Biography

Yasuyuki "Yaz" Takagi
Smooth Jazz Artist, Composer, Arranger and Tenor Saxophonist
&
The Yaz Band

Yasuyuki "Yaz" Takagi is a professional composer, arranger and tenor saxophonist based in Brooklyn, New York by way of his native of Osaka, Japan. Yasuyuki, also know as Yaz has a dynamic musical range that offers a fusion of silky, urban-lite grooves, funk soul and the crossover foundations of melodic jazz.

Yasuyuki and his self-titled Jazz group, Yaz Band are official members of the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s sponsored "Music Under New York" series. The talented foursome has held Jazz enthusiasts captive during rush hour for years. And now, an expanded audience can experience the sexy, cool-out vibe of their performances, via his first National album, You Can’t Say it in Public, set for release on HSM Entertainment this September.

The successful Yaz Band was formed in 2002 after Yaz transitioned from moonlighting musician to professional Jazz front man, after loosing his day job as a result of the economic downturn after the tragedies of September 11th. The in-demand quartet is know for playing indisputable R&B classics by icons such as Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire and Marvin Gaye. In addition to covers, Yaz Band plays original instrumental tunes influenced by the styles of jazz luminaries such as Grover Washington, Jr., Maceo Parker, The Crusaders and American jazz fusion groups such as Spyro Gyra. And now, the group has emerged from New York City’s underground to embark on an international tour to promote Yaz’s new album.

From Harlem to Hiroshima, the infectious smooth jazz sounds of Yaz Band can be heard frequenting soul music hubs throughout the New York’s tri-state area. Yaz has appeared in various jazz festivals including Lincoln Center's “Out of Doors” and the historic Minton's Playhouse. In addition, Yaz Band has performed in Asia as part of the “Under New York” music series, which were held in Seoul, Korea, among other cities. Other recent New York performances include the opening of Coney Island Brooklyn’s Luna Park, Brooklyn’s “Wednesdays on Willouby”, The South Street Seaport and Taj Lounge’s “Soul Brunch”, among others.

Yaz recalls being thrilled with Smooth Jazz as a youth in Japan. He explains, “I had a passion for the genre at an early age and this made me stand out amongst peers who preferred to listen to American pop. I often rummaged through my father’s record collections in search of music that moved me and I was instantaneously connected to the sultry sound of the sax, it stood out to me.”

As a student in Japan, Yaz was influenced by American greats including Bob James and Dave Grusin. However, it was the styles of sax man David Sanborn that inspired him to pursue the saxophone as his instrument of choice. Yaz combined his love Jones for Jazz with classical training in schools such as Japan's Kochi University where he garnered a Bachelor’s Degree in Education while studying saxophone. He later refined his musical training at Japan’s Sadayasu Fujii Jazz School and by studying under the direction of his Jazz maestro Tetsuyuki Miya. This further inspired him to set sights on New York City and leave his position in Osaka as a social worker to pursue a career as a professional musician in 1992.

Upon arrival Yaz immersed himself in the Big Apple’s music community and applied the skills he learned to penetrate the Jazz scene. While navigating his way through he met his mentor, fellow saxophonist and comrade Rob Scheps. Scheps put the finishing touches on Yaz’s musical training and encouraged the newcomer to avoid becoming disillusioned by the city’s intense musical competition. Despite the adversities he faced as a young Japanese immigrant coming to America, Yaz took heed to Scheps advice and continued to pursue his dreams of becoming a professional musician.

Soon Yaz had a buzz-worthy collection of smooth jazz original scores that captured the excitement of the emotions of his wide-eyed U.S. arrival and his live experiences of love. From his Brooklyn apartment Yaz composes songs that he first visualizes and later skillfully converts to sound.

After founding Yaz Band he released three independent albums which include the critically acclaimed Rush Hour in 2007 and his self-titled Yaz in 2003 and You Can't Say It in Public in 2005, which the title has been re-incarnated for his fourth studio album and first national album release, which will be available in all formats on HSM Entertainment in September 2010.

The single also titled You Can’t Say it in Public off his fourth coming album is currently rotation in key jazz stations across the nation, including New York’s smooth Jazz station, WBGO JAZZ 88 FM, where it first debuted.

When Yaz is not jamming he collects Jazz records and indulges in Japanese comic books. Yaz currently resides in Brooklyn, New York with his wife and continues to be inspired by all that the City’s skyline and underground has to offer.

Yaz explains, “I never knew and still don’t know the definition of Jazz, I just know what it feels like”.