Tonight, where's the jazz?
Guitar·Musicians
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Award-winning guitarist Shunji Takenaka blends jazz, rock, and R&B with masterful precision. A veteran composer and MIDI expert, he celebrates 40 years in music with his 2025 album 'Talkin’ Guitars,' delivering soulful, genre-defying performances.
Shunji Takenaka began his musical journey with the piano at age seven and picked up the guitar at ten. Raised in the environment of his family's jazz cafe, he was immersed in diverse musical genres from a young age. After being shaped by blues and rock, he dedicated himself to jazz, studying under Ikuo Shiozaki and Katsuo Hiraki. He also developed an early fascination with multi-track recording, building extensive expertise in MIDI-based music production. In 1997, Takenaka was awarded the Grand Prix at the IMS International Jazz Contest. Since then, he has been prolific as an arranger, composer, studio session player, and live performer. In 2025, he released his 40th-anniversary debut album, "Talkin’ Guitars." His versatile style spans pop, R&B, jazz, and rock, always striving for music that resonates with the soul. Beyond performing with numerous renowned artists, he leads his own projects, including TIRON, Periguns, and BiG TriCks.