Akira Ishikawa

Japanese jazz drummer Akira Ishikawa was known for his funky, atmospheric blend of hard bop, fusion, and African musical traditions. He recorded a handful of albums in the 1970s, like Uganda (Dawn of Rock), that later gained cachet among crate-diggers and rare groove aficionados. Ishikawa was born in 1934 in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, and made his professional debut as a member of Shin Matsumoto's New Pacific ensemble. He also worked with jazz artists like Akira Miyazawa, Toshio Hosaka, and Toshiyuki Miyama. As a leader, Ishikawa debuted with 1969's Soul Session. He also ...