Fumio Karashima

Born March 9, 1948 in Oita, Japan, Fumio Karashima would become one of the greatest jazz pianists his country ever produced. The son of a music professor, Karashima began formal training on the piano before the age of five. He recorded his debut album, Piranha, in 1975 leading a trio that consisted of Jimmy Hopps on drums and Isao Suzuki on bass. He continued to record and gig, eventually landing a spot in Elvin Jones Jazz Machine in 1980, and he would remain a member of that group for six years. That relationship would lead to him collaborating with other exceptional drummers including Tony Williams and Jake DeJohnette, who would record the album Great Time with him in 2005. That same year he was awarded the prestigious Fumio Nanri Award, named for the beloved Japanese jazz trumpeter. Three years later Karashima released Moon River, a solo album of standards. He brought his career full circle in 2010 by recording E.J. Blues, a tribute to Elvin Jones that features Ryu Kawamura on bass, Takeo Moriyama on drums, and Masanori Okazaki on saxophone. He passed away February 24, 2017.

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