Matsushita Makoto is a discreet guitarist/singer and yet essential for all those who are interested in the City-Pop. Born on November 16, 1955, this prodigy was born in the city of Kakegawa. If his name radiates with his solo career, you should also know that he is the founder of the group AB’s with Fujimal Yoshino.
Makoto Matsushita Beginnings and Training
In 1973, at the age of 18, Makoto Matsushita integrates the prestigious “NEM Music School” from Yamaha. Specializing in guitar, he honed his skills in solfege, composition and arrangement, laying the solid foundation for his musical career. The following year, he began performing on stage, starting a professional career at only 19 years old. Over the next four years, he gave more than 500 performances. In 1977, he collaborated on the album “TASOGARE” by Mai Yamane, thus marking a significant stage in his artistic career. The album was released in 1980.
1980 – Mai Yamane – “Tasogare”
“First Light”: Between AOR and City-Pop
Released in 1981, First light it is an album that sounds jazz rock. The exact associated term is “AOR” (for “Album Oriented Rock”).
The genesis of this album is a very interesting story : Makoto Matsushita worked for Asahi Studios TV when they installed a new 16-track recorder in Nichion studio. At about 21 years old, Matsushita was approached by the studio to make a test recording with one of his original songs. At the time, 8-track recorders significantly limited the possibilities, especially for the rhythm section.
The test song recorded, “September Rain“, caught the attention of a producer of Nichion, which proposed to Makoto Matsushita to make a solo album : First Light (under the label Air/RVC) :
- First Light
- Hot Love One
- Resort For Blue
- September Rain
- Lazy Night
- This Is All I Have For You
- I Know…
- Love Was Really Gone
- Sunset
- September Rain (English Version) (Bonus)
Regarding the cover, there are 2 versions :
THE PRESSURES AND THE PLEASURES (1982)
In 1982, Makoto Matsushita released his second album, “The Pressures and the Pleasures“, at home Moon Records, a record company famous for producing iconic artists like Yamashita Tatsuro, and now synonymous with “City Pop“. When the president of RCA/Air, who had supervised the release of “First Light“, founded Moon Records, Matsushita Makoto joined him in this new independent adventure.
- The Pressures and The Pleasures
- Pretender And The Truth: Business Man (Part 1)
- Pretender & The Truth: The Bridge
- Pretender And The Truth: Business Man (Part 2)
- Night Visions: The Garden of Walls
- Night Visions: Carnival
- The Dawn: The Quiet Storm
- The Dawn: Morning Blue
QUIET SKIES (1983)
An album with more experimental and quieter songs
- Sight Of The Dawn
- View from Fire Mountain
- Lucky Guy
- Going Home
- The Feather Heart
- Cage of Dreams
AB’s, the band with Yoshino Fujimal
In 1982, Yoshino Fujimal recruits Makoto Matsushita after listening First Light. The group will be called AB’s (pronounced “A Biz”)
Some albums of Yoshino Fujimal
A slew of albums (at least 7) will come out of this collaboration. The first 4 albums are small jewels that we recommend !
Paradigm Shift, the group of Makoto Matsushita
In 1985, Makoto Matsushita set up his own group : Paradigm Shift.
The sound is in the continuity of the style of Makoto Matsushita : Jazz Fusion, Instrumental and Experimental.
The band will sometimes reprise some songs from Matsushita Makoto
Projects and collaborations
Makoto Matsushita is a great worker. He launches many small projects according to his desire. In fact, it is hard to follow everything !!
Makoto Matsushita also writes a little for television. But it is especially as a session musician with collaborations with other artists. :
On guitar :
- Cindy
- Kingo Hamada
- Tomoko Aran
- Hiromi Iwasaki
- Hitomi Tohyama
- Seiko Matsuda
- Junko Ohashi
- Alessandra Mussolini
- Joey Mccoy
On Composition and Arrangement :
- S. Kiyotaka & Omega Tribe
- Kiyotaka Sugiyama
- Hidemi Ishikawa
- SMAP
On vocals :
- Junko Yagami
- Seiko Matsuda
- Mai Yamane
- Toshiki Kadomatsu
- Yoshino Fujimal
- ANRI
- Kinki kids
2019 Album of unreleased track with “Visions”
Visions is an album of unreleased tracks from the Quiet Skies session. It’s mostly experimental music.
Go further on :
Wikipedia (Ja) page :
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%BE%E4%B8%8B%E8%AA%A0
Interview of Matsushita Makoto :
http://kumomi.org/2022/08/01/matsushita-makoto-interview-2019/
Summary Page (Ja) :
http://www.paradigmshift.jp/profile/Makoto/Makoto_profile.html
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