Casiopea (also known as Casiopea III or Kashiopea Kashiopea), is a Japanese jazz-fusion band that was founded in 1976 by Issei Noo, Tetsuo Sakurai and Hidehiko Kuike. Minoru Mukaiya, keyboardist, and Takashi Sasaki, drummer, joined the band, leaving Hidehiko. Their debut album Casiopea (1979), was recorded with guest appearances from American jazz musicians Randy Brecker and Michael Brecker. Akira Jimbo replaced Sasaki in 1980. Casiopea released more than 30 albums in Japan and all over the globe. Alfa Records was the first to sign them, and released their album Casiopea. Cross Point (1981), which featured ten versions of “Galactic Funk”, was released by Alfa Records. Eyes of the Mind was first released in the United States in 1981. The band then released Mint Jams (1982), which was followed by 4×4, which featured Nathan East, Harvey Mason, Lee Ritenour and Don Grusin. In 1983, the band performed their first overseas concert in the United Kingdom. The band has toured Europe and South America, Australia, as well as Southeast Asia. Casiopea was signed to Polydor in 1987. After years of musical disagreements, Jimbo and Sakurai parted ways with the band two years later. They formed the duo Jimsaku. Yoshihiro Naruse (bass), and Masaaki Hiyama, (drums) replaced them. Casiopea was then signed to Pioneer. Noriaki Kumagai, who replaced Masaaki in 1993, was the band’s new manager. The band then returned to the Alfa label and Pony Canyon a year later. Jimbo was a part of the band again in 1997, and he recorded more albums and wrote compositions. Pioneer signed the band back in 2000. Pioneer changed its name four years later to Geneon Entertainment. The group’s leader, Issei Noo, decided on August 1, 2006 to suspend all activities until further notice. In 2007, Jimbo and Noro formed Inspirit, a fusion band. In January 2009, Casiopea recorded the album Tetsudou Seminar Ongakuhen. It is based on Minoru Mokaiya’s Train Simulator videogames. Legend of Casiopea was released in a limited edition box set on May 27, 2009. This release commemorated the band’s thirty-year anniversary. It was announced on April 20th 2012 that Casiopea would be returning with Kiyomi Okaka as keyboards. This replaces Minoru Mukaiya who managed the Mukaiya Club’s music production team. From Wikipedia
