Big Wing Jazz OrchestraProfile of Big Wing Jazz Orchestra

line

Foundation The Big Wing Jazz Orchestra located in Tokyo JAPAN was formed in 1973 by Tasuku Yoshida in association with YAMAHA as a non-professional, or a so called kicks band.
All the members have their own full time occupations ranging from businessmen ,housewife to company president.
Band Leader From 1978 Kenji Kohama has led the band.
Style The band is an authentic full size 18-pieces big band with female vocalist which plays a wide range of big band jazz.
Band Color Most of the repertoire are imported big band charts published in the USA.
Also the band plays original arrangements of Japanese composer's, and arranger's. Among them Norio Maeda , Kozaburo Yamaki and Masaru Uchibori is one of the most talented,famous big band arrangers currently in Japan.
Practice/
Rehearsal
The band get together every Thursday night, from 8 to 10p.m. at HMVP Otemachi Studio in Tokyo to rehearse. Also the band goes to a training camp in the foothills of Mt. Fuji twice a year under the guidance of well-known professional jazz musician.
Activity In October '89 the band was invited to and played at the 12th Manly Jazz Festival, one of the biggest jazz festival in Australia.
The band was invited again to the 14th Manly Jazz Festival.
In November '92, The band performed at the 35th Anniversary of the Monterey Jazz Festival, one of the world Well-known Jazz Festival, as a Grand Prize winner at the 1st All Japan Amateur ( non-students ) Big Band Contest.
In November '97,the band had the 4th overseas performance tour to Florida, Pensacola Jazz Festival and New Orleans, the birth place of Jazz.
In October '99, the band had the 5th overseas tour to Australia to have performance at the 22nd Manly International Jazz Festival to cerebrate ten years anniversary of international cultural exchange between people of Manly and the band.
In October '02, the band had the 6th overseas tour to Australia to have performance at the 25th Manly International Jazz Festival to cerebrate 25th anniversary of the festival and 20th anniversary of the sister city committee.
In October '07, the band had the 7th overseas tour to Australia to have performance at the 30th Manly Jazz Festival to cerebrate 30th anniversary of the festival.
In October '12, the band had the 8th overseas tour to Australia to have performance at the 35th Manly Jazz Festival to cerebrate 35th anniversary of the festival.
In September '17, the band had the 9th overseas tour to Australia to have performance at the 40th Manly Jazz Festival to cerebrate 40th anniversary of the festival.
Companionship, numerous performances as well as 9 times over seas trips to perform sum up the rewarding experiences earned by the Band's hard work and dedication to music.
The band's domestic activity is expanding to the outside of Tokyo metropolitan area such as Shizuoka, Yamanashi, Gunma, Fukushima, Niigata prefecture.
The band have 10 to 12 times performance in one year.
More! Please visit to the brief history page.

Copyright 1996- BIG WING JAZZ ORCHESTRA All Rights Reserved.