Hajime Yoshizawa

Japanese keyboardist, and artist. [stage name: 吉澤 はじめ (Yoshizawa Hajime)].

Born: 1965 in Tokyo, Japan.

Yoshizawa is part of a Japanese renaissance in jazz viewed through the eyes of modern dance music, post London acid jazz, often termed 'nu-jazz'. Likely best exemplified since artists like the [a=United Future Organization] in the early-mid 1990s.

With the the support of jazz drummer [a=Peter Erskine], he managed to release his first jazz album "[r=712889]" (1991), then around 1993 was briefly a part of [a=Mondo Grosso], before being a member of band [a=Cosmic Village] from 1997.

Cosmic Village consisting of Yoshizawa with four other members, including one of the Okino brothers, [a=Shuya Okino], who set-up [l=Especial Records] with brother [a=Yoshihiro Okino], who later formed the [a=Kyoto Jazz Massive], was the formative platform for his keyboard playing and production talents defining the nu-jazz territory of the late 1990s as it went. Cosmic Village releases, like a cover album of [a=Yellow Magic Orchestra] tunes titled "[m=326979]" (1998) have lead through to a track "Free" done for "[r=3555372]" (2003) project. Various production credits on small releases led to the amazing highlight in a 12" titled "[r=227166]" (2000) on Especial Records; one track under Hajime Yoshizawa, the other as part of group [a=Sleep Walker] – with both being straight jazz numbers.

From here we get his next projects. From 2000 onwards, the Sleep Walker band kept the straight-ahead jazz project going, whereas productions under his own name tend to head towards more of an electronic soulful nu-jazz perspective.

Self monikered projects include an album for [l=Far Out Records] offshoot label [a=Solaria] entitled "[m=224271]" (2000), remixes galore on various labels, plus more 12"s on Especial Records, leading to the CD-only release "[r=347144]" (2002), which grouped the 12"s done for Especial Records together with new material.

He also recorded as part of Sleep Walker, culminated in their self-titled album "[m=109714]" (2003).

A note should also be made about another moniker of his, [url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/159629-Electric-Sheep-2]Electric Sheep[/url], first used as a self-done remix name on a Cosmic Village 12" titled "[r=2847014]" (2000). Originally more of a beat heavy sound, more recent use of this moniker has resulted in more of an ambient sound/experimental project along the lines of fellow Japanese producer [a=Calm] (aka Farr) productions. The release "[r=7148836] (2002) is worth hearing, as is another from the Shibuya HMV 5th anniversary 12" titled "[url=https://www.discogs.com/Jah-Massa-2--Electric-Sheep-Chant-Dub-Naked-Noon/release/7225198]Naked Noon[/url]" (2003). And three remixes of note: "Can I See You In The Morning (Electric Sheep Remix)" from [a=The Jackson 5] "[m=267926]" (2001); another for [a=Jazzanova] featuring singer [a=Lori Fine] "[url=https://www.discogs.com/Jazzanova-In-Between-EP/release/289058]Takes You Back[/url]" (2002); and a stunning third done for [a=Riviera] "[url=https://www.discogs.com/Riviera-Five-Remixes/release/7222617]Never Stay Long[/url]" (2003).

More work for Sleep Walker followed, with two 12"s, "[m=109703]" (2004) featuring [a=Pharoah Sanders] on saxophone and [a=Bémbé Ségué] on vocal duty, and "[r=581771]" (2004), which each proceeded their respective albums, "[m=109701]" (2006) and "[m=1359238]" (2007). Albums under his own name have followed routinely, from jazzy electronic release "[m=224272]" (2005), through jazz releases "[r=3590955]" (2008) & "[r=3590969]" (2008), and back to jazzy electronic again with "[r=7624409]" (2014) and "[r=12199904]" (2017).

Son of actor Takao Yoshizawa and former voice actress Nobuko Maki, brother to playwright/director Koichi Yoshizawa, and sister to pianist Kyoko Yoshizawa.