Kazumi Watanabe | |
|---|---|
 Watanabe performing in 2011 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | October 14, 1953 Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | Jazz, jazz fusion |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Labels | Columbia, Denon, Gramavision, Warner |
| Website | www |
Kazumi Watanabe (Japanese: 渡辺 香津美, Hepburn: Watanabe Kazumi, born October 14, 1953 in Tokyo[1][2]) is a Japanese guitarist. Other guitarists such as Luke Takamura and Sugizo have cited him as an influence.[3][4]
Watanabe learned guitar at the age of 12 from Sadanori Nakamure at the Yamaha Music School in Tokyo.[5] He released his first album in 1971. In 1979, he formed a jazz rock band with some of Japan's leading studio musicians, and recorded the album Kylyn.[6] During that year, he toured with the pop band Yellow Magic Orchestra.[5]
In the 1980s, he toured as guest soloist with Steps, the Brecker Brothers, and Word of Mouth, led by Jaco Pastorius. Watanabe created the jazz-rock/jazz-fusion band Mobo in 1983 with Mitsuru Sawamura (saxophone), Ichiko Hashimoto (piano), Gregg Lee (bass), Shuichi Murakami (drums), and Kiyohiko Senba.[5]
During the eighties Watanabe released the jazz-rock albums To Chi Ka (1980), Mobo Club (1983), Mobo Splash (1985), and Spice of Life (1987). A DVD was issued from the tour which featured drummer Bill Bruford and bassist Jeff Berlin, who also played on the record.
In the 1990s Kazumi assembled an all-Japanese line-up called Resonance Vox (Vagabonde Suzuki on bass, Rikiya Higashihara on drums, Yahiro Tomohiro on percussion). This band has released several adventurous fusion albums.
