:Takeshi Itoh

File:Takeshi Itoh, Taipei, 2012.png in 2012.]]

Itō had been interested in music since he was a child, leaning how to play piano and violin. At Momochi Junior High School, he joined a brass band with a euphonium and tuba. He entered Seinan Gakuin High School and chose to become a flute player, but after reading Sadao Watanabe 's autobiography, Boku Jishin no Tame no Jazz, he turned to alto saxophone.

He entered the Nihon University College of Art and belonged to the Rhythm Society Orchestra.{{cite web|url=https://www.yamano-music.co.jp/docs/ybbjc/story/1970/1976_ito.html|title=YAMANO BIG BAND JAZZ CONTEST 今昔物語|language=ja|website=Yamano Music}} At the same time, he joined the bands Witch Hunt and Last Day. The drummer of Witch Hunt, Michael Seiichi Kawai, was also the drummer for a band called The Square, led by guitarist Masahiro Andō, and Itō made guest appearances due to this connection.{{cite web|url=http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nlp/get/article/257940|title=曲作りが緻密になっています ２４日に福岡でライブ Ｔ－ＳＱＵＡＲＥ 伊東たけしさん|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126132238/http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nlp/get/article/257940|date=July 10, 2016|archive-date=November 26, 2016|website=Nishinippon Shimbun}} After the disbandment of Witch Hunt, he joined The Square in 1977.{{cite web|url=https://arty-matome.com/I0001453|title=伊東たけし(サックス奏者)の若い頃と現在！家族や結婚・身長などプロフィールまとめ|language=ja|website=Arty}}

In 1984, he released his debut album, Dear Hearts.{{cite web|url=https://inakabuta.exblog.jp/30418352/|title=困った時は J-Fusion (5) ＆ 伊東たけし|language=ja|website=Inaka Buta no Aichō Henreki – No Music No Life|publisher=Excite}} In 1985, he released his second album L7.{{cite web|url=http://adliblog.livedoor.blog/archives/51521227.html|title=伊東 たけし ／ エル・セヴン|language=ja|website=Adoriblog ~ JAZZ/FUSION Hihyō ~|date=13 July 2011 |publisher=Livedoor}}

In 1990, he left T-Square to pursue a solo career, but returned to the band in late 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.meg-net.com/meg/web_interview/itoh-24.html|title=「伊東たけし」web限定インタビュー|language=ja|date=March 22, 2014|website=Meg}} Around the time of his return, T-Square had split into two separate groups: Trio The Square (with bassist Mitsuru Sutō, drummer Hiroyuki Noritake and keyboardist Keiji Matsumoto) and T-Square (with Itō, guitarist Masahiro Andō and session musicians).{{cite web|url=https://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/ito-takeshi/62213|title=ソロ・アルバムがまもなくリリース！伊東たけしが自身のセプテットを率いてコットンクラブに登場|language=ja|website=CDJournal|date=November 16, 2014}} From 2004 and onward, T-Square relied on newer, now Full-time band members.

In 2014, he released the album Favorites, his first solo album in seven years.{{cite web|url=https://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/t-square/63015|title=伊東たけし、７年ぶりのソロ・アルバム『FAVORITE』をリリース|language=ja|website=CDJournal|date=November 26, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://mikiki.tokyo.jp/articles/-/4545|title=伊東たけし 『Favorites』|language=ja|date=December 9, 2014|author=Kanno, Kiyoshi|website=Mikiki}}

In 2021, Masahiro Ando left T-Square, effectively making Takeshi Itoh the band's leader.

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Category:Japanese jazz flautists

Category:Japanese jazz saxophonists

Category:Living people

Category:1954 births

Category:20th-century Japanese musicians

Category:20th-century Japanese flautists