Pleasure

Ryozo Band has been gradually gaining attention both in Japan and overseas since 2019.
In 2023, they released the EP Utopia, which was selected as the best of the year by 180gram, a distributor of Japanese jazz overseas, at hhv, a long-established European record store. They have been touring the country to release the album, and their release live performance at Tsukimiru Kimi Omofu in Aoyama, Tokyo, was a huge success with a full house, and they have been steadily increasing their listeners.
Ryozo Band's first release of 2024 is the up-tempo jazz/funk song Pleasure,which will be released on a 7-inch and available for download and streaming!
Ryozo Band's golden lineup consists of Tetsuta Otachi, guitarist active in ODODOAFROBEAT, Yusei Takahashi, keyboardist active in Hino Terumasa and STUTS, Masaki Nagata, drummer and Takehide Hashimoto, saxophonist, two talented players from Zai-Nichi Funk, Kyotaro Hori, trumpeter active in TAMTAM and ACO, percussionist Ryotaro Miyasaka, and Ryozo Obayashi, band leader and bassist of SANABAGUN.
'Pleasure' starts with an impressive minimalist keyboard, and is composed mainly of an up-tempo beat and two horns, saxophone and trumpet. Each top-class player fully demonstrates their sense, creating a worldview that is reminiscent of JAZZ FUNK and Afro Beat in the current UK scene.
Additionally, the 7-inch features a remix by Lex (de Kalhex), a multi-talented artist who is a producer and rapper for the French-based hip hop group Kalhex, has released seven albums as a solo beatmaker, and has held solo exhibitions in France and Japan as a drawing artist. He presents a bold remix that transforms from JAZZ/FUNK to Hip Hop.
Several live shows have already been scheduled for the end of the year, so be sure to enjoy the latest song from RYOZO BAND, who are attracting attention from all over.