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Hajime Yoshizawa

p, JP
Jazz, Electronic and Dance
A.k.a. Bossa Free

Stage name: 吉澤 はじめ (Yoshizawa Hajime) Hajime is part of a Japanese renaissance in jazz viewed through the eyes of modern dance music, post London acid jazz, often termed 'nu-jazz'. Best exemplified since artists like the United Future Organization in the early-mid '90s. Cosmic Village, a band consisting of Hajime with four other members (including one of the Okino brothers, Shuya Okino, who set-up Especial Records with brother Yoshi later formed the Kyoto Jazz Massive), was the formative platform for his keyboard playing and production talents defining the nu-jazz territory of the late '90s as it went. Cosmic Village releases, like a cover LP of Yellow Magic Orchestra tunes titled "Nice Age" have lead through to a more recent track "Free" done for "The Room 10th Anniversary" project. Various production credits on small releases led to the amazing highlight in a 12-inch called "Ai-No-Kawa/Resurrection" on Especial Records. On this 12, whilst one of the tracks was under the name 'Hajime Yoshizawa' the other was under the name 'Sleep Walker', but both are straight jazz numbers. From here we get his next projects. The Sleep Walker band kept the straight ahead jazz project going, whereas productions under his own name tend to head towards more of an electronic soulful nu-jazz perspective. 'Hajime Yoshizawa' monikered projects include an LP for Far Out Records' offshoot label Solaria entitled "Violet Lounge", remixes galore on various labels, plus more 12's on Especial Records under the name Hajime Yoshizawa leading to the CD only release "Hajime Yoshizawa", which grouped the 12's done for Especial Records together with new material. 'Sleep Walker' moniker, however, culminated in the self-titled LP "Sleep Walker". A note should also be made about another moniker of his 'Electric Sheep', first used as a self-done remix name on a Cosmic Village 12-inch "You Can See The Light". Originally more of a beat heavy sound, more recent use of this moniker has resulted in more of an ambient sound/experimental project along the lines of fellow Japanese producer Calm (aka Farr) productions. The track "Amniotic" is worth hearing, as is another from the Shibuya HMV 5th anniversary 12-inch called "Naked Noon". And three remixes of note: one for the Jackson 5 remixes project (vol.2); one done for Jazzanova's "Takes You Back" featuring Lori Fine, released on Jazzanova's "In Between EP" on Sony SMEJ Japan only CD single (later put on the Jazzanova "Remixed" CD -not on the vinyl edition unfortunately, in fact never put out on vinyl, come to think of it !?); and the third one done for Riviera's "Never Stay Long", put out on Japanese label Philter Records on a five track remixes 12-inch, and a remixes CD. His latest Sleep Walker 12-inch "The Voyage/Into The Sun" features Pharoah Sanders on sax and Bembe Segue on vocal duty.

     
Instruments
  • Piano
  • Electric piano
  • Synthesizer
  • Keyboards
  • Percussion
Genres
  • Jazz
  • Electronic
  • Dance
  • R&B/Soul
Popular Tracks   
Endless Bow - Jimpster Remix on Selected Remixes 2000/2003 by Various Artists
Waltz For Jason - Full Nine Yards Reedit 2 banks of 4 Remix on Neujazz by Various Artists
記憶の平行棒 on Inner Illusions by Hajime Yoshizawa
Endless Bow on Breaking the Beats - Compiled By Dave Lee & Will Fox by Various Artists
ASKA on JAPAN by Hajime Yoshizawa
CELEBRATION on JAPAN by Hajime Yoshizawa
American Deka-cho on Inner Illusions by Hajime Yoshizawa
SONG TO REMEMBER on INNOCENT NOCTURNE by Hajime Yoshizawa
A New Day on Inner Illusions by Hajime Yoshizawa
SEEDS OF SPRING on JAPAN by Hajime Yoshizawa

Track list and 30sec audio provided by


Band Members
Discography


Title Artist Year Type
Double MoonHajime Yoshizawa2017Album
Inner IllusionsHajime Yoshizawa2014Album
Japan Album Sampler EPHajime Yoshizawa2008Album
JapanHajime Yoshizawa2008Album
Innocent NocturneHajime Yoshizawa2008Album
Echo From Another Side Of The UniverseHajime Yoshizawa2006Album
Sweet Way (Moog Solo Version)Hajime Yoshizawa2006Album
Echo From The Other Side Of The Universe SamplerHajime Yoshizawa2006Album
Tokyo Nu-School Of JazzJazzida Grande, Free Tempo, Hajime Yoshizawa, Asako Toki, PE'Z2005Compil.
Music From The Edge Of The UniverseHajime Yoshizawa2005Album
Waltz for Jason "Limited Edition"Hajime Yoshizawa2005Single
Music From The Edge Of The Universe SamplerHajime Yoshizawa2005Album
European Edition Volume OneHajime Yoshizawa2004Album
Verao No ArHajime Yoshizawa2004Album
Banana Connection 1GoRo / Rambling Records2003Album
Hajime YoshizawaHajime Yoshizawa2002Album
I Am With YouHajime Yoshizawa2002Album
Violet LoungeHajime Yoshizawa2001Album
Secret FlightHajime Yoshizawa2001Album
Endless BowHajime Yoshizawa2001Album
Ai-No-Kawa / ResurrectionHajime Yoshizawa / Sleep Walker2000Album
HajimeHajime Yoshizawa1991Album
External Links
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Acknowledgements
To all the music fans that are contributing on Discogs, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Thanks to Franz Flückiger for providing Storygram used to visualize band membership.
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