Jimsaku
Jimsaku (ジンサク) | |
|---|---|
 "Jimsaku" performing at Shiba Postal Savings Hall, July 20, 1979 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1990-1998, 2021 |
| Labels |
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| Past members | Akira Wada Jim Saku Kume |
| Website | google |
Overview
Jimsaku (ジンサク) was a Japanese Jazz Fusion band lead by drummer Jim and Bassist Saku. They are largely considered to have been the country's best fusion band, having formed in 1990. Their eponymous debut record was released in 1990 under Polydor records, titled Jimsaku. Since then, they have released a total of 11 records, including both studio and live albums.
Live Performances
History
Formation
In late 1979 drummer Akira Jimbo was in charge of the Light Music band of Keio University. For a live performance, they needed a bassist. Tetsuo Sakurai was invaded and worked well with Jimbo. Later the band Casiopea, which Sakurai was the bassist for, needed a new drummer. Sakurai recommended Jimbo to the band's leader Issei Noro, and by January 1980 Jimbo was the newest member of Casiopea. With this lineup Casiopea would grow to stardom as one of Japan's most popular fusion bands of all time.
In 1989, Casiopea had had the same lineup for 9 years, they were running out of fresh ideas, and their sound was starting to get stale. At the beginning of the year they decided to take a rest period. During this rest period where each member had independent musical activities, Jimbo and Sakurai started to form a city pop band called Shambara. One of Casiopea's unwritten rules at the time was that the members could not be in other bands. When Casiopea's rest period came to an end, Jimbo and Sakurai were asked to leave Shambara. Disagreements resulted in them leaving Casiopea and staying with Shambara. Shambara only resulted in one album and a few live concerts, before dissolving in 19??.
1990: Debut Year
Since they were already widely recognized figures in the Japanese music scene with their own solo albums, Jimbo and Sakurai had no problems getting a record deal with ???. For their live performances, they needed Japanese musicians they could play with regularly. Guitarist Hirokuni Korekata and Keyboardist Chizuko Yoshihiro were core members of a guitar trio called Ottottrio, which also had Issei Noro in it. Ottottrio later played with Casiopea in several events during 1989, most notably Super Fusion '89, likely how they came to be in mind for Jimsaku. Keyboardist Ken Morimura. These five members started playing concerts in 1990.
Later on in 1990, somehow, they added violinist Ichiro Nakai, who played electric violin with the band. Ichiro Nakai would be a core member of the band from late 1990 to 1995. With the addition of him, the core lineup of Jimsaku would be drummer Akira Jimbo, bassist Tetsuo Sakurai, keyboardists Ken Morimura and Chizuko Yoshihiro, Guitarist Hirokuni Korekata, and Violinist Ichiro Nakai.
1980-1982: Warner Pioneer Years
In 1991 they recorded 45*C.
Members
The band's final line-up was composed of Jiro Okada (bass), Satoshi "Mansaku" Kimura (drums), Akira Wada (guitar) and Tatsuya "Cheru" Watanabe (keyboards, vocals) as of their suspension of activities in 2018. On March 28, 2021, Wada died at the age of 64.
Discography
Prism have released a total of 25 studio albums and 10 live albums since 1977. The band was signed to Universal Music Group in 2003, which re-released the band's first four albums, and remained their record publisher.
- Prism (1977)
- Second Thoughts/Second Move (1978)
- Prism III (1979)
- Prism Live (1979)
- Surprise (1980)
- Community Illusion (1981)
- Live Alive (Absolutely) (1981)
- Visions (1982)
- ∞（永久機関） (1983)
- Nothin' Unusual (1985)
- Dreamin (1986)
- Live Alive Vol. 2 (1987)
- The Silence of the Motion (1987)
- Mother Earth (1990)
- Rejuvenation (1991)
- A Personal Change (1992)
- Prism Jam (1995)
- Uncovered (1995)
- Prismania (1997)
- Whiter (1997)
- In the Last Resort (2001)
- Present I (2003)
- Present II (2003)
- 【Mju:】 (2003)
- 1977 Live at Sugino Kodo (2004)
- Homecoming 2004 (2004)
- 三位一体 (2005)
- Blue... (2007)
- Prism 30th Anniversary Live! [Homecoming] (2007)
- Prism Homecoming Vol. 3 (2008)
- Invite (2009)
- Palace in the Sky (2011)
- Mode:Odd (2013)
- Celebrate (2017)
- What You See (2017)
