Idioms hacking is my new thing. In today’s post, I took out the “don’t” from the original expression simply because Jazztronik – the group I introduced few days ago in FUNKY MONDAY | #10  Da「Morning Glory is the Samurai’s Péché Mignon」playlist – is serving me all types of music was my first love (1), music mix the bourgeoisie and the rebel (2), along with please don’t stop the music (3)… the NERVE! So, please shoot the pianist, he deserves it.

(1) Music by John Miles – (2) Music, by Madonna – (3) Don’t Stop the music, by Rihanna

Jazztronik is an hybrid creation – midway between a group and a musical project – of pianist/producer/DJ from Tokyo, Ryota Nozaki. The members, but also the musical style, are neither specific nor precise. Arrived on the scene in 1998 on the label Flower Records, he/they/it started to get serious media attention from 2003.

The title “Samurai”, from the album “Nanairo” (2004), has become one of his greatest successes worldwide and has dominated many DJ charts like Danny Krivit, Giles Peterson and Louie Vega.

His reputation spread internationally thanks to “Samurai”, making him the most famous japanese DJ in the world. He has participated in festivals such as Southport Weekender, and has also visited cities such as New York, Paris, London, Manchester, Rome, Seoul, Shanghai, and countries such as Finland, Estonia, Slovakia, Croatia, Ireland, Singapore, etc.

A musical cross-over mixing various styles such as electro, jazz, classical or bossa, Jazztronik’s style is kind of a kaleidoscope ; Nozaki describes it in all simplicity, as a “non-genre”… A perfectly harmonious non-genre then! To give you an image, it’s a bit like foie gras-mango maki rolls (never tried? you have to…) : intriguing on paper, sweet on taste buds.

True chameleon, Ryota Nozaki intervenes on several fronts : studio creations, original soundtracks for films or television series, TV programs openings but also as a producer, mixer and arranger for other artists.

Composer and producer, Ryota has created original soundtracks for Japanese drama series such as “Miraikoushi Meguru”, “Real Clothes”, “Love Game”, and films like “Miyagino”.

As an arranger, he worked and remixed for artists such as Mondo Grosso, Taro Hakase, M-flo, Crystal Kay, Ringo Shiina, Ryukyu Disco… His regular DJ set parties in Tokyo such as “Jazztronica !!” @THE ROOM and “Love Tribe” @AIR TOKYO, are always crowded with personalities and party people.

The talent, Nozaki has nurtured it since childhood – with a piano teacher mother – and nourished it during adolescence. Enrolled in a specialized course at the university, he listened to a lot of hip hop, pop, dance and wandered regularly in indie music clubs ; this is where that “genres blending” trait comes from. In parallel, he created his own sounds in a rather techno style, geeking on his synthesizer.

Later, on a fateful day, he showed up at the jazz club Blue Note in Tokyo, and asked to meet the famous violinist Tarou Hakase, then performing. What happens next? Well Nozaki had the balls to give him a demo. Hakase called him the next day to basically say “Guuurrl, I like your shit! Are you free next week?”. And voilà, Jazztronik was born…

As for the name Jazztronik : it was the glory fruit of total randomness. Nozaki was eager to emphasize the mixture of genres, between electronic styles and his classical formation. No deep meaning is attached to it ; just a desire to have a gaijin-friendly name (for labels having a scope outside Japan).

That’s all, folks!

Chrys Prolls