J-Music Ensemble plays Jazzy Modern Japanese Music at Otakon Sunday Concert. Photo: Otakon

The 8-piece jazz-rooted band J-Music Ensemble will entertain guests at Otakon Sunday Concert with Jazzy Modern Japanese Music. 

BY KAZAD

WASHINGTON, D.C. – J-Music Ensemble, an 8-piece-jazz-rooted band, will perform this year’s Otakon Sunday Concert. The New York City-based band is devoted to bringing new perspectives to the world of Japanese music. Combining blazing brass melodies with chilling saxophone solos, guitar, bass, and drums, the group creates powerful jazz rhythms. The Sunday concert is titled “The Band Returns: J-Music Ensemble LIVE!”.  

Guests and fans at Otakon 2021 will experience J-Music Ensemble’s outstanding ability to fuse its background in the jazz tradition with the catchy and brilliant nature of modern Japanese music. The blend results in powerful new versions of J-Pop/J-Rock songs, anime, and video game music.

J-Music Ensemble band has been winning dedicated fans across the globe with its scintillating blend of jazz tunes and fun performances since its inception. The full horn section of the jazz band, comprising saxophone, trumpet, and trombone, is a soul winner for many of its fans. Together, they produce remarkable and dynamic melodies.

The band has performed alongside Donna Burke in “Metal Gear Solid” series, “Final Fantasy”, “Tokyo Ghoul” and Adam Neely. The group has performed twice at the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival. Additionally, it has appeared on Nippon TV, KAI-YOU, and other Japanese media outlets.

Jazzy Modern Japanese Music Idea: A Mutual Interest in Japanese Culture

J-Music Ensemble was conceived by world-renowned and Grammy-nominated saxophonist, Patrick Bartley. He got the idea while attending the Manhattan School of Music. Initially, the concept was an opportunity to express a mutual interest in anime and video game soundtracks that never get a proper spotlight.

This was the case for several years when the band fused anime and video game soundtracks to achieve new compositions. The spontaneity and soulfulness of jazz improvisation were fresh, yet maintained the integrity of the original songs. However, the concept of the band has expanded over time to include music from all facets of modern Japanese culture and has worked with artists and bands including Perfume, Utada Hikaru, Yoko Kanno, PUFFY, and School Food Punishment.

The full horn section of the jazz band, comprising saxophone, trumpet, and trombone, is a soul winner for many of its fans.

An accomplished musician, Patrick Bartley has played alongside sasakure.UK, Wynton Marsalis, and Jon Batiste. He grew up hearing video game and anime soundtracks while simultaneously learning jazz and other American music styles. The desire to unify Japanese and American music led to the creation J-Music Ensemble. With this intention, the band began playing various anime and video games music with jazz flavors.

The group regularly features some of the most talented and already accomplished young musicians from around the world, including Daryl Johns, Max Calkin, Leo P (from Too Many Zooz), and many others to perform. Ultimately, the driving force behind the band’s philosophy continues to be the desire to merge east and west musical traditions.

Patrick Bartley’s Love of American Jazz, Anime and Video Games

The idea was conceived by world-renowned and Grammy-nominated saxophonist Patrick Bartley, who grew up hearing video games and anime soundtracks while simultaneously learning jazz and other American music styles and had a dream to someday bring those worlds together.

With their performance, J-MUSIC Ensemble joins other bands and musicians like All Off, Oreskaband, Yoshiki, and X Japan that have performed the Otakon Sunday Concert.  This year’s Otakon will take place from August 6-8 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Sunday Concert Past Performers:

• All Off
• Oreskband
• Yoshiki
• X Japan

Facemasks Mandatory for All Attendees

Facemasks are mandatory for all anime, manga, and video game fans attending this year’s Otakon Convention. In essence, the objective is to reduce the spread of Covid-19. Since the Delta variant of the coronavirus has been spreading like wildfire across the country, organizers of Otakon find it necessary to protect fans. Annually, lovers of anime, manga, video games, and music from the Far East dress in their favorite characters to have a good time at Otakon.

A Taste of J-Music Ensemble Jazzy Modern Japanese Music

Are you attending this year’s Otakon Sunday Concert? Share your thoughts. Leave a comment.

Jazzy Modern Japanese Music/Youtube