ABOUT AFRO URBANITY
Creative electric Afro-Cuban jazz unit <Afro Urbanity>
Super musicians of all generations, from currently active musicians to up-and-coming young talents, will be gathering here!
Cuba, an island in the Caribbean, is a treasure trove of music and dance.
The group pays respect to the Afro-Cuban sound, which has its roots in black culture, and combines meticulous, highly experimental arrangements that incorporate a variety of genres with distinctive, individual vocal work .
Acclaimed both at home and abroad, the members combine passion and coolness to deliver a funky, groovy sound on stage.
They actively host 360-degree live events where the audience seats are arranged around the musicians, allowing the audience to watch from behind the performers, and are well-received not only by Cuban music fans, but also by Jazz, Fusion and Afro Music fans.
After a series of experimental live performances, they released their long-awaited first album, "Afro Urbanity," on September 22, 2019.
In 2022, the fifth anniversary of their formation, they will digitally release their second album in three years, "DESDE TOKIO" (From Tokyo). Attention please from Tokyo!
“Afro Urbanity”
NSCD-1209 2019/09/22
With her lyrical tone and diverse expression, violinist SAYAKA, who continues to receive offers from a wide range of fields both domestically and internationally, as well as from Cuban music, and percussionist Jin Miyamoto, who is active in many scenes in Japan, will be guesting the band, making the lineup even more colorful and varied.
The project will be led by Javier Monteverde of Cezanne Productions in Madrid, Spain, a mixing and mastering engineer whose work has been nominated for a Latin Grammy and who has earned the support of world-class Latin musicians and musicians.
“DESDE TOKIO”
NSCD-1215 2022/10/22
Taking advantage of the dexterity unique to Japanese people, this work incorporates an abundance of catchy and mixed elements, and with the theme of "From Tokyo to the World", it welcomes guests with a special connection to Japan, Cuba, and Africa, connecting them through music.
The album begins with a beautiful "Prologue," featuring narration by Jeffrey Daniel (Shalamar), a world-renowned dancer and singer with roots in Nigeria, and a collaboration with Endo Kenji, who plays the traditional Japanese instrument, the shakuhachi. The album is given a unique and powerful sound by violinist SAYAKA, who also appeared as a guest on the first album, and a brass section (Matsuki Risaburo on trumpet, Ishikawa Tomohisa on trumpet, and Ishii Yuta on sax), who are active in a variety of genres.
Michiko Abe
Comporse/Arrangement/Programming
A sound creator involved in TV, commercials, stage, and various other productions. In recent years, he has been devoted to Afro-Cuban music, and is currently performing and producing in a wide range of styles, from large-scale ensembles to small, electric ensembles, with top-notch players.
Nana Cantarina
Vocal/Lyric/Comporse/Chorus Arrangement
A unique Latin vocalist and creator who sings Afro-Cuban music, one of the few in Japan. A talented performer who was invited to the Cuba International Music Festival. In AU, she teams up with Michiko Abe to add color to the sound.
Hiromichi Tsugaki
Keyboards
One of Japan's leading keyboard players. He joined the Naoya Matsuoka Group. From then until 1993, he was active in jazz festivals, tours, albums, etc. His wide range of approaches, from traditional to avant-garde synth work, is unmatched.
Takaya Saito
Piano/Keyboards
He is one of the few experts on Cuban music in Japan. He is active both in Japan and abroad. He is not limited to Latin music, but is also active in a wide range of fields, including live performances and recordings with famous Japanese artists, musical orchestras, solo piano, TV commercial music production, TV and radio appearances, and song writing.
Tetsuo Koizumi
Bass
As one of the few authentic salsa and Cuban music-based Latin bassists in Japan, he is active in various bands, live shows, sessions and recordings, including Palma Habanera and SON Shiro.
Issei Yoshiba
Timbales/Small Percussions
A Latin percussionist who has performed with STUDIO APARTMENTS and Blue Man Group, and is active in various other genres, his name is so important that it is often mentioned when talking about Cuba.
Kota Seki
Congas/Batas/Chekere/Small Percussion
He is a rare percussionist who plays the Afro-Cuban instrument, the bata, and is so talented that he won the bata category at a Cuban national competition.
Juasa Kanoh
Drums
After returning from LA, he has been active as a live support for various Japanese groups, as well as in recordings and sessions. He is a groove maker at the core of AU, with a diverse range of styles.