Hiroshima

小简介
 即使你在此之前对“广岛”乐团完全感到陌生，想必你也能从它的名字猜到它跟日本有些关系。不错，“广岛”乐团的确跟日本文化很有渊源，它的6位成员中，有4位就是日裔美籍乐手。1974年，“广岛”乐团由日裔美国人仓本丹（Dan Kuramoto）和仓本六月（June Kuramoto）夫妇在洛杉矶创立，30年来，这支乐团一直坚守着当代融合爵士的路线，而且成就卓然。在1985年，作品《一个愿望》（One Wish）使“广岛”占据了全美爵士乐电台年度点播率排行榜的首位，也代表着爱乐大众对它的艺术水准及特色的赞赏与认同。“广岛”的东方文化渊源决定了它所走的融合爵士路线与其它融合爵士乐团是颇有不同的，它总是从东西方音乐文化的根源出发，在文化底蕴和民族音色方面都融合多多，并且在音乐演绎中十分强调自由即兴的色彩，将爵士乐的意识精髓体现得淋漓尽致。爵士乐源自西方，东土传统音乐则更是源远流长，而在“广岛”乐团的音乐里，东方传统民族音乐与当代爵士乐总是结合得那样滴水不漏、妙不可言。
by Scott Yanow
Hiroshima, a group whose music falls between R&B, pop, world music, and jazz, has long had its own niche. The band integrates traditional Japanese instruments into their musical blend and has generally been both commercial and creative within its genre. Hiroshimas founding members are keyboardist Dan Kuramoto (who also played shakuhachi), June Okida Kuramoto on koto (a key part of the groups sound), Johnny Mori on taiko drums, and Danny Yamamoto on drums, percussion, and taiko. Other additions include keyboardist Kimo Cornwell, bassist Dean Cortez, and singer Teri Koide (who was later succeeded by Kimaya Seward). Some of the musicians were descendants of Japanese Americans held in U.S. detention camps during World War II. Beginning with the bands self-titled 1979 debut, Hiroshima has recorded a series of best-selling albums for Arista, Epic, and Qwest, and although they have evolved over time (moving further away from jazz), they have managed to not only retain but increase their popularity. Since 2000, the band has released a handful of albums including The Bridge in 2003, Spirit of the Season in 2004, Obon in 2005, and Little Tokyo in 2007.