Kazutoki Umezu is generally considered a jazz musician, but the scope of his playing goes far beyond this characterization, and in many directions. He has played sax and clarinet, often inventively improvising, in a wide range of situations and in more than 35 different countries. Two of his stated influences are Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Eric Dolphy, but many others can be heard in his music. Umezu was born and raised in the city of Sendai, and began studying music from an early age. While still... read more

Kazutoki Umezu is generally considered a jazz musician, but the scope of his playing goes far beyond this characterization, and in many directions. He has played sax and clarinet, often inventively improvising, in a wide range of situations and in more than 35 different countries. Two of his stated influences are Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Eric Dolphy, but many others can be heard in his music. Umezu was born and raised in the city of Sendai, and began studying music from an early age. While still attending Kunitachi Music College, he made his first recording with his band Seikatsu Kojou Iinaki. In 1974 he relocated to New York and began playing with musicians like Lester Bowie, Oliver Lake, Sunny Murray, Ted Daniels and Rashid Ali. When he returned to Japan in 1976 he reformed Seikatsu Kojou Iinakai, and made two albums. At the same time he continued to explore other types of music as well, and in 1980 also began playing with the well known rock band RC Succession. In 1981 he began recording under the name Doctor Umezu, and recorded eight albums under this moniker, the last of which in 1989. The "doctor" title suggests that Umezu is something of an academic, but plays by the code that rules are made to be broken, and part of what makes him popular is this freedom of thought and sense of humor. During the 80s Umezu played jazz festivals and gigs all over the world, sometimes internationally known figures such as John Zorn and Tom Cora. In 1988 he also recorded as DIVA, in a band with three women. In 1989 he formed a seven member band called Shakushain, named after a legendary Ainu (indigenous Japanese) hero, with whom he recorded two albums. He also maintained membership in other groups, including Third Person, a group which also includes Tom Cora and Samm Bennett, who were also part of his New York based groups Eclectism and First Deserter, groups which also included amongst heir ranks Marc Ribot, Dougie Browne, Wayne Horvitz and Curtis Fowlkes. In the 1990s Umezu became interested in Klezmer music, and at one time maintained an eighteen member group called Betsuni Nanmo Klezmer. He has also recorded four albums of Klezmer music. While his list of official bands is in itself quite long, he has also "unofficially" sat in or played short term with many other musicians, including B.B. King, Ian Dury, Barre Phillips, Peter Brotzman, Don Byron, Bernard Purdie, as well as with legendary Japanese jazz pianist Yosuke Yamashita, guitarist Yoshide Otomo, taiko drummer Leonard Eto, and musicians from Okinawa, Korea, Africa and the Middle East. Currently one of his active groups is the Kiki Band, a group that mixes elements of Middle Eastern, rock and jazz music, and has toured extensively in Africa. Attempting to bring together his many musical paths, Umezu has in recent years annually held an "Ohshigoto" event, during which he plays 20 consecutive days, each day with a different line-up of musicians. collapse