Tokyo Union
Tatsuya Takahashi and The Tokyo Union (also credited as Tokyo Union Big Band and Tokyo Union Orchestra) 高橋達也と東京ユニオン
The Tokyo Union was created in 1964, under the leadership of alto-saxophonist Ryusuke Nomura, and as such represents one of Japan's oldest performing jazz ensembles.. Tatsuya Takahashi 高橋達也 ja:高橋達也, tenor saxophonist, became the leader in 1966. Under Takahashi's leadership, Tokyo Union has toured internationally including several appearances at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Their awards include "Jazz Record of the Year" in 1978 and "Best Big Band" for nine years running in Japan's influential Swing Journal [1][2]
They traveled to California in 1980, playing with Herbie Hancock, Slide Hampton and Richie Cole, prior to performing at the Monterey Jazz Festival, and then recording their album "Black Pearl" in San Francisco.[3]
Most of their recorded works were never available in the United States. All are currently out of print.
Discography
Discography:[4]
- Got the Spirit
- Maiden Voyage (1976)
- Scandinavian Suite (1978) - composed by Bingo Miki; TBM-1005
- Montreaux The Best '78 (1978) - featuring Mari Nakamoto; recorded July 16, 1978; Zen-1004
- Soul Porter
- Funpico
- 大都会 PART III
- The City (1979)
- Black Pearl (1980) - with Herbie Hancock, Slide Hampton, and Richie Cole; Zen-5001
- Up In the Blues
- Swing on Swing
- Stardust (1982)
- 西部警察 PART III
- Chasin' The Duke
- Keeping Count (1986) (available on CD from ProJazz. Arranged by David Matthews (keyboardist))
- Plays Miles & Gil (1988) (available on CD from King Record Co/Bellaphon Records. Arranged and conducted by David Matthews)
References
- ↑ Zen Records, LP insert "Montreaux The Best '78"", 1978.
- ↑ ProJazz records, CD insert, 1986.
- ↑ Zen Records, LP insert "Black Pearl", 1980.
- ↑ http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/bigband/favorite/union.htm