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Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio

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

The Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio centres on the Japanese jazz pianist Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, born in 1948. He was largely self-taught, although he did have piano lessons as a child. As a student at Nihon University he was already playing professionally, at first as an accompanist to the pop singer Micky Curtis, with whom he toured Europe in 1967. In 1974 he became house pianist at Misty, a jazz club in Tokyo. That year he also made his first record as a bandleader. Later he lived in New York for a year, where he played with, among others, Dizzy Gillespie, Carmen McRae, Elvin Jones and Sonny Stitt.

Music and breakthrough

His debut Midnight Sugar was released in 1974, followed by Misty in the same year and Summertime in 1976. In the late 1970s he played at major international festivals. He continued to make records well into the twenty-first century, including What a Wonderful Trio! in 2009. One reviewer remarked that he likes to seek out the highest regions of the keyboard, with great pleasure.

Influence

In the history of jazz worldwide, Yamamoto is an example of the flourishing Japanese jazz scene, where piano trios built up a warm, song-oriented tradition of their own.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Misty and notice how the pianist lets the familiar melody sing freely, with bass and drums as quiet accompanists. Can you hear where he lets go of the melody and where he picks it up again?

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: ArtistsJapanese jazz