After two decades, the wheels are very much still turning for Osaka Monaurail, Japan's premiere funk orchestra, which has grown from a university combo to one of the world’s leading groups in the genre. Nine musicians on stage in sharp uniforms inspired by 60s fashion; trumpets are spinning in the air; leader Nakata dancing “Mashed Potato”; from James Brown funky dancers to jumpin’ be-bop instrumentals.

In 2012, Osaka Monaurail celebrated their 20th anniversary by touring many cities in Japan, Europe, Canada and Australia, appearing at top venues, nightclubs and festivals including the Montreal International Jazz Festival in July. In 2013, the group is performing in seven European countries, Australia and of course Japan. 

Formed in 1992, all the member were students at Osaka University and were members of the same jazz society where they had fun playing and learning jazz, especially the music of Count Basie. "Our team then was known as one of the best university/college bands when it comes to playing Count Basie tunes. I was playing the forth trumpet part in the big band. However, after I had dropped out as trumpet player - I couldn't hit higher notes, I decided to do what I'd wanted to do ever since I was sixteen, which was to have my own funk band." The group was named after the 1975 funk classic, "It's The J.B.’s Monaurail" by the J.B.'s (misspelling intentional.) It originally held more than twenty people including many horn players, two guitarists and a percussion player, but soon after, the band was cut down to a 13 piece group. After a couple of university gigs, they had played in local bars and nightclubs in Osaka around 1994-1995.
Signed to RD Records in 1999, OM released its first album entitled “What it is – What it was” in 2000, followed by nine albums: three more albums on RD Records; four albums on P-Vine Records (signed 2006-2009); and the latest "State Of The World" on King Records (2011–present). In Europe, the last three albums are available on Unique Records (Dusseldorf, Germany).

Since the summer of 2006 Osaka Monaurail had toured with a soul/funk legend, Marva Whitney, known as one of the James Brown's original Funky Divas. Her hits include many Funk classics such as “It's My Thing,” “Unwind Yourself” and “Sunny” (duet with Mr. JB). The partnership became arguably one of the most exciting collaborations in funk in modern era and left two albums “I Am What I Am” and "Live In Japan," three European tours and two Japanese tours. (Sadly, Marva Whitney passed on in December, 2012.)

In November 2012, Osaka Monaurail played a show with Fred Wesley, the world's funkiest trombonist, whose carrier expand from James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic to the Count Basie Orchestra. It was one-night special show - OM played as a backing band to the man, and performed more than a dozen of funky classics by Mr. 'Friendly Fred' Wesley.

Nakata runs his Shout! Productions label and continues to contribute to soul/funk in Japan. His company has been responsible for: reissuing a string of Soul/Funk albums and movies such as "Superfly" (1972), "Coffy" (1973) and a few more movies; subtitling “Sweet Sweetback’s Badasssss Song” (1971), “Badasssss” (2004) and “Soul Power” (2009); most recently releasing “Edification of Weldon Irvine” (1976) on DVD.

The group has experienced many member changes. However the most of the current line-up have been in the group for more than ten years. Osaka Monaurail as of 2013 are Ryo Nakata (vocals and keyboards); Kentaro Yamagata; Shimon Mukai (tenor saxophone); Dan Hayami & Yuichi Ikeda (guitars); Dai Nakamura (bass); Soki Kimura (drums). 

In April 2005 HAYATO (Piano) and HIRO (Cajon) got together 
to form the instrumental unit →Pia-no-jaC←

In spite of being a simple formation, thanks to the energetic piano and the very unique performance of the cajon, Pia-no-jaC has an overwhelming power and thrill which captivate the public at every and each performance.

Their music is neither classical nor jazz, as it can be defined “hybrid instrumental”.

In September 2008, they released the 1st Album [First Contact] and in five years they released 10 original albums, one best of and one single.

Thanks to their original sound they got the attention of big artists and companies that led to collaboration albums with Disney, Square Enix, Sakamoto Ryuichi and Joe Hisaishi, participation in the tribute album for the 10th anniversary of PE’Z, the 100th anniversary of Chopin and many others.

In July 2012 they announced the collaboration with the famous violinist Taro Hakase for the album “BATTLE NOTES”, which won the “27th Japanese Gold Disk Prize 2013 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR”.

Their last studio effort EAT A CLASSIC 5 has been released in November 2014, it proposes again big classical pieces revisited in Jazz, Funk and Rock.

Trackmaker / DJ based in Shizuoka, Japan.
Under the theme of "Coexistence of music and life", DJ OKAWARI expresses the things he feels in life through sound. The tranquility that comes right before falling asleep, the dignified feeling when opening a book... He creates sounds that underscore the connection between settings and emotions. 
The name DJ OKAWARI comes from the Japanese word "okawari", or "seconds", because he is never satisfied with just one helping. He is always seeking something new to challenge.
Besides his work on his own albums, DJ OKAWARI has also participated in many works within Japan and outside of it. His warm and gentle hiphop tracks have a worldwide appeal.  

Yusuke Tsutsumi was born in Tokyo. He makes many kinds of music. He also composes music for films, Tv-series and commercials.

Neoclassical Artist / animist and lover of this fragile planet.
Rep:@mannersmcade 
one half of @pianofield.

When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest. Don’t Just Listen… Feel!
The best epic tracks from around the world every day.

News:
05/05/2022
A new beautiful song for solo piano, "Inner Light" is out today on Soundcloud. After a long break, I can't wait to share new music with you.

30/11/2016
Halo is currently on hiatus. A new EP and single are in the works.. Thanks as always for listening and for your support. I will be back with more beautiful music for all of you.

-----------------------------------
Halo is a project of contemporary classical/ambient music by Pasquale Riviezzo, 29, Italy.

Labels:
ASIP: http://astrangelyisolatedplace.com
Dewtone Recordings: http://dewtone.com
Sound in Silence: http://fb.com/soundinsilencerecords
--------------------------------------

Releases:

15 May 2012
<a href="http://dewtonerecordings.com/album/late-winter-tales" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Late Winter Tales (EP)</a>
Dewtone Recordings [DTR013]

03 March 2013
<a href="http://haloproject.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Scenes from the four seasons - B-Sides</a>

06 March 2014
<a href="http://astrangelyisolatedplace.bandcamp.com/album/halo-song-of-the-highest-tower" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Song of the Highest Tower (EP)</a>
A Strangely Isolated Place [ASIP029]

26 January 2015
Rain Says - <a href="https://astrangelyisolatedplace.bandcamp.com/album/europe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Europe</a>
A Strangely Isolated Place [ASIPV002]

-----------------------------------

Remixes:
• <a href="http://soundcloud.com/haloproject/lullatone-a-slow-waltz-halo-remix" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lullatone - A Slow Waltz (Halo Remix)</a>
• <a href="http://soundcloud.com/haloproject/not_a_number_rmx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Apparat - Not A Number (Halo Remix)</a>
• <a href="http://snd.sc/YUWMw6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Need A Name - Rain, Roads and Lights (Halo Remix)</a>
•<a href="http://dewtonerecordings.com/track/after-the-rain-by-halo" rel="nofollow" target="_"> Porya Hatami - After the rain (Halo Remix)</a>

Collaborations:
• <a href="http://soundcloud.com/myristica/when-it-rains-in-mei" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">December Waltz by Myristica (Piano arr.)</a>
• <a href="http://soundcloud.com/myristica/forever-sunset-by-myristica" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Halo &amp; Myristica - Forever Sunset</a>
• <a href="http://soundcloud.com/haloproject/and-in-the-endless-night-they" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Halo &amp; TheOxfordAmbientCollectiv - And in the endless night they shed their tears</a>
• <a href="http://soundcloud.com/haloproject/beyond-the-glow_piano" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Beyond the glow by Myristica (Piano arr.)</a>
• <a href="http://soundcloud.com/myristica/myristica-halo-blue" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Halo &amp; Myristica - Blue</a>
• <a href="http://soundcloud.com/haloproject/halo-for-melancholy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Halo &amp; Motohiko Hirami - For Melancholy</a>
• <a href="http://soundcloud.com/haloproject/halo_will-i-ever-be-missed" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Halo &amp; Say - Will I ever be missed?</a>
• <a href="http://soundcloud.com/haloproject/heart-and-soul-piano" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Heart and Soul by Myristica (Piano arr.)</a>

Lazy Swedish guy making music for imaginary movies. 

Label: @ambientmusicalgenre
Contact: aceruleanstate@gmail.com
Or just PM me here on Soundcloud or on Facebook 
♪

user770188335 is following