Eiji Kitamura (Clarinet - Japan)

EijiKitamura made his debut in 1951 and he has been recognized as Japan's premiere jazz clarinetist for 49 years. Since 1968 he has led his own quintet and for 16 years they performed, regularly, on "Morning Echoes", a Japanese television program. Eiji has been named Best Jazz Clarinetist in Swing Journal's annual Reader's Poll each and every year since 1959, and has appeared at the Monterey jazz Festival for the past 20 years.

He has also appeared at the Concord, Mount Hood, Scandinavian, Queensland and Guiness Cork Jazz Festivals. Eiji toured Australia and Japan with fellow clarinet legend, Buddy DeFranco. His 1971 collaboration with Teddy Wilson, "Teddy Meets Eiji", was selectedas Best Recording by Japan's prestigious Swing Journal magazine.

Eiji has more than 100 albums to his credit, including the Concord Jazz releases "Dear Friend", "Seven Stars", "SwingEiji", and "Woody Herman Present Concord Jazz Vol. 1 and 2.

Eiji has been described by Clarinet Magazine as "Japan's answer to Benny Goodman.....a gentleman of personal charm and musical taste. All the ladies wanted to cuddle him, and all the clarinetists wanted break his fingers!"

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Web Site www.eijikitamura.com/profile-e.html