Otomo Yoshihide Special Big Band

Otomo Yoshihide Special Big Band is a Japanese free jazz/electroacoustic improv/experimental 17-piece ensemble led by a composer, sound producer, turntablist, and guitarist, Otomo Yoshihide. Active since 2013, the Special Big Band is the latest orchestral formation by Yoshihide, who has been working with various instrumental ensembles since the late 1990s and gradually evolved his critically-acclaimed New Jazz Quintet and Ensemble to an Orchestra. The Special Big Band, featuring members of Kin Kon Kan and The Saxophonettes, long-time collaborator Sachiko M and several other prominent Japanese contemporary jazz players, initially gathered during recording sessions for the Amachan soundtrack. In December 2013, the "Amachan Special Big Band" performed at NHK Hall in Tokyo, with the show subsequently released on Amachan Live 2xCD. The band also presented the Ejanaika Ondo mini-album in June 2014. Otomo's Special Big Band continued touring in 2015, with concerts at Shinjuku's Pit Inn, Amber Hall, Kuji, and Kuji Autumn Festival Parade. Their performance at Shinjuku Bunka Center, Tokyo, commemorating the Pit Inn's 50th anniversary, came out as Live At Shinjuku Pit Inn CD. In 2022, the Special Big Band released its fourth album, Stone Stone Stone, via Otomo's newly-established label Little Stone Records. Otomo Yoshihide Special Big Band Otomo Yoshihide — guitar, turntables, banjo Eto Naoko — piano, electric piano Kondo Tatsuo — organ, harmonica, keyboards Saito Kan — flute, piccolo flute Inoue Nashie — clarinet Suzuki Hiroshi — saxophone Egawa Ryoko — saxophone Higashi Ryota — saxophone Sato Shutoku — trumpet Imagome Osamu — trombone Kimura Jinya — tuba Okuchi Shunsuke — accordion Kawai Shinobu — bass Kobayashi Takefumi — drums Itoken — drums Uehara Nanae — percussion, marimba Aikawa Hitomi — percussion Sachiko M — sinewaves Guest members Chris Pitsiokos — alto saxophone Nonoko Yoshida — alto saxophone Shinpei Ruike — trumpet Yuen Chee Wai — guitar, electronics Ryu Hankil — electronics Rie Inoue /井上梨江/ — clarinet Yoshihiko Eida — violin Kazunobu Mineta — spoken word Yan Jun, Kahimi Karie and Niki — vocals