Akira Jimbo

Akira Jimbo, also seen as Akira Jinbo (神保 彰, Jinbo Akira^?, born February 27, 1959 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese freelance jazz fusion drummer who is famous for his drumming independence and fusion of electronic drum technology and acoustic drums. Aside from his solo work, he is also the drummer in the Japanese jazz fusion band Casiopea and has participated in various side projects with other musicians, including Keiko Matsui, Shambara, bassist Brian Bromberg.

Background
Akira Jimbo began drumming at the age of 18 when he joined the Keio University Light Music Society Big Band. He became famous through his playing with Casiopea during the years 1979-1989. These days Casiopea is recording again with Jimbo, who returned in 1997. During his solo career he formed Jimsaku-duo with Casiopea's bassist Tetsuo Sakurai in 1989. Recently, he has been working with Hiroyuki Noritake from T-Square in the drum-duo Synchronized DNA and have together performed in a series of concerts with Casiopea.
Akira Jimbo has a unique drumming style which is best demonstrated in his drum videos and at his drum clinics. By using the DTX drum triggering system, he is able to play a full band sound without a backing track.
In 1999, Akira Jimbo was awarded 2nd place in the British drum magazine RHYTHM for most popular drummer. In June 2000, he became the first Asian drummer to be featured on the cover of Modern Drummer magazine. He also appeared in the Modern Drummers Festival in 2000, which is available on DVD.
More recently Jimbo has assisted in the design of the new K Custom Hybrid Series of cymbals by Zildjian.

Drum Setup

One aspect of Jimbo's drumming is the unique setup of set drums. Using Yamaha drums and Zildjian cymbals, along with Yamaha electronic drum triggers, Jimbo is able to create an array of different sounds and styles from his drumset.
Acoustic Drums:

• NSD13AJ 〈13"×7"〉 Beech Custom Akira Jimbo Sig. Snare Drum,
  
• NBD1522UAJ 〈22"×17"〉 Bass Drum,
  
• NTT1508JAJ 〈8"×7"〉 Tom,
  
• NTT1510UAJ 〈10"×8"〉 Tom,
  
• NTT1512UAJ 〈12"×9"〉 Tom,
  
• NTT1514AJ 〈14"×12"〉 Tom,
  
• NTT1516AJ 〈16"×14"〉 Tom,
  
• Alex Acuna Sig. Series TM13AA 13" Timbale,
  
• Alex Acuna Sig. Series TM14AA 14" Timbale,
  

Cymbals:

• Zildjian K Custom Hybrid 9" Splash,
  
• Zildjian K Custom Hybrid 11" Splash,
  
• Zildjian K Custom Hybrid 13.25" Hi-Hat,
  
• Zildjian K Custom Hybrid 17" Crash,
  
• Zildjian K Custom Hybrid 19" Crash,
  
• Zildjian K Custom Hybrid 20" Ride,
  
• Zildjian K Custom Hybrid 20" China,
  

Hardware:

• CH-745 Cymbal Holder (5x),
  
• CS-945 Cymbal Stand (3x),
  
• DS-1100 Hydraulic Drum Stool,
  
• CSAT-924 Cymbal Stand Attachment (3x),
  
• DFP-9310 Double Foot Pedal,
  
• HS-1000 Hi-hat Stand,
  
• SS-940 Snare Drum Stand,
  
• TH-945 Double Tom Holder (3x),
  
• WS-940 Double Tom Stand (4x),
  

Electronic Drums:

• DXT2SU DTXTREME2S Drum Trigger Module,
  
• TP65S Electronic 3 Zone Pad (6x),
  
• DT20 Drum Trigger (6x),

Selected discography

Drum videos

• Metamorphosis (1992)
• Pulse (1995)
• Independence (1998)
• Evolution (1999)
• Wasabi (2003)
• Fujiyama (2003)
• Solo Drums Performance 1 (2004)
• Solo Drums Performance 2 (2004)
• Solo Drums Performance 3 (2005)
• Synchronized DNA Double Drums Performance 1 (2005)
• Synchronized DNA Double Drums Performance 2 (2006)
• Solo Drums Performance 4 (2007)
• Solo Drums Performance 5 (2008)

Solo Albums

• Cotton (1986)
• Palette (1989)
• Jimbo (1990)
• Slow Boat (1991)
• Lime Pie (1993)
• Rooms By The Sea (1995)
• Panama Man (1995)
• Flower (1997)
• Stone Butterfly (1997)
• Brombo! (2003) With bassist Brian Bromberg
• Brombo 2!! (2004) With bassist Brian Bromberg

Compilation Appearances

• New Age Music & New Sounds Vol. 67 - "Liberty"

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia