( English Version )

Live at G_Clef___Yokohama
The Cello Acoustics

The Cello Acoustics is a cello ensemble built around Yoshihiro Kikkawa, “Yoshi”,
Japan's only jazz cellist. Yoshi's band is coming into the limelight for its innovative
mix of a wide spectrum of styles drawn from jazz, classical, and healing music,
sprinkled with interludes of improvisation.
Yoshi has performed with, The Cello Acoustics, on Session 505, a jazz program on NHK's
FM radio station, in September 2000 (with simultaneous recording for broadcast on one
of NHK's Hi-Vision TV stations).
And in June 2001 these performances were highly acclaimed by a wide-ranging audience
through national new paper articles, radio and Television.
Entitled simply "The Cello Acoustics," his much-awaited first album was released in
Japan in January 2001.
YOSHI　(YOSHIHIRO KIKKAWA)
Japan's First and Only Cello Improviser

Born in the city of Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan, Yoshihiro Kikkawa graduated from the
A.N. Music School before going to New York to pursue further studies.

Upon his return, he worked as a studio musician, supporting concerts and recordings of
numerous musical celebrities and noted artists. While the Soviet Union was still in
existence, he participated in a month-and-a-half-long concert tour of nine Russian cities.
In Europe, he has made appearances in France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands,
and Switzerland.
In the United States, he has taken part in concerts in San Francisco at The Circle Theater,
Los Angeles at The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in 1993, New York at Lincoln Center,
and Hawaii.
And in Asia, outside Japan, he has performed in Hong Kong.
He toured and appeared in jazz festivals as a cello improviser with the jazz group headed
by jazz guitarist, Kazumi Watanabe.

Recently you'll find YOSHI performing in the US and Japan. After obtaining his US artist's
visa, YOSHI spends much of his time flying between New York and Tokyo vigorously touring
before eager, appreciative and ever-expanding audiences.

2000　　Jan　　YOSHI played with Yuki Kuramoto (Piano) as his side man at Yuki's concerts
　　　　　　　
　　　　　Apr　　YOSHI performed at Orchard Hall in Shibuya Japan and other halls as a
　　　　　　　　　member of a Braziliana superstar, Toninho Orta (guitarist and singer)
　　　　　　　　　and Kazumi Watanabe Super Band

　　　　　Aug　　YOSHI performed as a member of Kenichi Shimazu's(Piano) trio live at Skydoor
　　　　　　　　　and CD titled “Symmetrophobia Live at Skydoor” was released

　　　　　Oct　　YOSHI appeared at Numazu Music Festival in Shizuoka Japan with　Kazumi
　　　　　　　　　Watanabe(Guitar) and Masami Nakagawa(Flute)

2001　　Jan　　YOSHI's first CD entitled “The Cello Acoustics” was released in Japan

　　　　　Apr　　YOSHI appeared at a concert of Toshihiro Nakanishi (Violin) at Aoyama Circle
　　　　　　　　　Theater as a featured guest.

　　　　　May　　YOSHI and his band, “The Cello Acoustics” performed at a NHK FM radio
　　　　　　　　“Session 505” jazz broadcast with Masahiro Sayama (Piano), Benisuke
　　　　　　　　　Sakai(B) and Youichi Okabe (Percussion)

　　　　　Jul　　YOSHI appeared at the “2001 Summer Concert in Multimedia Center”and
　　　　　　　　　performed by the theme [Welcome to a new world of Jazz Cello] as a
　　　　　　　　　leader of his band. The event was hosted by National/Panasonic Incorporated.

　　　　　Sep　　YOSHI performed at the “Session 505” Jazz program of NNK FM radio station　
　　　　　　　　　which was also televised on NHK High Vision TV.

　　　　　Oct　　YOSHI appeared as a featured guest artist with the OOEDO WIND
　　　　　　　　　ORCHESTRA, Japan's top players at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space
　　　　　　　　　before a veryenthusiastic audience.
　　　　　　　　　(The live CD of this concert also featuring Astro Piasora is available
　　　　　　　　　 in CD shops in Japan.)

　　　　　Nov　　Marked the release of YOSHI's first CD “The Cello Acoustics” in the　
　　　　　　　　　Republic of Korea which garnered rave reviews!

　　　　　　　　YOSHI joined the Yamaha rosters by offering lessons in “ Jazz Cello “
　　　　　　　　at the Yamaha Ginza Center and Yamaha Music Square.

2002　　Feb　　YOSHI performed at the welfare concerct hosted by NP His Imperial Highness
　　　　　　　　　Prince of Tomohito of Mikas,in Toyoda, Aichi Japan, who later lavished
　　　　　　　　　praise on his performance.

　　　　　Apr　　NHK BS World Cup Soccer featured YOSHI's original song “The Whitenight in 　　　　　　　　　Leningrad” (from his first album, ”The Cello Acoustics”)　for their
　　　　　　　　　2002 TV broadcast.

　　　　　Aug　　YOSHI appeared at the Yokohama Summer Jazz Festival

2003　　Feb　　After receiving his US Artist's Visa, YOSHI moved to NY and started
　　　　　　　　　performing for American audiences, to rave reviews!

　　　　　Apr　　YOSHI began broadcasting his own global internet radio show
　　　　　　　　　“My Country　Home”

2004　　Jun　　Marked the highly anticipated release of YOSHI's second album
　　　　　　　　“MIAGETEGORAN YORU NO HOSHIWO”/ “Look upon the Stars”,
　　　　　　　　　making him the favorite featured artist of many radio shows,
　　　　　　　　　magazines　and news paper articles as he toured throughout Japan.

　　　　　Aug　　YOSHI performed “CELLO SOLO WITH BOUND AND STILLNESS”,
　　　　　　　　　his month long tour of Hokkaido Island, to sensational reviews!

　　　　　Oct　　YOSHI performed at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo International
　　　　　　　　　Film Festival

2005　　Feb　　YOSHI's original song, “Aurora”
　　　　　　　　　(from his first album, “The Cello Acoustics”) has been selected by
　　　　　　　　　Japan Airlines as part of their Music Library for February (Domestic)
　　　　　　　　　and for their Feburary and March (International flights).
　　　　　　　　　Look for it in the Soft and Smooth Jazz of J Lounge, Please check Skyward
　　　　　　　　　Entertaiment (International) and Winds (Domestic) on JAL flights to
　　　　　　　　　hear “Aurora”.