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Mike Price

Living in Tokyo for more than twenty years still comes as a surprise for trumpet player, composer and band director Mike Price. He often says " My original plan was to come here for six months to a year, or maybe a year and a half, if I'm lucky!"

He did not anticipate that Tokyo's jazz fans and the music business would keep him busy this long ! Originally, arriving on an artist exchange program cosponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S./Japan Friendship Commission, artistic projects involving the use of Japanese instruments in a jazz setting occupied most of the first year and a half. A great opportunity occurred when he was invited to join Nobuo Hara and the Sharps & Flats, an established Tokyo big band with a history in excess of 55 years. This in essence sealed the plan for the formation of is own band, the Mike Price Jazz Quintet.

The quintet, founded in 1993, was actually a continuation of other small groups dating back to 1976. In 1985 the Jazz Septet was formed, and the performances were favorably reviewed by Los Angeles Times jazz critic, Leonard Feather.

All of these groups performed their own original compositions supplemented with famous selections from the jazz repertoire.

Blue Guitar was active in the Los Angeles area from 1976-1983. In 1985 the Jazz Septet was formed, and the performances were favorably reviewed by Los Angeles Times jazz critic, Leonard Feather

July 20, 1989 marked the first performance in Japan by a new sextet, featuring showcased soloists on indigenous instruments, the shakuhachi and Satsuma biwa.

The current quintet, featuring either guitar or tenor saxophone, is an extension of the ensembles which preceded it. Recently the activities of the quintet have increased with performances at notable Tokyo venues such as B Flat, The Cotton Club, and Motion Blue !

Gear

Bach Strad Trumpet ML-gold Yamaha flugelhoirn gold brass Eb Trumpet - Ricco-Kuhn D Trumpet - Yamaha


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Album Review

Mike Price Jazz Quintet: In Tokyo, Japan

Read "In Tokyo, Japan" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Although the name Mike Price may be unfamiliar to you--unless, that is, you happen to live in or near Los Angeles or Tokyo--he has been around the block more than a few times, forging a lengthy and successful career that goes back to his time as lead trumpet for the Buddy Rich band and orchestras led by Stan Kenton, Gerald Wilson and Toshiko Akiyoshi, continuing thereafter as an in-demand sideman for groups of various shapes and sizes and leading more ...

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Primary Instrument

Trumpet

Clinic/Workshop Information

Trumpet or all brass instrument clinics Jazz Band concert clinic concert ban/wind ensemble concert clinic

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

In Tokyo, Japan

Self Produced
2016

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Carnival Of The...

Blue Note Records
1975

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