Japanese/English

●Hiroshi Takashima (Jazz Guitarist) Biography

1951/9/1 Born in Yamagata-shi. Started playing the marimba at the age of 4.Started playing the guitar in jr. high school, and apprenticed to Sadanori Nakamure and Masayuki Takayanagi.

Debuted as professional at Pit-Inn inShinjuku, when he was a sophomore at university. He was asked to do an arrangement for a friend’s song, which scored a reputation as unique and fresh, which led him to a new-comer award at Koga Awards and arrangementworks for orchestra bands for the next 3 years. After being in groups, suchas Fumio Itabashi Group, Ushio Sakai Trio, and George Kawaguchi Super Band, as a regular member, he has started his own band, “Soul Meeting.”

His own albums are:
“In My Soul / Hiroshi Takashima & The Soul Meeting”(EIYU Records),
“Do The Blues / Hiroshi Takashima & The Soul Meeting”(What’s New Records),
“Full House -Respect for Great Jazz Giants- / HiroshiTakashima & The soul Meeting” (What’s New Records),
“DUO / Hiroshi Takashima meets Takahiro Toyoda” (Polystar Records),
“Do The Blues(Re-issued / Bonus Tracks Included) / Hiroshi Takashima & The Soul Meeting”(Polystar Records),
“In My Soul (Re-released) / Hiroshi Takashima & The Soul Meeting”(Polystar Records),
“Ku-ki On (meaning “Sound of Air” in Japanese) / Tommy Cambell band, Hiroshi Takashima & The Soul Meeting” (Body& Soul Records)

Appeared in Yamagata International Jazz Festival 2004 as Hiroshi Takashima &The Soul Meeting. Also, has been joining Yokohama Jazz Promenade every year.

As Hiroshi Takashima Trio, and Hiroshi Takashima & The Soul Meeting, which has added T. Sax and Vocal, he has been active around Tokyo&Yokohama city. His groovy style with blues feeling has been receiving high reputationinternationally.

Ranked #3 as the Best Guitarist in Swing Journal by readers votes This year (2010). Has a teaching career for more than 30 years. He gives lessons at Roots Music School, Hiroshi Takashima Guitar Clinic, JAM Music School, and has also started teaching courses about jazz at Toho Univ. Science Dept. Information Science.

Appeared on TV and radio programs, and was a regular cast for NHK and CATV shows. The album “In My Soul” has been played as BGM at Brisbane Airport in Australia, and the original song “So I Do” from “Do The Blues” is used for the commercial video for Mazda ATENZA, which is on air at networks, including BS Asahi.

The international musicians he has played with include, Kenny Barrell(gt), Jimmy Smith(org), McCoyTyner(p), Barry Harris(p), Sir,Charles Thompson(p), Guild Mahorness(p),Rob Brgad(p), Larry Gales(b), James Genus(b), Lewis Nash(dr), Art Talor(dr), Dennis Chambers(dr), Lorez Alexandria(vo), and Randy Brecker(tp).