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Artist
Osaka Monaurail
12+ albums
funkjapanesejazzsoulblues
about
After two decades, the wheels are very much still turning for Japan's premiere Funk orchestra, which has grown from a university combo to one of the world’s leading group in the genre. Nine musicians on stage in sharp uniforms inspired by 60s fashion; trumpets are spinning in the air; leader Nakata dancing “Mashed Potato”; from jumpin’ Bebop instrumentals to James Brown funky dancers. Osaka Monaurail just celebrated their 20th anniversary by touring many cities in Japan, Europe, Canada and Australia, appearing at top venues, nightclubs and festivals including the Montreal International Jazz Festival (July 2012) and many others. Formed in 1992, all members were from the same Jazz society at Osaka University (Osaka, Japan). Nakata recalls, "I was 19. We were having fun playing/learning Jazz. Our team was known as the best university/college band when it comes to playing Count Basie tunes. I was a trumpet player. But, I dropped out because I couldn't play high notes. I finally gave up on the trumpet, my second love (with piano being the first), and decided to do what I've wanted to do ever since I was 16, which was to start a Funk band." The group was named after the Funk classic, "It's The J.B.’s Monaurail" by the J.B.'s (misspelling intentional.) It originally featured more than 20 people including several horn players, but soon the band was cut down to a 13 piece group. After a couple of university gigs, they started playing local bars & nightclubs in Osaka around 1994-1995
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