About Hajime Yoshizawa
Japanese keyboardist, and artist. [stage name: 吉澤 はじめ (Yoshizawa Hajime)].
Born: 1965 in Tokyo, Japan.
Yoshizawa is part of a Japanese renaissance in jazz viewed through the eyes of modern dance music, post London acid jazz, often termed 'nu-jazz'. Likely best exemplified since artists like the [[artist:United Future Organization]] in the early-mid 1990s.
With the the support of his uncle and jazz drummer [[artist:Peter Erskine]], he managed to release his first jazz album "[r=712889]" (1991), then around 1993 was briefly a part of [[artist:Mondo Grosso]], before being a member of band [[artist:Cosmic Village]] from 1997.
Cosmic Village consisting of Yoshizawa with four other members, including one of the Okino brothers, [[artist:Shuya Okino]], who set-up [[label:Especial Records]] with brother [[artist:Yoshihiro Okino]], who later formed the [[artist:Kyoto Jazz Massive]], was the formative platform for his keyboard playing and production talents defining the nu-jazz territory of the late 1990s as it went. Cosmic Village releases, like a cover album of [[artist:Yellow Magic Orchestra]] tunes titled "[m=326979]" (1998) have lead through to a track "Free" done for "[r=3555372]" (2003) project. Various production credits on small releases led to the amazing highlight in a 12" titled "[r=227166]" (2000) on Especial Records; one track under Hajime Yoshizawa, the other as part of group [[artist:Sleep Walker]] – with both being straight jazz numbers.
From here we get his next projects. From 2000 onwards, the Sleep Walker band kept the straight-ahead jazz project going, whereas productions under his own name tend to head towards more of an electronic soulful nu-jazz perspective.
Self monikered projects include an album for [[label:Far Out Records]] offshoot label [[artist:Solaria]] entitled "[m=224271]" (2000), remixes galore on various labels, plus more 12"s on Especial Records, leading to the CD-only release "[r=347144]" (2002), which grouped the 12"s done for Especial Records together with new material.
He also recorded as part of Sleep Walker, culminated in their self-titled album "[m=109714]" (2003).
A note should also be made about another moniker of his, [Electric Sheep](https://www.discogs.com/artist/159629-Electric-Sheep-2), first used as a self-done remix name on a Cosmic Village 12" titled "[r=2847014]" (2000). Originally more of a beat heavy sound, more recent use of this moniker has resulted in more of an ambient sound/experimental project along the lines of fellow Japanese producer [[artist:Calm]] (aka Farr) productions. The release "[r=7148836] (2002) is worth hearing, as is another from the Shibuya HMV 5th anniversary 12" titled "[Naked Noon](https://www.discogs.com/Jah-Massa-2--Electric-Sheep-Chant-Dub-Naked-Noon/release/7225198)" (2003). And three remixes of note: "Can I See You In The Morning (Electric Sheep Remix)" from [[artist:The Jackson 5]] "[m=267926]" (2001); another for [[artist:Jazzanova]] featuring singer [[artist:Lori Fine]] "[Takes You Back](https://www.discogs.com/Jazzanova-In-Between-EP/release/289058)" (2002); and a stunning third done for [[artist:Riviera]] "[Never Stay Long](https://www.discogs.com/Riviera-Five-Remixes/release/7222617)" (2003).
More work for Sleep Walker followed, with two 12"s, "[m=109703]" (2004) featuring [[artist:Pharoah Sanders]] on saxophone and [[artist:Bémbé Ségué]] on vocal duty, and "[r=581771]" (2004), which each proceeded their respective albums, "[m=109701]" (2006) and "[m=1359238]" (2007). Albums under his own name have followed routinely, from jazzy electronic release "[m=224272]" (2005), through jazz releases "[r=3590955]" (2008) & "[r=3590969]" (2008), and back to jazzy electronic again with "[r=7624409]" (2014) and "[r=12199904]" (2017).
Son of actor Takao Yoshizawa and former voice actress Nobuko Maki. Playwright/director Koichi Yoshizawa is his older brother, and pianist Kyoko Yoshizawa is his younger sister. Drummer [[artist:Peter Erskine]] is his uncle.
