BIOGRAPHY
NAO TAKEUCHI( ts.fl.bcl.cl.)
In 1977 and 1986, he traveled to the United States twice, studying in New York under Byard Lancaster (as) and Steve Grossman (ts). During this period, he performed with Denis Charles (ds), William Parker (b), Clarence C. Sharpe (as), Ellen Christi (vo), among others, and appeared with his own band at the Jazz Center of New York.
◉ 1990 Joined Elvin Jones’ Japanese Jazz Machine and performed with Freddie Hubbard (tp).
◉ 1991 Traveled to Brazil, where he deepened his friendship with Luisão Maia (elb) in Rio de Janeiro and absorbed samba and bossa nova.
◉ 1994 Began performing unaccompanied solo works on tenor saxophone (later also bass clarinet and flute).
◉ 2002 Toured Europe as a member of Yosuke Yamashita’s (p) unit. Performed as a member of Saxophobia at the welcome banquet for former U.S. President Bill Clinton during his visit to Japan, serving as the main stage act and receiving praise from Clinton himself.
◉ 2008 Stayed in Senegal, where he built ties with the world-renowned percussion orchestra Doudou N’Diaye Rose Family. In the same year, he gave a dedicatory performance at Tenkawa Shrine.
He has collaborated with a wide range of musicians, including Brother Jack McDuff (org), Dennis Chambers (ds), Gary Bartz (as), George Garzone (ts), Ravi Coltrane (ts), Abraham Burton (ts, as), Pat LaBarbera (ts), Joe LaBarbera (ds), Gene Jackson (ds), Masahiko Togashi (ds), Fumio Itabashi (p), Masahiko Satoh (p), Takeo Moriyama (ds), Fumio Karashima (p), Motoharu Yoshizawa (b), Mototeru Takagi (ts), Kosuke Mine (ts), Shun Sakai (vo), Kimiko Itoh (vo), Maria Eva (vo), KANKAWA (org), Boom Boom Satellites, ROVO, DJ Logic, and many others.
As a leader, he has released ten albums
Live at Bash (1996) More Than You Know (1998)
Talking to the Spirits (1999)
Tompkins Square Park Serenade (2001)
Solo (2003)
Live at Star Eyes featuring Koji Goto (2005)
Nostalgia (2005)
Rapture (2007)
Obsidian (2010)
Seraphinite: Live at Motion Blue Yokohama (2014)
In addition, he has appeared on numerous other recordings.
Currently, he performs at jazz festivals, outdoor concerts, and live houses throughout Japan, and has been featured on many FM radio programs, including NHK Session.
UNIT
Old & New Dream Jazz Orchestra
In February 2016, they launched their first live performance at AB Smile in Nihon-Ōdōri, Kannai, Yokohama. Currently, on the first Monday night of every even-numbered month, they perform at AB Smile, presenting works ranging from Joe Henderson to Duke Ellington and New Orleans–inspired numbers, all in the members’ original arrangements.
Members: Nao Takeuchi (tenor saxophone, clarinet, arrangements), Kōichi Shinoda (trombone, arrangements), Kenichi Akatsuka (trumpet), Jōzō Yamada (trumpet), Takumi Nakayama (alto saxophone), Kunikazu Tanaka (baritone saxophone), Akimi Ogaeri (piano), Tetsuya Masune (bass), Daisuke Yoshioka (drums).
NAO TAKEUCHI Quartet
Naoto Takeuchi (ts) has performed on nationwide tours and at jazz festivals with the following members. He has also appeared on music programs such as NHK Session, and has been active in CD recordings and live house performances.
1994 – 2000 Yutaka Shiina (p), Shigeo Aramaki (b), Dairiki Hara (ds) 1998 Rod Williams (p), Jalib Shahid (b), Eli Fountain (ds)
2001 – 2009 Eriko Shimizu (p), Sei Kudo (b), Yoshito Eto (ds)
2009 – 2014 Mayuko Katakura (p), Yosuke Inoue (b), Yoshito Eto (ds)
2014 – present Mayuko Katakura (p), Takashi Sugawa (b), Masahiko Osaka (ds) From
2019 (occasionally) David Berkman (p), Pat Glynn (b), Gene Jackson (ds)