Today’s jazz scene is dominated by Kiyoshi Kitagawa, a composer and bassist. Kiyoshi was born in Osaka in Japan in 1958. He began playing guitar when he was 14. At the age of 19, he switched to an acoustic basse. Kiyoshi started his career playing in various clubs in Kansai, Japan. He quickly rose to be the most sought-after Japanese bassist. Kiyoshi moved to New York City in October 1988. Soon after, he met Winard Harper during Blue Note’s jam session. He joined the Harper Brothers. He appeared with the group at the Village Vanguard in September 1989. Their live recording, “Remembrance Live at The Village Vanguard”, was very well received. In the same year, Kiyoshi also worked with Andy Bey. In 1993, Kiyoshi was a highly sought-after bassist in the New York City Jazz scene. He recorded and toured with Kenny Garrett, the alto legend with drummer Brian Blade, as well as the Jimmy Heath Quartet where he was a regular bassist for more than ten consecutive years. He joined Kenny Barron Trio that same year on the advice of Ben Riley, a legendary drummer. Since then, he has been working closely with him. Kiyoshi joined Ted Dumber, Steve Nelson and Terell Stafford Quartet in Ben Riley Quartet. He formed The Trio in 1996 with Makoto Ozone, a talented Japanese pianist. Kiyoshi’s talent has been sought after by many legendary musicians, including Tommy Flanagan and Kenny Kirkland. Kiyoshi is a jazz legend and can be heard on many albums. A partial list of these artists includes Jimmy Heath, Jimmy Minger, Kenny Garrett, Makoto Ozone (The Triology), Jimmy Heath (“You Or Me”), Terell Stafford (Fields Of Gold), Andy Bey (“American Song”) Miki Hayama (“Prelude To A Kiss”) “Wide Angle”, Will Sellenraad” “Balance”, Jon Faddis (“Teranga”) and Kenny Barron [Images] “The Traveler]. Kiyoshi is a reliable sideman and has demonstrated his many talents as a composer and arranger. Kiyoshi, a leader, has released five albums in Japan under the Atelier Sawano labels, including “Ancestry”, (2004), “Live at Tsutenkaku”, (2006), which was released as a DVD, and “Live in Japan”, (2007), all featuring Kenny Barron, Brian Blade, and “Prayer” (2005). His most recent release was “I’m Still Here” (2007), featuring Danny Grissett u0026 Brian Blade. Apart from these albums, his passion for expanding the potential of the instrument led him to record solo albums. In 2000, he recorded a live performance at the Big Apple Jazz Club in Japan. The studio recording of Solo 2 was made in 2007, both by Music Information Records. Kiyoshi Kitagawa resides in Brooklyn, NY, where he continues to be active as a member Kenny Barron Trio/Quintet or Jon Faddis Quartet and Ben Riley’s Monk Legacy Septet. From www.cami.com
