International Salsa Magazine

Takashi Nakazato

Asia / Japan / Tokyo

Takashi Nakazato, Multi- percussionist specializing in various musical genres.

Takashi Nakazato Olympus Digital Camera
Takashi Nakazato Olympus Digital Camera

Takashi Nakazato born in Asakusa, Tokyo is a multi-percussionist specializing in various musical genres.

He has performed with numerous well-known artists throughout his career, as well as performing with “The Lion King, The Musical” for five years.

Nakazato has toured most of Europe and Asia with the Jaribu Afrobeat Orchestra, Jazztronik, Fried Pride (Tokyo Jazz Festival etc) Kyoto Jazz Massive (North Sea Jazz Festival, Tokyo Crossover Jazz Festival etc) and toured China with the Online Game Orchestra (Ro Legend 2016)

Takashi has also toured Japan with famed pianist, Yukie Nishimura and toured Mala in Cuba.

He was the only Japanese percussionist to be hired for the gig.  Takashi studied for a long while in Cuban, learning Cuban folklore and Bata under the wing of greats like Adonis Panter Calderon, Barbaro Yordany Crespo Richard (Osain Del Monte) and Angel Boraño.

He studied the Conga drum under Tomas “El Panga” Ramos, Edger Martinez and Joaquin Pozo.

His timbal mentor was Juan Carlos Rojas.  He made Santo, Obatala, while in Cuba.

Takashi Nakazato
Takashi Nakazato

Nakazato has his own fusion band, Piecework, and is also a member of 10 piece percussion group, Orquesta Nadge! Nadge! And Ayumigos (Japanese and Cuban members of Latin Jazz).

Takashi Nakazato with the orchestra
Takashi Nakazato with the orchestra

Nakazato released his first album “Clandestina,” which included guests Luisito Quintero, Robert Quintero, Calixto Oviedo, Karl Vanden Bossche and Olí Savill. His percussion instruction book & DVD was published in 2014.

He is currently a member of the orchestra of maestro Jimmy Bosch ¨The Trombon Criollo de La Salsa ¨ and at the same time is an exclusive artist of the percussion instrument brand Gon Bops in Los Angeles California.

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Augusto Felibertt
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