Japanese/English
●Hiroshi Takashima (Jazz Guitarist) Biography
Hiroshi Takashima was born in Yamagata, Japan on September 1st, 1951. He started music, playing the marimba at the age of 4, and the saxophone as a brass band member in school. When he was in jr. high school, he started playing the guitar, and apprenticed to Sadanori Nakamure and Masayuki Takayanagi.
Hiroshi debuted as professional at Shinjuku Pit-Inn, when he was a university sophomore. At the age of 21, his brilliant music arrangement he did for his friends earned a reputation and led him to win the best new comer at the Koga Awards, and he started arrangement works for orchestra bands for the next 3 years.
After being a regular member in well-known groups, such as Fumio Itabashi Group, Ushio Sakai Trio, and George Kawaguchi Super Band, he started his own band, “Hiroshi Takashima & the Soul Meeting.” In 2010, Hiroshi scored #3 in the most favorite guitarist category, and #12 in the most favorite arranger category, and the "Soul Meeting" scored #13 in the most favorite band category at the "Swing Journal" Readers Vote.
His leading albums are:
“In My Soul" by Hiroshi Takashima & The Soul Meeting (EIYU Records)
“Do The Blues" by Hiroshi Takashima & The Soul Meeting (What’s New Records)
“Full House -In the Respects for Great Jazz Giants-" by Hiroshi Takashima & the Soul Meeting (What’s New Records)
“DUO" by Hiroshi Takashima meets Takahiro Toyoda (Polystar Records)
“Do The Blues" (Re-issued / Bonus Tracks Included) by Hiroshi Takashima & the Soul Meeting (Polystar Records)
“In My Soul" (Re-released) by Hiroshi Takashima & the Soul Meeting (Polystar Records)
“Ku-ki On" (meaning “Sound of Air” in Japanese) by Tommy Cambell band, Hiroshi Takashima & the Soul Meeting (Body& Soul Records)
"491 Street" by Hiroshi Takashima & the Soul Meeting (Boundee)
His performance appearances include Yamagata International Jazz Festival as Hiroshi Takashima & the Soul Meeting in 2004, Nango Jazz Festival in Aomori, a Guitar Summit in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2009, and has been joining Yokohama Jazz Promenade every year. Recently, he has been performing around Tokyo and Yokohama, as Hiroshi Takashima Trio, and Hiroshi Takashima & the Soul Meeting with T.Sax and Vocal. His play style which is groovy and has a feeling of blues has been receiving high reputation internationally.
Hiroshi also has a teaching career for 30 years, and has been giving guitar lessons at Roots Music School, Hiroshi Takashima Guitar Clinic, and JAM Music School. He also has given lectures about Jazz at Information Science courses in Toho University Science Department.
His appearances on TV and radio programs include many guest appearances and some regular appearances for NHK and CATV. The album “In My Soul” has been played as BGM at Brisbane Airport in Australia, and Hiroshi's original song “So I Do” from the album “Do The Blues” has been used in the commercial video for Mazda ATENZA, and on air as TV commercial at networks such as BS Asahi.
He also has supported many artists including Ryoko Moriyama and Ohyan Fei Fei, and is supporting Tsunehiko Kamijyo as his exclusive guitarist member.
His co-playng international musicians include Kenny Burrell (g), Jimmy Smith (org), McCoy Tyner (p), Barry Harris (p), Sir Charles Thompson (p), Gildo Mahones (p), Rob Bargad (p), Larry Gales (b), James Genus (b), Lewis Nash (dr), Art Taylor (dr), Dennis Chambers (dr), Lorez Alexandria (vo), and Randy Brecker (tp).
