Artist description A pioneer in blending the sounds of Eastern and Western cultures, Kitajima feels comfortable in either world, but most at home in a synthesis of the two. "Cause that's how we live today," Kitajima says. "It's in my blood. I'm making brand new music out of my roots. I try to preserve that sound and spirit while making the best music for today."

Music Style New Age/Global/Ambient

Artist History Growing up near Tokyo, Kitajima's first musical love was American pop and rock, from Elvis to The Ventures. His college rock band, The Launchers, became one of the most successful groups in Japan before he left to develop the new sounds he was hearing in his head - an East/West fusion full of surprises. By the time his solo debut album, "Benzaiten," became an underground radio hit on the West Coast in the mid-1970s, Kitajima had moved to The United States.Since then, he has honed to perfection his influential style of the latest electronic sounds with the most ancient of music and has released 14 solo albums through various record labels including Arista, SONY and Virgin (Higher Octave). His award winning sound has been called upon to add exotic touches to recordings by musicians from The Crusaders to Ottmar Liebert to Ry Cooder, and many sound tracks including "Sharky's Machine" and "Shogun."

Group Members Osamu Kitajima, Chris Mancinelli

Instruments Koto, Mingti, Guitar, Synthesizer, Biwa

Albums The Source, Beyond The Circle, Behind The Light and more.

Press Reviews "One of the most fascinating aural-emotional experiences."--Nat Hentoff, Cosmopolitan"Kitajima has truly succeeded in blending Western jazz/pop idioms and tradtional Japanese music with surprisingly good results. Kitajima creates a very intriguing atmosphere of sound."-- Cue"One of the year's most significant recordings....A true unification of Eastern and Western music, the kind that enhances both....for breaking new ground....Osamu must be considered extraodinary."-- Walrus"A sound absolutely unique...it begs to be heard. Kitajima is an original...he will be heard from again."-- Michael Tearson, Audio

Location Woodland Hills, California - USA

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