Jazz On Wood - Biographical information about Take Watanabe

TAKAYUKI WATANABE

Taka Watanabe was born in 1952 in Hamamatsu City, Japan, His father was a piano maker and his mother was a piano teacher. He studied the violin in his childhood.

He lived in Tokyo from 1965 to 1980 and now lives in Kawasaki City near Tokyo.

He is a music producer, and has also been a National Academy of Recording Arts and Science (NARAS), New York Chapter Voting Member since 1989.

He began making woodblock prints in 1998.

YEAR BY YEAR

Following are year by year career highlights of some (but by no means all) of Mr. Watanabe's accomplishments leading up to his dedication to the art of woodblock print making. (Be sure to visit our Gallery to see additional photos supporting these achievements.)

1975 to 1981: Concert producer, stage producer of Popular department of Kambara Music Office, Ltd. His stage productions included Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Count Basie, Spiro Gyra, Chuck Mangione, Milt Jackson, Ray Brown, and many others.
1982 to 1984: Foreign Music department of Victor Music Industry Corporation. Become a member of the committee of JVC Jazz Festival by Japan Victor Trade Enterprise.
1984 to 1986: A&R division of RCA Victor Corporation.
1986: Debut as a freelance producer.
1986 to 89: Taught at Tokyo Recording School.
1989: Became a National Academy of Recording Arts and Science (NARAS), New York Chapter Voting Member (recommended by Dr. Don Harn, ex-president of A&M Studio).
2004: Nov.~ Established Da Works Inc. with his older brother. Became Executive Vice President and a Chief Producer.

PRODUCED WEEKLY RADIO PROGRAMS:

“Jazz Report” Fox TV NY featuring Bobby Watson and others (John Fadith, Milt Hinton and Lew Tabackin) at Mt. Fuji Jazz Festival. 1989.“Select Jazz from the City/Contemporary New York” with Ken "Spider" Webb (1978 Best R&B DJ) on FM Tokyo, until March 1992.
“Orico Live 7”(show of live entertainment) Participating artists were: Andy Narell, Eliane Ellias, John Patitucci, Chick Corea, Tom Scott, Benny Carter, Sergio Mendes, until 1994.

PRODUCED ENTERTAINMENT TV SHOWS:

“Roberta Flack in Japan ‘93”
“The Brecker Brothers Live in Japan 95”
“Lee Ritenour & Larry Carlton Live ‘95”
“Bobby Caldwel Soul Survivor Tour in 1995”
“Diana Ross in concert ‘96”
“The Ventures Live in Japan ‘97”
“Watanabe Sadao Big Band Night ‘96”
“Pat Metheny Group/ We Live Here Live in Japan 1995.” Produced its LD and VHS distributed by Video Arts Music, also, DVD distributed by Japan Columbia in 1998. Received Adlib Best Video Prize in 1996.
“Pat Metheny Group/Speaking Now Live,” directed DVD Video 2003.
Summer series "Jazz at the Sumithsonian" - Art Blakey, Benny Carter, Red Norvo, Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra 1997
Autumn series "Miles Davis Tribute Concert" - Randy Brecker, Bob Berg, Jimmy Cobb, Phil Ramone and others,1997
"Montreux Jazz Festival in Japan ‘98" - George Duke, The Jazz Crusaders, Billy Cobham and others.
“Barbra Streisand Timeless - Live in Concert, Japanes version," 2002
“Eyes Wide Open/King Crimson”(Disc 1 - live in Japan) for King Crimson.2003, directed DVD And many others for WOWOW TV. 1993
Live entertainment TV program “Nagano Olympic Peace Appeal Concert. 1998” (authorized by NAOC, JOC and IOC).

PRODUCED CD'S, VIDEOS , DVD'S:

“Long Live The Chief/The Count Basie Orchestra” (LP, CD for international sale) from DENON. Received “Gold Disk” from Swing Journal Magazine in 1986.
“The Legend , The Legacy/The Count Basie Orchestra” from DENON. Received Five Star Disc from The Los Angeles Times in 1989 and 3 Grammy Award Nominations in 1990.
“Live at El Morocco/The Count Basie Orchestra” from TELARC,1992 and 1 Grammy Nomination in 1993.
"Feelings Change/Salena Jones" 1984, “Dave Grusin and The N.Y./L.A Dream Band” 1982, “Chick Corea Music Forever & Beyond/ Disc 3” 1992
"Guitar Wars" featuring Steve Hackett, John Paul Jones, Paul Gilbert, Nuno Bettencourt) 2004, and many others.

PRODUCED CONCERTS:

"The Flying Elephants in Carnegie Hall Concert” And was broadcasted on the TV show 'Prime 10' on NHK 1992. Featuring guest Leon Russell.

"The Flying Elephants in Tokyo" 1994. (Beatles in Japan) Featuring guest Billy Preston.
Planed and produced the Part Time Jazz Club: “I.W. Harper Indigo Blues at the ACT”.(Cooperated with New York Jazz Club: Indigo Blues). Attending artists included: New York Voices, Michel Camilo, David Benoit, Count Basie Orchestra, Jay McShann, Patty Austin, Lee Ritnour, Lipingtons, Richard Tee.1990 till December 1992.

PLANNED & PRODUCED JAZZ FESTIVALS:

“Live by the Lake Kawaguchi ‘96” performed by Michael Brecker, Herbie Hancock, John Scofield, Jack DeJohnet, Dave Holland .
“Live by the Sea ‘97 - Tribute to John Coltrane” Performed by Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Joshua Redman, Dave Liebman, George Garzon, Jack DeJohnet, Dave Holland, Christian McBride.

AWARDS:

Adlib Best Video Prize in 1996 for “Pat Metheny Group/Speaking Now Live” DVD.
Los Angeles Times Five Star Disc in 1989: "The Legacy/The Count Basie Orchestra”
Swing Journal Magazine Gold Disk in 1986: “Long Live The Chief/The Count Basie Orchestra”