Don't just listen. Conceive the Sun.
STORY
The Miraculous Sound Scroll and the Endless Journey of the Jovial "Yokai" Trio
A collision of world-class technique and the vibrant, comical spirit of Osaka—this is THE SUPER 3 (TS3). Step off the stage, and they might just be a "trio of eccentrics." Yet, the moment they pick up their instruments, these jovial "Yokai" (musical shape-shifters) create a sound from another dimension.
The band’s extraordinary sound is forged by three distinct "musical anomalies."
Sigeo Hirayama (Drums) delivers an Asian continental groove influenced by the legends Elvin Jones and Tony Williams. Tatsuya Fujimura (A/E. Bass), who deeply reveres Jaco Pastorius, traverses the boundaries of Jazz, Fusion, Rock, and Contemporary music. He calmly calculates the exact, perfect microsecond to drop a musical joke, amplifying the humor to an extraordinary level. He aims for the laugh while effortlessly captivating the audience, elevating the comedy into the realm of high art. He is an unpredictable instigator who stirs up the band—a true "Bass Entertainer." Leading the trio is Toshiyuki Kokubu (A. Piano/Key), who mastered the foundations of Classical and Jazz under his father, the renowned composer and jazz pianist Teruaki Kokubu, from the age of nine. Influenced by Keith Jarrett and the contemporary music giant Paul Hindemith, Kokubu has spent his career absorbing the raw essence of Black church music, which forms the undercurrent of Blues and R&B, right on the front lines.
When these three forces collide, their hallmark "Calculated Departure within Strict Rules" occurs. They adhere strictly to song structures like an 8-bar verse and 8-bar chorus, using this rigid framework as a playground. Utilizing Paul Hindemith’s "Extended Harmony" (a three-dimensional harmonic approach), they reconstruct chord progressions on the fly.
Their true mastery lies in their flawless unspoken synergy. Right in the middle of total improvisation without any prior discussion, the moment one intuitively senses a "break" (silence), their thoughts completely synchronize, executing a perfect, unified break. Even the members themselves cannot predict what will happen, yet the resulting music emerges with a perfect narrative arc, sounding as though it were meticulously calculated.
"Music that no one else can imitate, music that only they can play." This is the music of THE SUPER 3.
This concept was completely solidified on August 19, 2012, during a white-hot performance at the OKITSUMO JAZZ FESTIVAL.
On this day, festival producer Toshinori Matoba had secretly set up a live recording. Right in the middle of a seriously deep, cosmic jazz improvisation, the riffs of Deep Purple's “Black Night,” Weather Report's “Birdland,” and James Brown's “Sex Machine” suddenly crashed into the performance. Like a strike from a master comedian, the timing was calculated with utmost seriousness, effortlessly unleashing top-tier entertainment. The sheer brilliance and the artistic gap are so overwhelming that both we and the audience can't help but burst into laughter.
When the members listened to the recording later, they were stunned. Despite being completely improvised, a miraculous "Sound Scroll" capturing a historic moment had been recorded.
Despite efforts to share it with the world, certain circumstances led to the CD release being temporarily shelved, leaving this record to slumber as a "Historical Unreleased Treasure" for over ten years.
But great music transcends time. After overcoming numerous obstacles, the strong seal is finally broken. TS3’s goal is not music bogged down by complex logic. It is a fusion of overwhelming musicality, the comical elements of Osaka (Kansai), the thrill of the unexpected, and the profound emotion that arises during a performance.
Experience a cosmic voyage of sound, filled with love and emotion, driven by ultimate interplay that departs from any script and meticulously calculated compositions. Join us and experience the miraculous symphony unleashed by these "Yokai."
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