jimmie Smith, drums Mark Whitfield, guitar Winard Harper, drums Phil Upchurch, guitar, bass Cecil Monroe, drums Andy McCloud, bass Greg Bandy, drums Seiichi Nakamura, clarinet Takaaki Miyanoue, guitar |
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Organist II: Silent Soul T-TOC Records XQDN-1040 |
Toshihiko Kankawa, organ James Mahone, sax Xinping, trumpet Ochi, guitar Greg Bundy, drums |
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Made In Tokyo recorded February 2006 |
Toshihiko Kankawa, Hammond organ |
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