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Sadao Watanabe (渡辺 貞夫, Watanabe Sadao, born 1 February 1933) is a Japanese jazz musician who plays alto saxophone and sopranino saxophone. He is known for his bossa nova recordings, although his work encompasses many styles, with collaborations from musicians all over the world.
Before he became one of Japan's best-loved jazz musicians, saxophone player Sadao Watanabe was one of the first Japanese musicians to study in the United States. As a young man he studied...
- Katherine Whatley
Sep 28, 2008 · Born into an artistic family in Utsunomiya, Japan, Feb. 1st, 1933 (his father was a professional musician who sang and played biwa, a Japanese lute; his older brother Fumio is an actor), as a teenager Watanabe was attracted to jazz, first playing clarinet, then alto sax.
- Sadao Watanabe's Career
- Sadao Watanabe's Awards
- Famous Works
- Further Reading
Started playing clarinet in his teens, later picked up alto saxophone; formed a "Jafro" band (jazz and African music), joined pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi's Cozy Quartet, worked with Big Four Band, c. 1950s; became leader of Cozy Quartet, 1960; performed and recorded with Chico Hamilton and Gary McFarland in New York, 1965-66; returned to Japan, formed...
Swing Journal, Best Japanese alto saxophonist, 1959-1987; Swing Journal, Jazz Man of the Year eleven times, 1968-87; Art Festival Grand Prix Award (Japanese Grammy) for Sadao Watanabe Recital, 1977; Ministry of Education Award, 1986; City of Los Angeles Citizenship Citation for promoting friendship between U.S. and Japan through music, 1988; Honora...
Sources 1. Down Beat, January 1987, p. 19; March 2000, p. 66. 1. "Berklee Alumni: Sadao Watanabe," Berklee Press, http://www.berkleepress.com/backstage/bp_backstage.taf?_function=bio&bp_uid1=48 (June 11, 2002). 2. "Contribution to Arts: Sponsoring the 'Sadao Watanabe Concert,'" Shiseido, http://www.shiseido.co.jp/e/e9802ssw/html/ssw01210.htm (June ...
In 1962, moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music after participating in many band sessions as a alto saxophone player. Representing as a top Japanese musician, also know as a talented photographer, publishes six picture books.
Aug 10, 2020 · Saxophonist and flautist Sadao Watanabe (1933) has been a figurehead for Japanese jazz for around seven decades. He was born in Utsonomiya, less than 100 miles from Tokyo. His father was a traditional musician, who played a Japanese lute, called the biwa.
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Jun 14, 2024 · A self-taught musician, Watanabe got his start playing dance music for the American occupation forces after World War II and went on to explore many other genres, from Charlie Parker-style bebop to 1980s fusion, from African music to the work of classical composer Pierre Max Dubois.
