Toshio Osumi is a veteran Japanese jazz drummer born in Tokyo in 1944. He began his active career in the 1970s, collaborating with numerous Japanese and international jazz musicians. Renowned for his steady, rhythmically potent drumming style, he became a dependable rhythmic anchor within ensembles. Beyond performing as a drummer, he frequently led his own groups. Over the years, he has actively championed the development and popularisation of Japan's jazz scene. Remaining a vibrant presence on stage today, he is celebrated as one of the leading figures in Japanese jazz drumming.

 

 

 

A rising star of Japan's new generation of jazz saxophonists, born in Tokyo. He is the son of renowned jazz drummer Hisao Osumi, having grown up immersed in a musical environment from childhood. Primarily performing on the alto saxophone, his playing features a warm tone and refined technique. He has collaborated with numerous jazz musicians both within Japan and internationally, demonstrating mature improvisational skills. Active as a bandleader, he has released his own albums. As a representative of the younger generation, he is regarded as a significant force for the future of Japanese jazz.

 

 

 

Born in Kamifukuoka City, Saitama Prefecture. Commenced piano studies in childhood, developing an interest in jazz whilst attending Musashino Art University. In 1998, following participation in King Records' Jazz Fresh Group, joined multiple ensembles including Yoichi Kobayashi JJM, MALTA Hit&Run, and the Akira Omori Quartet, accumulating extensive experience through nationwide tours and recording sessions. Released ‘PURPLE MOON’ in 2009. His second album, ‘Challenger’, released in 2019, featured three original compositions selected for the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) in the USA, reaching the finals and semi-finals respectively. Despite suffering from dystonia affecting his left little finger and ring finger, his playing remains remarkably seamless and uncompromised. Currently, he is primarily active on jazz stages across Tokyo and its surrounding areas with his ‘Children's Song Trio’ project, where he performs Japanese nursery rhymes through instrumental renditions and vocalisation.

 

 

 

A jazz bassist active in Tokyo, he began playing electric bass during his student years and moved to Tokyo at age 19 to attend music school, concurrently taking up the double bass (wood bass) and embarking on a professional performing career. He was formerly a member of the instrumental ensemble “Flowing Iota”, which released the album The world is beautiful in 2016. In 2021, his jazz piano trio ‘Pirate Ship’ released the album ‘All Aboard’. That same year, he contributed to the recording of the online game ‘FANTASIAN’, a collaborative project between Hironobu Sakaguchi and Nobuo Uematsu released via Apple Arcade. Currently, he frequently performs at major jazz clubs across Tokyo, organising his own events while also undertaking artist support, recording, and music teaching. Beyond his role as a performer, he actively cultivates live jazz culture, engages in teaching, and participates in cross-media music projects.

 

 

Guest Artist: Wang Li Juan

A young jazz vocalist profoundly influenced by American legends Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughan, her musical style spans a wide range with jazz as its core. Her voice possesses dynamic range and emotional depth, effortlessly shifting between tension and release. She has performed as a featured artist at venues including Shanghai Lincoln Jazz Centre, JZ Club, House of Blue and Jazz, Wooden-box, Chair Club, Blues+, Yuyintang, Beijing Jianghu, Hangzhou Meeting Jazz, Gu Cha, and Qingdao Sight Coffee. Her rich musical expression and exploration of musical possibilities have earned her consistent praise from collaborating musicians and cultivated a devoted following.