Motoharu Yoshizawa

Born in Japan in 1931, Motoharu Yoshizawa was an influential free jazz and improvisational jazz bassist. During the course of his career, he collaborated with many musicians including Dave Burrell, Masayuki Takayanagi, Derek Bailey, Steve Lacy, Evan Parker, and Christopher Yohmei Blasdel. In the 1960s, he performed with straight jazz combos including the Yoshiya Jun Group and the Eiji Kitamura Quintet. In 1966, Motoharu Yoshizawa Jammed with Elvin Jones at the Pit Inn in Tokyo in 1966. By the late 1960s, Motoharu Yoshizawa had pioneered the solo bass performance and became one of Japan’s most influential musicians. He released his first solo album, Inland Fish, in 1974. That album was followed by The Cracked Mirror and the Fossil Bird (1975), and Outfit – Bass Solo II (1976). He also recorded with several duos, trios and quartets throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Later in his career, he began to use electronics and perform with his self-designed five string bass, which he called the Tiritack. Motoharu Yoshizawa died on September 12, 1998.

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