Takeo Moriyama

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Takeo Moriyama is a Japanese jazz drummer, born in 1945 in Katsunuma, in Yamanashi Prefecture. As a child he played piano, and only in his late teens did he switch to drums. He studied percussion at the Tokyo University of the Arts. In 1967 he joined the small group of the pianist Yosuke Yamashita, with whom he made various international tours until 1975. That trio, and later quartet, was regarded in Japan as one of the most important free jazz groups.

Music and breakthrough

In 1975 two records appeared: Full Load, with his Percussion Ensemble, and Distant Thunder, released on Enja, with Manfred Schoof, Akira Sakata and Yamashita. In 1977 he moved to Nagoya and began leading his own groups. This produced Hush-a-bye (1978), East Plants (1983), Green River (1984) and Live at Lovely (1991). Besides Yamashita, he played or recorded with Aki Takase, Masahiko Satoh, Peter Brötzmann and Manfred Schoof.

Influence

Moriyama is known for his powerful, energetic playing, in which the drums take on a role of their own rather than merely keeping time. He shows that Japanese jazz in the 1970s was in contact with the European and American avant-garde and contributed to it in its own right.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 1983East Plants
• 1984Green River
• 1985In a Sentimental Mood
• 1998Bit
• 2002See-Saw
• 2006My Funny Valentine
• 2010Central Park East
• 2011Dazzling
• 2016Oborodukiyo Doyo
• 2022Mitochondria
• 2022Succession

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

• After Hours: Session 3^NL Reader