Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Ensemble

Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Ensemble (ONJE) was a Japanese electroacoustic improv/free jazz/experimental group directed by a composer, sound producer, turntablist and guitarist Otomo Yoshihide as an expansion to his New Jazz Quintet and preceding an even larger Orchestra. Yoshihide initially brought together the 9-piece Ensemble in the autumn of 2001 to record a follow-up to ONJQ's debut album Flutter, which came out a few months earlier on John Zorn's New York-based label Tzadik. The Dreams CD was published in March 2002 and included four songs by guest vocalists Jun Togawa and Phew, promoted by Zorn as the "first release outside of Japan featuring two of Japan's quirkiest underground pop stars." In the summer of 2004, the New Jazz Ensemble gave its first live concerts in Japan, performing as a septet with Sachiko M, Alfred Harth on saxophones, who also became the Quintet's fifth member after Kikuchi left in February '04, and Kumiko Takara (vibraphone). ONJE participated in several European festivals, including Era New Horizons in Cieszyn, Poland and Festival MIMI in Marseille, France. In 2005, the Ensemble embarked on a largescale tour with nine musicians plus Kahimi Karie as a guest vocalist, performing 15+ shows in March and May in Japan, France, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia and the UK. A few tracks from ONJE's performance at Banlieues Bleues festival in northern suburbs of Paris, including Eric Dolphy's "Hat & Beard," Jim O'Rourke's "Eureka" and Charlie Haden's "Song For Che," subsequently appeared on Otomo's 2011 Music(s) DVD compilation. Initial line-up (Sept/Nov 2001) Otomo Yoshihide — electric & acoustic guitars, prepared acoustic guitar Tsugami Kenta — alto & soprano saxophones Hiroaki Mizutani — contrabass Yasuhiro Yoshigaki — drums, trumpet, percussion Naruyoshi Kikuchi — soprano & tenor saxophones Sachiko M — sinewaves Tatsuki Masuko — Yamaha DX7, Roland SH-101, effects, noises Jun Togawa — vocals, crystal microphone Phew — vocals Live ONJE septet (2004) Otomo — guitars Tsugami — saxophones Mizutani — bass Yoshigaki — drums Sachiko M — sinewaves Alfred Harth — reeds Kumiko Takara܍ — vibraphone ܍ at some shows, Phew — vocals Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Big Band (July 2004) One live performance at Kyoto University, Kyoto Otomo — guitars Harth — reeds Tsugami — saxophones Mizutani — bass Yoshigaki — drums Sachiko M — sinewaves Takara — vibraphone Masayasu Tzboguchi — french horn Ko Ishikawa — sho Kahimi Karie — vocals Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Ensemble Film Special (Nov 2004) One concert, performing a live soundtrack for "Keisatsukan" silent film at Yurakucho Asahi Hall, Tokyo Otomo — composition, guitar, misc Tsugami — saxophone Takara — vibraphone, percussion Yoshigaki — drums, trumpet Hirohiko Otsubo — contrabass Tatsuro Kondo — harmonica, keyboards Taisei Aoki — trombone Live ONJE nonet (March-May 2005) Otomo — guitars Harth — reeds Tsugami — saxophones Mizutani — bass Yoshigaki — drums Sachiko M — sinewaves Takara — vibraphone Mats Gustafsson — tenor & baritone saxophones Axel Dörner — trumpet