Isao Suzuki

Isao Suzuki

Hisao Oma "Isao" Suzuki (鈴木 勲, Suzuki Isao, born January 2, 1933 in Tokyo) is a Japanese jazz double-bassist. Suzuki learned to play bass on United States military bases, and played early in his career with Shotaru Mariyasu, Hidehiko Matsumoto, and Sadao Watanabe. He led his own ensemble in Tokyo from 1965-1969, also playing with Hampton Hawes in 1968. He moved to New York City from 1969 to 1971, playing with Ron Carter, Paul Desmond, Ella Fitzgerald, Jim Hall, Wynton Kelly, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, and Bobby Timmons. Returning to Japan, he played with Kenny Burrell and Mal Waldron in addition to his own ensembles. Later in the 1970s he began expanding his instrumental repertoire, playing cello and piccolo bass. He was a cofounder of the Japanese Bass Players Club with Hideto Kanai, and opened a jazz club in Osaka in 1987.

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