Welcome, KIKI BAND! Japanese super Jazz-prog band led by internationally renowed sax pleayer, Kazutoki Umezu, brings volcanic sound of torrent.

KIKI BAND

Kazutoki Umezu, the leader of the band, is one of the most important reed players of our time. He is not only a well-known jazz master, but also a great improviser and collaborator.

Umezu made his professional debut while still a student at Kunitachi Music College with his own band "SEIKATSU KOJOU I-INKAI".

In the early 70s, he played with many new jazz musicians in New York such as Lester Bowie, Olu Dara, Joe Bowie, Oliver Lake, David Murray, William Parker and Rashied Ali.

In 1981 he formed DOCTOR UMEZU BAND which performed twice at the Moers Jazz Festival and released 8 records.

In the mid-80's he played frequently at "Knitting Factory" in New York, with NY improvisers such as John Zorn, George Lewis and Tom Cora.

From 1990, he toured for four consecutive years as the third member of "THIRD PERSON" with Tom Cora and Samm Bennett.

In 1992, he formed the first klezmer band in Japan called BETSUNI NANMO KLEZMER.

In 1998, he toured in England as a member of Ian Dury & the Blockheads.

He also collaborated with many different genres of musicians and artists from Japanese traditional music to Butoh dancers.

KIKI BAND was formed by Kazutoki Umezu in 1999 and since then, the band have always brought fresh surprises to the listeners.

As you can imagine from his versatile musical styles, with KIKI BAND’s music, you hear progressive rock in the beat and jazz in the rhythm and ethnic or Japanese influences in the melody. The sharp and sophisticated noise merges into a wall of sound. KIKI BAND will surely bring new sensations.

The other four members of KIKI BAND are: Natsuki Kido (Guitar), Takeharu Hayakawa (Bass), and Joe Trump (Drums).

Since their successful debut at Moers Jazz Festival (Germany) in 2003, They have been performing internationally, in nine countries in Europe, the US, Canada, Russia, Africa and Asia.

This is an 18+ event.

Presented by Off The Cuff.

KIKI Band

KIKI Band

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Off The Cuff

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