Casiopea

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Casiopea
General information
Genre (s) Jazz fusion
founding 1976
Website http://www.casiopea.co.jp
Founding members
guitar
 Issei Noro
bass
 Tetsuo Sakurai
Current occupation
guitar
 Issei Noro
Keyboard
 Minoru Mukaiya
bass
 Yoshihiro Naruse
former members
Drums
 Takashi Sasaki
bass
 Tetsuo Sakurai
Drums
 Akira Jimbo
Drums
 Masaaki Hiyama
Drums
 Noriaki Kumagai

Casiopea ( Jap. カシオペア , Kashiopea ) is a Japanese jazz - fusion band in 1976 by guitarist Issei Noro and bassist Tetsuo Sakurai was founded. In 1977 keyboardist Minoru Mukaiya and drummer Takashi Sasaki joined the group. Their first album was called Casiopea (1979), on which guest musicians Randy Brecker and Michael Brecker could also be heard. In 1980 Akira Jimbo replaced the drummer Takashi.

The album Eyes of the Mind was released in the United States in 1981. Then came the 1982 album Mint Jams , followed by Four by Four , which was a collaboration with members Lee Ritenour , Harvey Mason, Nathan East and Don Grusin from Fourplay . They gave their first overseas concert in England in 1983 . The group has since toured Europe, South America, Australia and Southeast Asia.

In 1989 Akira Jimbo and Tetsuo Sakurai left the band due to internal differences to pursue their own musical path. They later formed the Jimsaku duo . They were replaced by Yoshihiro Naruse (bass) and Masaaki Hiyama (drums).

In 1993 the membership changed again: Noriaki Kumagai replaced Masaaki on drums. In 1997 Akira Jimbo came back to Casiopea. Although he was not listed as a member of the band, but only as a "supporting act", he still played drummer with Casiopea. Most recently with Synchronized DNA a . a. on the album Signal (2005).

On August 1st, 2006, band leader Issei Noro decided to freeze all activities of the band until further notice.

In addition to over 20 albums, various sampler and best-of compilations have also been released.

Discography

  • Casiopea (1979)
  • Super Flight (1979)
  • Thunder Live (1980)
  • Make Up City (1980)
  • Eyes of the Mind (1981)
  • Cross Point (1981)
  • Mint Jams (1982)
  • 4x4 (1982)
  • Photographs (1983)
  • Jive Jive (1983)
  • The Soundgraphy (1984)
  • Down Upbeat (1984)
  • Hall (1985)
  • Casiopea Live (1985)
  • Sun Sun (1986)
  • Perfect Live II (1987)
  • Platinum (1987)
  • Euphony (1988)
  • Casiopea World Live '88 (1988)
  • The Party (1990)
  • Full Colors (1991)
  • Active (1992)
  • We Want More (1992)
  • Dramatic (1993)
  • Answers (1994)
  • Hearty Notes (1994)
  • Asian Dreamer (1994)
  • Freshness (1995)
  • Flowers (1996)
  • Light and Shadows (1997)
  • Be (1998)
  • Material (1999)
  • 20th (2000)
  • Bitter Sweet (2000)
  • Main Gate (2001)
  • Inspire (2002)
  • Places (2003)
  • Marble (2004)
  • GIG 25 (2005)
  • Signal (2005) with Synchronized DNA

DVDs (selection)

  • 20th (2000)
  • Vintage 2002 (2002)
  • the way of Casiopea (2004)
  • Casiopea vs The Square: live (2004)
  • 5 Stars Live (2006)

Web links