GENTA

Genta UEKI
guitarist,composer,arranger
　
GENTA chan
Born and grew up in Tokyo
Graduate from Berklee College of Music in 1989
GENTA grew up in a musical environment.
His father was a classical violinist and had been the concert master of a symphony orchestra, during his active career. His sister used to play harp, and there is a bass player and an opera singer in a relatives. As a matter of course, GENTA's parents induced him to take musical lessons somehow.
"But I suppose I would be a naughty boy". GENTA said. He refused to learn any musical insturments.
"Actually,I liked sports much better than music" GENTA looked back on his school days. He was not only a star player of basketball but also distinguished for his abilities in any sports. There is a story that tells how he excels at sports.
One day of junior high school , his teacher put GENTA on the track and field meet of Komae City in Tokyo as a hurdler, even though he had no experience in any athletic sports. "Well, because I was quick at flight" he smiled with a mischievous glitter in his eyes. Contrary to expectation, he won the first place, setting a new record! In senior high school, he has been bent on skiing, and gotten the title of the first-class ranking that is authorized by Ski Association of Japan.
In the mean time, he has broken his ankle in the basketball game. "I have begun playing guitar to kill my time". Well, anyway, GENTA has finally found his interest in music. He was inspired by Masayoshi Takanaka, Char, Larry Carlton, Eric Clapton and the Crusaders. His interest about music had been rising day by day.
As his high school graduation approached, he read an article about Berklee College of Music in the United States of America. It struck him that he should go there to learn to be a great musician. GENTA boarded an airplane after graduating in 1984.
At Berklee, he had majored in Professional Music and studied under well-known musicians such as John La Porta, Jim Kelly and John Damian. "But I lacked musical experience. At the beginning, my knowledge and technique compared poorly with those of other students". He studied so hard that he proved himself worthy to win a scholarship.
He graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1989.
After graduating, he has obtained a one-year working-permission visa which gave good students permission to work in the United States that related to their studies. He had opportunities to gig at some live places and played with many other musicians including Frank Lacy.
GENTA came back to Japan in 1990.
Since then, he has been active in the various genres of music such as jazz, fusion, chanson, Bossa Nova, American pops and Japanese pops. He is not only a guitarist but also composer and arranger. He has worked on TV and radio programs, advertising jingles and as a director of music. Further more, he has been appearing in a regular radio program, Acoustic Guitar Live and Talk on the Air - Medical Strings, since 1996.
During his musical career, GENTA has discovered an interest in Brazilian music and been inspired by Baden Powell, Toninho Horta and Pat Metheny. He has begun to play acoustic guitar and established his own music and performance as the fusion of Brazilian music, pops and jazz.
He has recorded two albums as a leader of groups and one Musical DVD produced by Mickie Yoshino who is a leader and keyboard player of GODIEGO, a legendary band not only in Japan but also Asia and Europe. In addition, he has worked with a guitarist, Toru Hirano, in a guitar duo, and recorded three albums in serial, The Collection of Famous and Excellent Tunes.
His first album "A Letter to You", his second album "Sunday Brunch", the Musical DVD "Sound Journey - Gold Coast - the earth", the guitiar duo album "Latin American Music", "Screen Music", and "Japanese nursery and children's songs" are now on sale.
GENTA has been married to Sachie since November 1990 and they now live in Yokohama.