Comprising brothers Shuya and Yoshihiro Okino, Kyoto Jazz Massive have built, brick by brick, a worldwide reputation as DJs, producers, and recording artists. Rooted strongly in jazz, and drawing from a variety of sources, Kyoto Jazz Massive's sound crosses over into broken beats, techno, house, and bossa nova, but always maintains a warmth and sense of songcraft and melody that distinguishes them from many of their cut and paste contemporaries. Heavily influenced by London's Rare Groove movement,...

Comprising brothers Shuya and Yoshihiro Okino, Kyoto Jazz Massive have built, brick by brick, a worldwide reputation as DJs, producers, and recording artists. Rooted strongly in jazz, and drawing from a variety of sources, Kyoto Jazz Massive's sound crosses over into broken beats, techno, house, and bossa nova, but always maintains a warmth and sense of songcraft and melody that distinguishes them from many of their cut and paste contemporaries. Heavily influenced by London's Rare Groove movement, the brothers started their DJ careers in the late 1980s in Kyoto. As acid jazz caught fire in Japan, many overseas artists came to play shows and check out the scene, and the brothers' web of friends and fans expanded rapidly, including legendary British DJ Gilles Peterson, who bestowed them with the name Kyoto Jazz Massive. Although they released numerous popular Brazilian club jazz 12" records over their first decade, the unit did not release an original record until 2001, when the Kyoto Jazz Massive EP appeared. The record lived up to all the hype, and its sublime collaboration with Bebel Gilberto helped launch them even further into the consciousness of clubbers everywhere. Their second release, the full-length Spirit of the Sun, was even stronger, featuring Maiya James, Victor Davies, Vanessa Freeman, and another release of their collaboration with Gilberto, the latter appearing only on the Japan release. In addition to his work with Kyoto Jazz Massive, Shuya, presently operating in Tokyo, has also managed Shinichi Osawa (Mondo Grosso) and Monday Michiru. He is also director and house DJ for famed club The Room, where he has booked DJs such as Jazzanova, Jazztronik, Truby Trio, and others. Yoshihiro, who remains in western Japan, runs a record store and label, both under the name Especial Records, with a special emphasis on club jazz and Brazilian music. He also runs regular events in Kyoto and Osaka, booking many of the same artists that pass through The Room.