About

Yamashita studied piano as a child and has played professionally since the age of 17. He attended Kunitachi College of Music in Tokyo from 1962-1967 and played for a time with saxophonist Sadao Watanabe. Yamashita formed a bassless trio in 1969; his Bill Evans-influenced style expanded to include free jazz, a rather radical step given the conservatism of the Japanese jazz scene at the time. Beginning in the '70s, his trio toured widely and played many major European events, including the Berlin and Montreux jazz festivals. Yamashita's U.S. debut was at the 1979 Newport Jazz Festival; he also recorded with members of the Art Ensemble of Chicago around that time. In the '80s, Yamashita began playing frequent solo concerts. He also branched out stylistically, playing with Japanese and Korean percussionists and incorporating adaptations of classical works into his repertoire. Yamashita has worked with many internationally famous artists, including Max Roach, Elvin Jones, Bill Laswell, Mal Waldron, and Lester Bowie.

In 1985, he made the first of what would come to be annual appearances at Sweet Basil night club in New York. He formed an "American" trio with bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Pheeroan akLaff; the group became his primary performing unit when in the States. In the '90s, Yamashita recorded several albums for Verve; in 1994, he played solo at the label's 50th anniversary concert at Carnegie Hall. Yamashita has recorded more than 40 albums. He's also an accomplished essayist, having written several books.

Witness the Yosuke Yamashita Trio revisit their legendary live set, more than fifty years after they burst through the Waseda University barricades to play during the student uprising of July 1969. TOKYO FM and the Waseda International House of Literature are proud to announce “Haruki Murakami Presents: The Yosuke Yamashita Trio Live—Beyond the Barricades.” This live event—held at Waseda University’s Okuma Auditorium on July 12, 2022, 6:30 pm—commemorates the moment more than fifty years ago when up-and-coming jazz musician Yosuke Yamashita joined the student struggle of July 1969, broke through the Waseda University barricades, transported piano from the Okuma Auditorium, and played a legendary live set to students on campus grounds. An evening overflowing with the free spirit of jazz, featuring a conversation between Haruki Murakami and Yosuke Yamashita, live jazz performances by current students, and more.

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Label: Murakami Radio
Format: Vinyl, LP, Limited Edition, Numbered
Country: Japan
Released: 2024
Genre: Jazz, Non-Music
Style: Free Jazz

File under: Japanese Jazz
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