OASIS

"Encounter" is directed by Wataru Hamasaki and Hideaki Hori.
The Music of "Encounter" is basically jazz oriented,and sounds straight ahead and also contemporary. All the songs are written by members and the songs sounds different and very friendly to people.
This is the group from Japan the world must Listen to.

≪history≫
2008 First CD [Encounter ] released. Very highly rated in Japanese jazz
magazine"Jazz Life"
2008 2nd CD live recorded.[Signs&Wonders]released .
2010 3rdCD[Nature of Mind]released . Release Party held at Tokyo international
jazz club "Jz Brat" was packed very much and release tour in Japan for 3weeks got
very good reputation.

2011 4thCD[Traveler]released. Japanese TV program "GENRYU JAZZ" made
special feature 1 hour program of "Encounter" , Released tour was held in Japan
for 4weeks and in Korea for 1weeks.

2012 Encounter was invited to [55th Monterey Jazz Festival](California/USA)

Wataru Hamasaki is recognized as a one of most acclaimed saxophonist among in Japan.
He also famous for a flutist. His music is known for its imaginative and sophistication, and
tradition. He spend years in Seattle to study music with multi horn player/Jay Thomas.
Wataru is a medical doctor who graduate from medical school inJapan and he has been
practice not a medicine but a saxophone.After he graduate from university, he won the first
prize Selmer Saxophone Competition in Japan and the made him very famous in Japanese
jazz scene. He released a leader album "Accidentaly Yours" with Jay Thomas and Geoff
Keezer Trio. This album was highly rated by JAZZTIMES.
As a leader, Wataru has released 9 album.He has been played with pianist/Phillip Strange
and drummer/Larry Marshall continuously in Japan for years. Wataru has released "A DAY
OUT " and "Conversation" with Phillip Strange. Wataru has led a group called "Enconter"
which is co-leader with Hori Hideaki and released 4album . Wataru's recent album is"Duke
Ellington Song Book" with a pianist/Mayuko Katakura who is graduated from Juliard jazz
school.
Wataru has been playing
WOODSTONE(ISHIMORI) tenor saxophone
exclusively.
Wataru has been played with, Jay Thomas, Geoff
Keezer, Jon Wikan,John Hansen,Frank
Wess,Gary Smyulian, Clarence Acox,Buddy Catlet, Eddie Henderson,
Gene Jackson, Junko Onishi,Masahiko
Osaka,Tiger Ookoshi,and many more.
http://www.watarujazz.com/

Hideaki Hori (Pianist)
Hideaki Hori is a Jazz pianist and composer,performing at the vanguard of Japanese
jazz scene.
Hideaki Hori was born in Chiba in 1978,and started practice of jazz music in high
school days.
He began performing in 1996,and played with famous splendid musicians of the
world--including
Eddie Henderson,Gene Jackson,Terumasa Hino,Masahiko Osaka,Tomonao
Hara,Daiki Yasukagawa,Mabumi
Yamaguchi and more--in addition to working with his own trio.
And also,he is performing in pop music field on recordings and concert tour,with
many famous
artists including "Dreams Come True"(the most famous pop music artist in Japan)
and "Maysa
Leak"(she works with INCOGNITO).
He has recorded over 90 CDs with various musicians to date,
and released 8 CDs on his own project.
<2011>"Celebration"(as a Leader),"Traveler"(as Encounter)
<2010>"In My Words"(as a Leader),"Nature
of mind"(as Encounter)
<2008>"Signs & Wonders"(as
Encounter)"Encounter"(as Encounter)
<2006>"Moving Scenes"(as a Leader)
<2003>"HORIZON"(as a Leader)

http://horinky.withmusic.jp/

Hiroshi Takase (Bass)
Hiroshi Takase is a Jazz bassplayer and composer
and arrenger.He was born in Hiroshima in 1970,
when the junior high and high school was playing
hard rock.He started performing jazz music from the
age of twenty, received a lesson Ron Carter, Rufus
Reid, Gary Karr.
In 2007,appeared in 50th annual Monterey Jazz
Festival.played on Bill BerryStage as a member of
the Shigeru Morishita Quintet.
In 2010, collaborated with Ryuichi Sakamoto(YMO)
and Yosuke Yamashita in theNHK TV show was
aired in Japan, was favorably received
overwhelming.Currently,He has played in the
encounter
and own group,and many sessions.
He has participated in various recording has
participated in more than 30
CD
http://www.takasehiroshi.com/

JUNJI HIROSE (Drummer & Composer)
Junji Hirose is the one of the premier jazz drummer in Japan.
He was born in 1969, in Nagasaki, Japan.
He began listening jazz music at the age of 10.
Quickly, he fell in love jazz music and the drums.
He started to take the private instruction of the
drums at the age of 12.
He started the professional performance at the
age of 23.
In a very short time, he performed with the world
great jazz player one after another. Such as
Hank Jones, Tom Harrell, Marcus Belgrave, Lew
Tabackin, Stefon Harris, Reginald Veal, Rodney
Whitaker, Robert Hurst, Wes Anderson and Tim
Armacost.
And also, he played with the world great
drummers in two drums situation gigs. Such as
Herlin Riley, Gene Jackson, Greg Hutchinson
and Ali Jackson.

http://www.junjihirose.com/