Takao Ogawa

{{Short description|Japanese musician and writer}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Takao Ogawa

| image = 小川隆夫 Takao Ogawa.jpg

| birth_date = ''{{Birth date and age|year=1950

|month = 08

|day = 07}}''

| birth_place = Tokyo, Japan

| alma_mater = Tokyo Medical University, New York University Graduate School of Arts and Science

| occupation = Novelist, Music journalist, Producer, Guitarist, orthopedic surgeon

| known_for = Jazz books, Record producer

| notable_works = The Truth about Miles Davis · マイルス· デイヴィスの真実 (in Japanese)

A True History of Blue Note-Revised Edition ·ブルーノートの真実 (in Japanese)

Jazz in Japan through Testimonials · 証言で綴る日本のJazz (in Japanese)

| awards = Music Pen Club Japan Music award for "Jazz in Japan through Testimonials", 2015

}}

Takao Ogawa (小川隆夫, born August 7, 1950, in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese novelist, music journalist, music producer, composer, guitarist, and orthopedic surgeon.{{Cite web |title=Ogawa Takao |url=https://www.nippon.com/en/authordata/ogawa-takao/ |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=nippon.com |language=en}} He is known for his work in various music fields, particularly jazz, and as a complete collector of Blue Note.{{Cite web |title=The song that changed my life! Takao Ogawa interviewed by Miruko Yamaguchi, @Jazz Journal |url=https://www.jazz.co.jp/bluenote/interview/02.html}}{{Cite book |last=Ogawa |first=Takao |title=Blue Note Collector's Guide/ ブルーノート·コレクターズガイド |publisher=Tokyo Kirarasha |year=2006 |isbn=4-380-06200-7 |location=Tokyo, Japan |pages=36 |language=Ja}}

Ogawa learned classical guitar at a young age and formed a band in high school. He later pursued a career in medicine while playing jazz guitar in a band. Over the next forty years, Ogawa has written liner notes for more than 3,000 records and CDs of American/European/Japanese jazz musicians and produced CDs.{{Cite web |last=Metason |title=Takao Ogawa |url=https://music.metason.net/artistinfo?name=Takao%20Ogawa |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=ArtistInfo |language=EN}} He interviewed more than 1,000 musicians and related people among whom Miles Davis (1985-1990),{{Cite web |title=Miles Speaks - Everything That Miles Davis Told/ マイルス·デイヴィスが語った全てのこと |url=https://mikiki.tokyo.jp/articles/-/13200 |archive-url= |language=ja |publication-date=2017-02-13}}{{Cite book |last=Ogawa |first=Takao |title=The Truth about Miles Davis |publisher=Kodansha |year=2016 |isbn=978-4-06-281691-5 |location=Tokyo, Japan |pages=699–700 |language=Japanese}} Art Blakey (1982-1991),{{Cite book |last=Ogawa |first=Takao |title=The Truth about Miles Davis |publisher=Kodansha |year=2016 |isbn=978-4-06-281691-5 |location=Tokyo, Japan |pages=698 |language=Japanese}} Sonny Rollins (1986-2001),{{Cite book |last=Ogawa |first=Takao |title=The Truth about Miles Davis |publisher=Kodansha |year=2016 |isbn=978-4-06-281691-5 |location=Tokyo Japan |pages=705 |language=Japanese}} Oscar Peterson (1987),{{Cite web |title=Bill Evans: 11 supreme pianists talk about the appeal of Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, e.t.c Interviewed by Takao Ogawa |url=https://www.kawade.co.jp/sp/isbn/9784309977720/}} Dexter Gordon (1982-1984),{{Cite book |last=Ogawa |first=Takao |title=The Truth about Miles Davis |publisher=Kodansha |year=2016 |isbn=978-4-06-281691-5 |location=Tokyo, Japan |pages=701 |language=Japanese}} Herbie Hancock (1985-2019),{{Cite book |last=Ogawa |first=Takao |title=The Truth about Miles Davis |publisher=Kodansha |year=2016 |isbn=978-4-06-281691-5 |location=Tokyo, Japan |pages=701 |language=Japanese}} Keith Jarrett (2001),{{Cite book |last=Ogawa |first=Takao |title=The Truth about Miles Davis |publisher=Kodansha |year=2016 |isbn=978-4-06-281691-5 |location=Tokyo, Japan |pages=702 |language=Japanese}} Charlie Watts (1989,1990),{{Cite web |title=Interview with Charlie Watts |url=https://charlie-watts-jazz.jimdofree.com/book/interview-article/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Charlie Watts Jazz チャーリー・ワッツ ジャズ |language=ja-JP}} Toshiko Akiyoshi (1984-2016),{{Cite web |title=Toshiko Akiyoshi, a pianist, composer who shines in jazz history |date=15 November 2018 |url=https://www.nippon.com/ja/features/c03708/amp/}} Sadao Watanabe (1985-2021),{{Cite web |title=Takao Ogawa "Japanese Jazz in Testimonies" A book that describes the scene that developed uniquely after the war with the valuable testimonies of 27 people such as Toshiko Akiyoshi and Sadao Watanabe. |url=https://mikiki.tokyo.jp/articles/-/9728}} Terumasa Hino(1983-2021),{{Cite book |last=Ogawa |first=Takao |title=The Truth about Miles Davis |publisher=Kodansha |year=2016 |isbn=978-4-06-281691-5 |location=Tokyo, Japan |pages=702 |language=ja}} Alfred Lion (1985,1986),{{Cite web |title=Alfred Lyon "They were playing music I had never heard before and I was fascinated by the beat." (in Japanese) |url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20200813/dde/018/040/010000c}} Bob Weinstock (1999),{{Cite book |last=Ogawa |first=Takao |title=Jazz Masterpieces 1374 by Label ·レーベルで聴くジャズ名盤 1374 |publisher=Shinko Music Entertainment |year=2020 |isbn=978-4-401-64957-0 |pages=322 |language=Japanese}} Orrin Keepnews (2000),{{Cite book |last=Ogawa |first=Takao |title=Jazz Masterpieces 1374 by label |publisher=Shinko Music Entertainment |year=2020 |isbn=978-4-401-64957-0 |location=Japan |pages=346–357, 358–359 |language=Japanese}} and Creed Taylor. (2009){{Cite book |last=Ogawa |first=Takao |title=Jazz Masterpieces 1374 by Label |publisher=Shinko Music Entertainment |year=2020 |isbn=978-4-401-64957-0 |location=Japan |pages=10–11 |language=Japanese}} Ogawa befriended Miles Davis in 1985 and wrote seven books about him.{{Cite journal |title=The Truth about Miles Davis/マイルスデイヴィスの真実 |journal=(No Title) |url=https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1130282270336497536 |last1=小川 |first1=隆夫 }}{{Cite web |editor-last=Baba |editor-first=Masayuki |title=Interview with Takao Ogawa,"Everything that Miles Davis Told, Miles speaks" |url=https://mikiki.tokyo.jp/articles/-/13200 |website=Mikiki |publisher=}} He has written many articles and books mainly about jazz and formed Selim Slive Elementz, an electric free jazz rock band in 2016, in homage to Miles Davis.{{Cite web |title=Selim Slive Elementz - Resurrection |url=https://lightintheattic.net/releases/4349-resurrection |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Light In The Attic Records}}{{Cite web |title=Selim Slive Elementz |url=https://www.t5jazz.com/p/selimsliveelementz.html |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=T5Jazz Records}}

In 1992, Ogawa produced albums by Kenny Werner,{{Cite web |title=Kenny Werner at Flatout Production |website=Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1563103-Kenny-Werner-Paintings}} Dennis Chambers,{{Cite web |title=1992 Dennis Chambers – Getting Even {{!}} Sessiondays |url=https://www.sessiondays.com/2019/09/1992-dennis-chambers-getting-even/ |access-date=2023-04-30 |language=en-US}} Marc Copland,{{Cite web |title=Marc Copland » Innervoicejazz |url=https://innervoicejazz.com/artists/marc-copland/ |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=Innervoicejazz |language=en-US}} the keyboardist Adam Holzman{{Citation |last=Metason |title=Adam Holzman - In A Loud Way |url=https://music.metason.net/artistinfo?name=Adam%20Holzman&title=In%20A%20Loud%20Way |access-date=2023-05-07 |language=EN}} who played with Miles Davis, Bob Mintzer,{{Citation |last=Metason |title=Bob Mintzer, Michael Formanek, Jeff Andrews, Peter Erskine - I Remember Jaco |url=https://music.metason.net/artistinfo?name=Bob%20Mintzer%2C%20Michael%20Formanek%2C%20Jeff%20Andrews%2C%20Peter%20Erskine&title=I%20Remember%20Jaco |access-date=2023-04-30 |language=EN}} Curtis Fuller,{{Citation |last=Curtis Fuller Quintet |title=Blues-ette. Part II |date=1993 |url=https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/13323639 |access-date=2023-04-30 |place=Japan |publisher=Savoy Jazz}} and other artists at Flatout productions.{{Cite book |last=Ogawa |first=Takao |title=JAZZ MEN,I LOVE THOSE CATS 2/愛しのジャズメン 2 |publisher=Tokyo Kirarasha |year=2007 |isbn=978-4-380-07219-2 |location=Japan |pages=65}}

Ogawa is Director of Orthopedics at Central Clinic in Tokyo, Japan.{{Cite web |title=Central Clinic, Tokyo, Japan |url=http://www.centralclinic.com/eng.html |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=www.centralclinic.com}}

Early life and education

Ogawa started learning classical guitar when he was 10 years old and he was impressed by João Gilberto's guitar style which he heard from the Getz / Gilberto album at the age of 13. That started his interest in Bossa nova. Around that time, he formed a band with his junior high school classmates in the same style as The Ventures. When in high school, Ogawa played folk songs in a band, played on radio stations and concert halls, and played with a Rhythm & blues band in discothèques in Tokyo.{{Cite book |last=Ogawa |first=Takao |title=Revised Blue Note Collector's Guide |publisher=Kawade shobo |year=2009 |isbn=978-4-309-90839-7 |location=Tokyo, Japan |pages=36 |language=Ja}}{{Cite web |date=9 May 2017 |title=Interview with Takao Ogawa |url=https://www.arban-mag.com/article/3872?amp=1#top |website=Arban-mag.com |language=Japanese |publication-place=Osaka Japan}}

Ogawa entered Tokyo Medical University in 1970. He started playing jazz guitar in a jazz band in parallel with his activities in rock bands and studied jazz guitar and music theory at "An Music School" in 1971.{{Cite book |last=Ogawa |first=Takao |title=Revised Blue Note Collector's Guide |publisher=Tokyo Kirarasha |year=2009 |isbn=978-4-309-90839-7 |location=Japan |pages=70–71 |language=ja}} Ogawa formed a jazz band with students of the same school and played at jazz cafes and hotel lounges in Tokyo. After that, his schoolwork as a medical student became very demanding, so he gave up all band activities.{{Cite web |title=The 34th lecture "Encounter with jazz, thoughts on New York" |url=https://www.seijo-dosokai.com/archives/6209/ |website=Seijo Alumni Association|date=7 March 2015 }}

In 1977, Ogawa graduated from medical school and entered the medical office of the university hospital. From 1981 to 1983, he lived in New York as a graduate student{{Cite book |title=Wynton, Next Door |publisher=NHK Publishing |year=2006 |isbn=4-14-081152-8 |pages=9 |language=ja}}{{Cite web |title=Ogawa Takao |url=https://www.nippon.com/en/authordata/ogawa-takao/ |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=nippon.com |language=en}} and studied social rehabilitation at New York University Graduate School.{{Cite web |title=Rehabilitation Sciences {{!}} NYU Steinhardt |url=https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/programs/rehabilitation-sciences |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=steinhardt.nyu.edu |language=en}}{{Cite book |last1=Hirano |first1=Keiichiro |url=https://www.kinokuniya.co.jp/f/dsg-01-9784582832907 |title=Talkin' Jazz x Literature |last2=Ogawa |first2=Takao |publisher=Heibonsha |year=2005 |isbn=4-582-83290-3 |location=Japan |publication-date=2005 |language=ja}}

During this time, he got to know Wynton Marsalis and his brother Branford and Art Blakey who all lived in the building next to his place, as well as Max Gordon, the owner of Village Vanguard and many others.{{Cite web |date= 19 April 2024|title=What was happening in New York jazz clubs in the early 80s? An interview with Takao Ogawa |url=https://www.arban-mag.com/article/79636?amp=1# |website=Arban-mag.com}}{{Cite book |title=My Neighbor, Wynton/となりのウィントン |publisher=NHK Publishing |year=2006 |isbn=4-14-081152-8 |pages=20–21 |language=ja}}

Career

After returning to Japan in 1983, Ogawa started working as a music critic,{{Cite web |title=Ogawa Takao |url=https://www.nippon.com/en/authordata/ogawa-takao/ |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=nippon.com |language=en}} translator, journalist,{{Cite web |title=Jazz in Japan through Testimonials: Super high school student who appeared in the Japanese jazz world in the 50s. |date=28 June 2018 |url=https://www.arban-mag.com/article/19279}} and musical event producer, jazz in particular.{{Cite web |title=Takao Ogawa Interview: Ask the jazz journalist who has written a series of shocking books. |date=9 May 2017 |url=https://www.arban-mag.com/article/3872}}

In 1985, he met Alfred Lion, the founder of Blue Note Records, and when Lion came to Japan the following year, he traveled together with Ogawa as his doctor.{{Cite web |last=Yamaguchi |first=Miruko |title=BlueNote Interview with Takao Ogawa |url=https://www.jazz.co.jp/bluenote/interview/02.html}} That year, Ogawa interviewed Miles Davis, and this led to a long-time friendship between them. By the time Miles left this world in 1991, Ogawa had had nearly 20 interviews and meetings with Miles and based on these experiences he published "The Truth About Miles Davis" and "Miles Speaks - Everything that Miles Davis Told."{{Cite web |last=Baba |first=Masayuki |date=2017 |title=Mikiki Tokyo Japan Music Review |url=https://mikiki.tokyo.jp/articles/-/13200}}{{Cite book |title="Miles Speaks - Everything that Miles Davis Told マイルス·デイヴィスが語ったすべてのこと" |publisher=Kawade Shobo Shinsha |year=2016 |isbn=978-4-309-27770-7 |location=Japan |language=ja}}

In the 1990s, he launched labels such as Glass House (Pioneer LDC),{{Cite web |title=1992 Dennis Chambers – Getting Even {{!}} Sessiondays |url=https://www.sessiondays.com/2019/09/1992-dennis-chambers-getting-even/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |language=en-US}} Savoy (Nippon Columbia),{{Cite magazine |date=20 February 1993 |title=Savoy Faire/ Return of the Savoy Jazz Label |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-02-20.pdf |magazine=Billboard}} P14 and Novus-J (BMG Victor) and he produced his works in New York and Chicago.{{Cite web |last=Kranz |first=Andreas |date=2018-05-12 |title=Marc Copland was writing music with chords that were more and more complex: New live full video 2018 » Innervoicejazz |url=https://innervoicejazz.com/marc-copland-was-writing-music-with-chords-that-were-more-and-more-complex-new-live-full-video-2018/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Innervoicejazz |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Miles Electric Band/Takao Ogawa x Mitsutaka Nagira |url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/special/detail/1875/4/4/2}}

Since 2010, Ogawa has focused on interviews with Japanese musicians, especially about the situation of Japanese jazz after World War II and the development of jazz. He wrote "Jazz in Japan through Testimonials",{{Cite web |last=Miyazawa |first=Akio |date=2015 |title=Good Life with Books |url=https://book.asahi.com/reviews/11605347 |website=Asahi Journal}} and introduced those Japanese musicians through books such as "Legendary Live in Japan - Jazz History Revealed through Records and Memories" and "All Recordings of Jazzmen Visiting Japan from 1931 to 1979".

In 2016, he formed Selim Slive Elementz,{{Cite web |title=Selim Slive Elementz |url=https://www.t5jazz.com/p/selimsliveelementz.html |access-date=2023-04-27 |language=ja}} a band in memory of Miles Davis, with Japanese leading club jazz musicians. They performed at Tokyo Jazz Festival at WWWX,{{Cite web |title=09/01(Fri) WWW X Selim Slive Elementz |url=https://www-shibuya.jp/schedule/007789.php |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=Shibuya WWW - WWW X |language=ja}} Shinjuku "Pit-in",{{Cite web |title=T5Jazz.net, "Selim Slive Elementz Live recording announcement |url=https://www.t5jazz.com/2017/05/selim-slive-elementz-live-recording.html}} "Motion Blue Yokohama",{{Cite web |title=Selim Slive Elementz |url=https://www.t5jazz.com/p/selimsliveelementz.html |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=T5Jazz Records}} Shibuya "JZ Brat",{{Cite web |title=JZ Brat Sound of Tokyo/Live Schedule |url=https://www.jzbrat.com/liveinfo/2018/05/ |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=www.jzbrat.com}} "If it's sunny, throw beans in the sky (Haretara Sorani Mame Maite)."{{Cite web |last=T5Jazz.net |title=Selim Slive Elementz/Live recording announcement |url=https://www.t5jazz.com/2017/05/selim-slive-elementz-live-recording.html |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=T5Jazz Records}}

In 2017, they released their debut album, "Resurrection" (T5Jazz Records){{Cite web |title=Selim Slive Elementz |url=https://www.t5jazz.com/p/selimsliveelementz.html |access-date=2023-04-18 |language=ja}} and "Voice" (Flatout/Ultra-Vybe) in 2019.{{Cite web |title=VOICE, by Selim Slive Elementz |url=https://selimsliveelementz.bandcamp.com/album/voice |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=Selim Slive Elementz |language=en}}

Ogawa regularly hosts radio broadcasts on NHK-FM and other radio stations such as "Jazz Miles", a radio show on Miles Davis aired on NHK in Japan.{{Cite web |last= |date= 9 October 2020|title=JAZZ MILES II Hosted by Takao Ogawa |url=https://www.milesdavis.com/news/jazz-miles-ii-hosted-by-takao-ogawa/ |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=Miles Davis Official Site |language=en-US}}Japan Broadcast Association, Jazz Miles IV {{Citation |last=日本放送協会 |title=ジャズマイルス IV |url=https://www.nhk.jp/p/rs/5PVQGRY3KY/ |access-date=2023-04-18 |language=ja}}

Recognition

In 2015, Ogawa won the "Music Pen Club Music Award"{{Cite web |title=About MPCJ|ミュージック・ペンクラブ・ジャパン MPCJ |url=http://www.musicpenclub.com/about.html |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=www.musicpenclub.com}} for his work: "Jazz in Japan through Testimonials".{{Cite web |title=Past Award Winners: Music Pen Club Japan, MPCJ |url=http://www.musicpenclub.com/prize/winners.html |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=www.musicpenclub.com}}

In 2024, Ogawa was nominated for the "Music Pen Club Music Award" for his work: "The Definitive Guide to The Blue Note 1500 Series".{{Cite web |title=ミュージック・ペンクラブ・ジャパン MPCJ |url=http://www.musicpenclub.com/index.html |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=www.musicpenclub.com}}

Selected works

  • "My Neighbor, Wynton (Marsalis) · となりのウイントン”(NHK Publishing) 2006, Language: Japanese {{ISBN|4-14-081152-8}}
  • "Jazz in Japan through Testimonials · 証言で綴る日本のジャズ" (Komakusa Publishing) 2015, Language: Japanese {{ISBN|978-4-905447-71-9}}
  • "The Truth about Miles Davis ·マイルス·デイヴィスの真実" (Kodansha + α Bunko) 2016, Language: Japanese {{ISBN|978-4-06-281691-5}}
  • "A True Story of Blue Note – Revised Edition · 改訂版ブルーノートの真実"(Tokyo Kirarasha) 2019, Language: Japanese {{ISBN|978-4-903883-46-5}}
  • "Encyclopedia of Miles Davis ·マイルス·デイヴィス大事典" (Shinko Music Entertainment) 2023, Language: Japanese {{ISBN|978-4-401-65118-4}}
  • "All Recordings of Jazzmen Who Visited Japan 1931 -1979 · History of the Development of Japanese Jazz with Records · 来日ジャズメン全レコーディング1931−1979 · レコードでたどる日本ジャズ発展史" (Shinko Music Entertainment) 2023, Language: Japanese {{ISBN|978-4-401-65335-5}}
  • "The Golden Age of Jazz Clubs - NY Jazz Diary 1981-1983 · ジャズ · クラブ黄金時代 - NYジャズ日記 1981-1983" (Shinko Music Entertainment) 2023, Language: Japanese ISBN 978-4-401-65424-6
  • "The Definitive Guide to The Blue Note 1500 Series · 決定版ブルーノート1500シリーズ 完全解説" (Shinko Music Entertainment) 2024, Language: Japanese ISBN-10 4401654617, ISBN-13 978-4401654611

Selected Discography (as producer)

  • Peter Erskine: Sweet Soul, CD, 1991, Novus-J/BMG Victor Inc.{{Cite web |last=Erskine |first=Peter |title=Sweet Soul, CD 1991 |url=http://sudo.3.pro.tok2.com/Quest/cards/P/PeterErskine/index.html}}
  • Bob Mintzer: I Remember Jaco, CD, 1991, Novus-J/BMG Victor Inc.{{Cite web |title=Release "I Remember Jaco" by Bob Mintzer, Michael Formanek, Jeff Andrews & Peter Erskine - MusicBrainz |url=https://musicbrainz.org/release/9b8a2257-d24c-4eb4-a85f-877016b7244b |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=musicbrainz.org}}
  • Curtis Fuller: Blues - ette Part II, Album, 1993, Savoy/Columbia Music Entertainment.{{Citation |last=Curtis Fuller Quintet |title=Blues-ette. Part II |date=1993 |url=https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/13323639 |access-date=2023-10-02 |place=Japan |publisher=Savoy Jazz}}
  • Adam Holzman: In a Loud way, Album, 1992, Manhattan Records.{{Citation |last=Metason |title=Adam Holzman - In A Loud Way |url=https://music.metason.net/artistinfo?name=Adam%20Holzman&title=In%20A%20Loud%20Way |access-date=2023-10-02 |language=EN}}
  • Marc Copland: Stompin' with Savoy, CD, 1995, Savoy/Columbia Music Entertainment.{{Cite web |last=Bolton |first=Emmanuel |date=2018-05-27 |title=Marc Copland was writing music with chords that were more and more complex |url=https://jazzbluesnews.com/2018/05/27/marc-copland-was-writing-music-with-chords-that-were-more-and-more-complex-new-live-full-video-2018/ |access-date=2023-10-02 |language=en-US}}
  • Denis Chambers::Getting Even, CD, Album, 1998, Glass House/Pioneer LDC, Inc.{{Cite web |title=1992 Dennis Chambers – Getting Even {{!}} Sessiondays |url=https://www.sessiondays.com/2019/09/1992-dennis-chambers-getting-even/ |access-date=2023-10-02 |language=en-US}}
  • Selim Slive Elementz: Resurrection, CD, Album, 2017, T5 Jazz Records (Vivid Sound Corporation).{{Cite web |title=Selim Slive Elementz - Resurrection |url=https://lightintheattic.net/releases/4349-resurrection |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=Light In The Attic Records}}

References

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