Kose Yamaguchi

At the age of 10, Kose saw a live performance of the great saxophone player Eugene Rousseau in Tokyo. It was a big event of life, which led him to become a professional saxophonist. Only after one year, he was already playing saxophones with a internationally acclaimed classical pianist, Yuriko Shimoura. He had also been invited as a guest soloist by Kanagawa All Star Orchestra, Toko Wind Orchestra and others for many times.In 1990, Kose was invited to Instituto Regional Federico Errázuriz, Chile, with full grant. There he studied composition and conducting with Patricio Burgos, and performed with amazing musicians such as Ricardo Marambio and Francisco Rodríguez. He also worked with a poet, Avelardo León who really provoked Kose’s interest in literature and lyricism. With those artists, he developed his art not limited in the area of classical music but also in the field of Chilean music and others.Kose was back in Japan when he founded his own group “Kose” in 1993. “Kose” was a Brazilian Jazz band, and played mostly compositions of Kose’s and kept Kose very busy performing all over the country until he moved to The United States in 1998. “Kose” was a great success. It won several awards such as Akisai Festival Music Award.In 1998, Kose moved to Boston to study in Berklee College of Music where he earned The Professional Diploma Magna Cum Laude with a Major in Performance. Besides saxophone playing, he studied arranging, composition and music business. In The US, he has performed with so many great musicians such as Demian Sabini, Vadim Neselovskyi, Maria de Barros, Kalú Monteiro, Djim Job, Nei Miranda, Frantz Rolls, Ana Firmino, Francisco Pais Cardoso, Djosinha, Manny Baptista, Danny Carvalho, Norberto Tavares, Marta Gomez, Fernando Isella, Bob Gaye, Charles Haynes, Ron Carter Jr., Jon de Lucia, Daniele Camarda, Daniela Schächter, Andromeda Turre, Sebastian Noelle, Oscar Stagnaro and Ferenc Nemeth to name a few. Through his experience he has become really a versatile musician who can play Jazz, Classical, Cape Verdean, Brazilian, Haitian, Latin, Andean, Flamenco, Pop, R&B, Gospel, Rock, Funk etc.He continues to perform in The United States and other countries as the leader of Brazilian Jazz group “Kose & Demián” and as a sideman and arranger with Maria de Barros, Candida Rose, Tó Alves, Ze Rui de Pina Group, Cesar Lima, Galvão, Arlinda, Calu Bana, Alfredo Velázquez y Son del Sol, Orquesta La Positiva, The Pulse of Boston, Boston Firemen’s Band etc.