Biography 鈴木良雄

Suzuki, Yoshio (Chin), bassist, pianist; b. Nagano, Japan, 21 March 1946. Yoshio Suzuki's mother was a piano teacher and his father the owner of the famous Suzuki Violin Factory. His uncle is, in addition, one of the world's foremost violin teachers, and author of the renowned Suzuki Method.

Surrounded by musical influence, Yoshio began playing violin and piano at an early age and later also took up the guitar in high school. At Waseda University, he joined the jazz band as pianist, Entered Watanabe Sadao's Yamaha Music School after graduation from Waseda. While studying jazz theory with Sadao Watanabe, Watanabe suggested Yoshio switch to bass as his main instrument. He did, and in 1969, he joined Watanabe's band as bassist. He also played bass with Masabumi Kikuchi's band, which was equally prominent in Japan at the time.

In 1973, he moved to New York and between 1974 and 1980, played with world famous jazz musicians such as Stan Getz, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, and the Bill Hardman & Junior Cook Band. He also performed with Sonny Rollins, Lee Konitz, and Chet Baker. At the same time, he formed his own band with sax player Dave Liebman, which became well known on the New York circuit. While his performing and recording career kept him busy, Yoshio still took the time to study composing and arranging at the Juilliard School of Music. This helped him to further incorporate his Japanese cultural heritage with his classical music training and his passion for jazz.

In 1984 or 1985, Yoshio returned to Japan to form his own band, Matsuri and, from 1992 on, East Bounce.

Recordings:

Friends (1973); Matsuri (1979); Wings (1981); Morning Picture (1984); Fairy Tale (1987); Alone in the Pacific (1989); The Moment (1992); East Bounce Collection (1997); Co-leader with K. Fujiwara: Vino Rosso: Bass & Bass (1999)

As sideperson:

Art Blakey: Backgammon (1976)

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