Akira Jimbo

Akira Jimbo
Born	February 27, 1959
Origin	Tokyo, Japan
Genres	Jazz, Fusion
Occupation(s)	Drummer, songwriter, record producer, Drums Clinician
Instruments	drums
Years active	1979–present
Associated acts	Casiopea, Jimsaku

Akira Jimbo, also seen as Akira Jinbo (神保 彰 Jinbo Akira, born February 27, 1959 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese freelance jazz fusion drummer who is famous for his drumming independence and fusion of electronic drum technology and acoustic drums. Aside from his solo work, he is also the drummer in the Japanese jazz fusion band Casiopea and has participated in various side projects with other musicians, including Keiko Matsui, Shambara, bassist Brian Bromberg. He is the main product presenter of Yamaha Drums Japan.

Background

Akira Jimbo began drumming at the age of 15 when he joined the Keio University Light Music Society Big Band. He became famous through his playing with Casiopea during the years 1979-1989. These days Casiopea is recording again with Jimbo, who returned in 1997. During his solo career he formed Jimsaku-duo with Casiopea's bassist Tetsuo Sakurai in 1989. Recently, he has been working with Hiroyuki Noritake from T-Square in the drum-duo Synchronized DNA and have together performed in a series of concerts with Casiopea.

Akira Jimbo has a unique drumming style which is best demonstrated in his drum videos and at his drum clinics. By using the DTX drum triggering system, he is able to play a full band sound without a backing track.

In 1999, Akira Jimbo was awarded 2nd place in the British drum magazine RHYTHM for most popular drummer. In June 2000, he became the first Asian drummer to be featured on the cover of the American Modern Drummer magazine. He also appeared in the Modern Drummers Festival in 2000, which is available on DVD.

More recently Jimbo has assisted in the design of the new K Custom Hybrid Series of cymbals by Zildjian. His drum hero is Steve Gadd.

Drum setup

One aspect of Jimbo's drumming is the unique setup of drums. Using Yamaha drums and Zildjian cymbals, along with Yamaha electronic drum triggers, Jimbo is able to create an array of different sounds and styles from his drumset. Jimbo points out that his mounted toms are aligned perfectly so that no one drum is lower or higher than the other, a method he applies to the floor toms as well.

Current Setup

Acoustic Drums

• Yamaha WSD13AJ (13"×7") Beech Custom Akira Jimbo Signature Snare Drum
• Yamaha YD9000AJ (8",10",12",14",16",22") Birch Custom Akira Jimbo debut 30th Anniversary Kit

Cymbal

• Zildjian K Custom Hybrid Series
  • 13.25" Hi-Hat
  • 17", 19" Crash
  • 19" China
  • 21" Ride
  • 9" Splash
  • 15" Trash Smash/Crash

Electronic Drum Trigger

• Yamaha DTX900

History

Drum Sets

• 1980 - YD9000R
• 1990 - Yamaha Rock Tour Custom
• 1992 - Mapex Custom
• 1995 - Yamaha Rock Tour Custom
• 1997 - Beech Custom
• 2001 - Beech Custom Absolute
• 2004 - Oak Custom Absolute
• 2005 - Oak Custom Akira Jimbo 25th anniversary
• 2010 - YD9000AJ Akira Jimbo 30th anniversary

Signature Snare Drums

• 1992 - MSD13AJ Maple 7ply Power Hoop (Limited)
• 1997 - WSD13AJ Beech 8ply Wood Hoop
• 2004 - NSD13AJ Oak 6ply Wood Hoop (Limited)
• 2012 - BSD1450AJ Old Birch 6ply Steel Hoop (Limited)

Discography

Solo Albums

Year	Albums
1986	Cotton
1989	Palette
1990	JIMBO
1991	SLOW BOAT
1992	PENGUIN PARASOL
1993	LIME PIE
1994	PANAMA MAN
1995	ROOMS BY THE SEA
1996	Flower
1997	Stone Butterfly
2007	Four Colors
2008	Get Up!
2009	Jimbomba
2010	Jimbo Gumbo
2011	Jimbo Jamboree
2012	Smile Smile
	Jimbo de Cover
2013	Mind Scope
	Jimbo de Cover 2

Year	Compilation Albums
1994	BEACH PICNICS Vol.1
	BEACH PICNICS Vol.2
1997	Pacifica
2010	Jimbest

Unit Albums

Year	Albums
	CASIOPEA
1980	THUNDER LIVE MAKE UPCITY
1981	EYES OF THE MIND CROSS POINT
1982	MINT JAMS FOUR BY FOUR
1983	PHOTOGRAPHS JIVE LIVE
1984	THE SOUNDGRAPHY DOWN UPBEAT
1985	HALLE CASIOPEA LIVE
1986	SUN SUN
1987	PERFECT LIVE PLATINUM
1988	EUPHONY WORLD LIVE '88
	Shambara
1989	Shambara
	JIMSAKU
1990	JIMSAKU
1991	45 ℃
1992	JADE VIVA !
1993	100% WIND LOVES US
1994	NAVEL
1995	BLAZE OF PASSION BEST SELECTION
1996	DISPENSATION
1997	MEGA db
	CASIOPEA	Nettai Tropical Jazz Big Band
1997	LIGHT AND SHADOWS	LIVE IN YOKOHAMA
1998	BE	II ~September~
1999	MATERIAL	III ~My Favourite~
			Intelligent JAZZ
2000	20th(live) BITTER SWEET	IV ~La Rumba~	intellijent JAZZ #1
2001	MAIN GATE	V ~La Noche Tropical~
				ヒダじんぼ
2002	INSPIRE	VI ~En Vivo~ LIVE2002(DVD)	SkyAndGround	BRIDGE
				JB Project
2003	PLACE	VII ~Spain~		Brombo!
2004	MARBLE Live And More	VII ~The Covers~	Stevie is wonderful	Brombo! 2
				Synchronized DNA (DVDs)
2005	GIG 25 SIGNAL	IX ~Mas Tropical!~	JAZZ ONLY LIVES TWICE	Double Drum Performance LIVE TOUR 2005
	Pyramid
2005	Pyramid
2006	TELEPATH	X ~Swing con Clave~ 10th Anniversary Live (DVD)	Stevie is wonderful More	Double Drum Performance 2
2007		XI ~Let's Groove~		ARE YOU SYNCHRONIZED ?
2008		XII ~The Originals~
2009		XII ~Fantasy~
2010		XIII ~Liberty City~
2011	PYRAMID3

Solo Videos

Year	Title	Media
1992	Metamorphosis	VHS
1995	PULSE	VHS
1997	Independence	VHS
1999	Evolution	VHS
2003	Wasabi	DVD
2003	Fujiyama	DVD
2004	Solo Drum Performance ~One Man Orchestra~	DVD
2005	Solo Drum Performance 2 ~One Man Orchestra~	DVD
2006	Solo Drum Performance 3 ~One Man Orchestra~	DVD
2007	Solo Drum Performance 4 ~神保彰の作り方~	DVD
2008	Solo Drum Performance 5 ~Circuit Exercises~	DVD
2009	Solo Drum Performance 6 ~Offset Exercises~	DVD
2010	Solo Drum Performance 7 ~Shadow Exercises~	DVD
2011	Solo Drum Performance 8 ~Dotted Exercises~	DVD

References

1. "Akira Jimbo Official Site".

1. "Akira Jimbo - Yamaha UK".

1. "Akira Jimbo debut 30th anniversary - Yamaha Japan".

1. "Akira Jimbo - Drummerworld.com".