2022.9.21
New CD !!
"BRASS JAPONISM"

ABOUT

Brass Ensemble ZERO Tokyo was founded in 2010 with the aim of creating new music from scratch. From its inception, the ensemble has focused on original works, exploring the possibilities of brass ensemble through a wide-ranging repertoire from Renaissance to contemporary and film music. They have collaborated with world-renowned artists such as Reinhold Friedrich and Jeroen Berwaerts, and have premiered commissioned works by Miho Hazama as well as Tamami Higashino’s Scenes of Spirits for brass trio and shō, shakuhachi, and koto, performed together with the composer. The ensemble has released two CDs, and their second album, Brass Japonism, was selected as a “Special Selection” by Record Geijutsu, receiving high acclaim.

2010

A group of brass players in their twenties, all graduates of music universities in Tokyo, formed Brass Ensemble ZERO. In August, they held their first regular concert, which received high praise for its program focusing on original works for brass ensemble.

2015

At the 5th subscription concert, taking place in 2015, Brass Ensemble ZERO invited trumpet virtuoso Reinhold Friedrich and pianist Eriko Takezawa as guest soloists. Following that performance, the ensemble, together with Friedrich and Takezawa, undertook an extensive tour with concerts in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Ueda.
That collaboration with both outstanding soloists influenced the playing of the members. The tour was considered a success and the ensemble established a great reputation for itself.

2017

At the 7th subscription concert, in 2017, Brass Ensemble ZERO performed with the world-renowned trumpeter Jeroen Berwaerts. The theme of this concert was film music, and the program was designed by Berwaerts. This concert got a very good review: “Jeroen Berwaerts fascinated the listeners with his wonderful trumpet techniques and brilliant sounds. Brass Ensemble ZERO presented its musical interaction with him, as if Berwaerts was a longtime member of the ensemble. ”
This musical encounter with Berwaerts served as a trigger to record a CD together, featuring the program of the 7th subscription concert in 2018.

2020

To further develop the ensemble and expand its activities, new members were welcomed, and the group began performing under the name Brass Ensemble ZERO Tokyo.
They commissioned a new work, Three Celebration Pieces for a New Chapter, from internationally active composer Miho Hazama, which was premiered at their 9th regular concert in 2021.

2021

At their 9th regular concert, the ensemble collaborated with traditional Japanese instruments, giving the Japan premiere of Tamami Tono’s Scenes of Spirits for brass trio, shō, shakuhachi, and koto, together with the composer herself. The concert also featured the world premiere of Three Celebration Pieces for a New Chapter, commissioned from Miho Hazama.
These two works, along with original compositions by Japan’s leading composers Toru Takemitsu, Yuzo Toyama, and Koichi Sugiyama, are featured on the ensemble’s second album, Brass Japonism, which was selected as a Specially Recommended Disc in the November 2022 issue of Record Geijutsu and received high acclaim.

MEMBER

  • TOSHIYUKI ONISHI

    (Trp.)

    大西 敏幸 TOSHIYUKI ONISHI
  • SHUICHI KAWATA

    (Trp.)

    川田 修一 SHUICHI KAWATA
  • YOSHIHIKO SHIGEI

    (Trp.)

    重井 吉彦 YOSHIHIKO SHIGEI
  • RYO NODA

    (Trp.)

    野田 亮 RYO NODA
  • KATSUJI HAMAGUCHI

    (Trp.)

    濱口 勝治 KATSUJI HAMAGUCHI
  • JO KISHIGAMI

    (Hr.)

    岸上 穣 JO KISHIGAMI
  • DAISUKE OCHI

    (Trb.)

    越智 大輔 DAISUKE OCHI
  • TAKAHIRO HASEGAWA

    (Trb.)

    長谷川 貴大 TAKAHIRO HASEGAWA
  • AKIHIRO HIGASHIKAWA

    (Trb.)

    東川 暁洋 AKIHIRO HIGASHIKAWA
  • HIROYUKI KUROGANE

    (Bass Trb.)

    黒金 寛行 HIROYUKI KUROGANE
  • KAZUHIRO YAGYU

    (Tuba)

    柳生 和大 KAZUHIRO YAGYU
/

VIDEO

CD

CD

BRASS JAPONISM

Brass Ensemble ZERO tokyo

1. Miho HAZAMA: Three Celebration Pieces For A New Chapter
2. Tamami TONO: "Kei" -Scenes of spirits~ for Brass, Sho, Shakuhachi and Koto
3. Koichi SUGIYAMA: March Sagittarius
4. Koichi SUGIYAMA: Aries
5. Toru TAKEMITSU: DAY SIGNAL -Signals from Heaven I
6. Toru TAKEMITSU: Garden Rain
7. Toru TAKEMITSU: NIGHT SIGNAL -Signals from Heaven II
8. Yuzo TOYAMA: Japanese Suite

///Guest player
Tamami TONO (Sho)
Shozan HASEGAWA (Shakuhachi)
Dalgo NAKATA (Koto)
Sekitoshi NOBUSUE (Horn)
Yu SUZUKI (Horn)
Yudal SHOJI (Horn)
Yoshiaki ITO (Conductor)

///Recorded on 4, 5, 6 April, 2022
at Cultural Centre of Fujimi City "KIRARI FUJIMI" (Saitama)

///Recorded by Nippon Acoustic Records

CONCERT

Regular Concert vol. 10 with OHIRA, Kensuke ~The Glorious Sound of Pipes~

PLACE

Aoyama Gakuin University Goucher Memorial Hall

15:30 OPEN / 16:00 START

TICKET

Adult ¥3,500 / Student ¥2,500
(Ticket at the Door +¥500)

Ticket with New Album "Brass Japonism"
Adult ¥6,500 / Student ¥5,000

PROGRAM

Miho Hazama: Three Pieces for Celebation (2021)
Yuzo TOYAMA: Japanese Suite
Ad Wammes: miroir (1989)**
Toru TAKEMITSU: Garden Rain (1974)
Gaston Litaize: Cortege*
J. S. Bach: Christmas Oraatorio
C. Hazell: From age to age*
J. S. Bach: Fantasia in G dur BWV572**
Saint saens: Lauriers*
*Brass + Organ
**Organ solo

GUEST

OHIRA, Kensuke (Organ)

REVIEW

Reviews and comments for Brass Ensemble ZERO Tokyo

1

In 2017, Brass Ensemble ZERO performed their 7th concert, with trumpet player Jeroen Berwaerts as a guest. The program featured film music, including selections from Star Wars, Dancer in the Dark, and Western Cinema Suite by Morricone, as well as opera music from Kurt Weil. Also included was a Japan premier of Distant Horizons by Tobias Broström. They played this widely varied program with full energy and excellent musicality.
Mr Berwaerts played many roles in this concert, performing both as soloist and in the section, and even conducting the ensemble. The audience was enraptured by his wonderful technique and beautiful sound. The collaboration between Brass Ensemble ZERO and Berwaerts was impressively cohesive; as though he was a longtime member of ensemble.
After seeing this exciting performance, this is definitely a group you do not want to miss!

Review from 7th concert by Band Journal

2

In this performance, this group of very talented young players opened the door to movie music played by brass ensemble. With the world-renowned trumpet player Jeroen Berwaerts, the audience was able to visualize the story and scenery from each piece. Solos by Berwaerts from Dancer in the Dark and La Strada were particularly captivating, but the sound of the whole ensemble was equally amazing.

From music magazine Bravo March 2018 (Review from CD)

3

Their movie music themed concert was very well received by audiences.
The program had unique elements of movie music that were not only familiar but also comical and witty.
In the western cinema suite, one could recognize some familiar music from Spaghetti Westerns. The group had very impressive effects, imitating the sound of a harmonica using a trumpet mute, very fast tonguing, and flutter tonguing. Of particular mention was a very beautiful, melancholy trumpet solo.
They also performed music from Star Wars with a very effective arrangement to showcase the brilliant sound of brass ensemble.

Magazine from tower record (Review from CD)