Introducing: Blue In Green

Introducing: Blue In Green

12 August, 2011 | 1.24PM

• Written by: Matt Ferry
• Filed under: Music News:

Jazz and chill-out tend to get short shrift here on Beatportal, so it’s about time to turn our gaze on an artist who I believe is going to be a huge contender in our chill-out section for years to come.

Yoshiaki Kanemoto (aka Blue In Green) just released his debut LP, ”DJ Vitamin D‘s Cold Busted for all you class acts last week, and who couldn’t use a soulful soundtrack for the end of summer? If you’re pining for the days of Mo Wax and DJ Krush—particularly Krush’s classic collabo with the guitarist Ronny Jordan—this lush, downbeat affair is a sound for sore ears.

Yoshiako took some time off from his summer holidays to answer our questions; read on to find out more. If you find his responses somewhat reticent, chalk it up to the language barrier—or perhaps to the fact that the important answers can only be found in the music.

And an “arigatou gozaimasu” to you!

Blue In Green, “Rendezvous” [Cold Busted]

First of all, tell us about your alias, Blue In Green—how did you come up with that?

“Blue In Green” is the title of a jazz song which Bill Evans and Miles Davis wrote and recorded in 1959. Since I was a high school student, I love that song and listen to it very often, so I chose it as my artist name.

Where did you grow up, and where’s HQ these days?

My home-town is Chigasaki, just south of Tokyo and three minutes walk to the Pacific Ocean. I’ve been living there my whole life and have been playing the guitar since age 12. Later, I began composing and playing the piano. Like many other people loving music, I listen to any kind of music.

What originally enticed you to start making music?

I remember I loved some bossa nova songs and hip-hop tunes which I heard on the radio when I was little, but I can’t remember the titles now.

How would you describe the silky smooth class you produce?

I’m not sure which category my music is in.

Blue In Green, “Rainy Streets” [Cold Busted]

Fair enough! Do you play DJ gigs or play live exclusively? I hear you play almost all the instruments on the album, so how do your live sets work?

I don’t play gigs and live sets these days, but if I play my songs live in the future, I will use a laptop or play some instruments after forming my band.

Who helped you develop your style/sound?

The chance to meet, talk, and share ideas with people who really love music is one of the most important things for me, and all of them help develop my musical skill.

You obviously take great influence from the jazz masters, so what do you think helps you stand out with your own sound?

I’ve been studying theories of jazz music and chord progressions, especially, from jazz standards of the 20th century. But I’m also learning from any other music, and think all of those experiences help my music making.

I bet your mother is pleased you kept up with jazz.

A CD which contains Bill Evans’ song, ”Blue In Green” was in my mother’s CD collections, and that was what I repetitively listened to. So yes, I think she is pleased with my songs.

Blue In Green, “Masquerade / The Night Watch” [Cold Busted]

Which instrument is your favorite?

Piano when I play alone, and guitar when playing with my friends in a band.

Favorite jazz album of all time? Dizz and Bird Live at Carnegie Hall?

“What’s New with Jeremy Steig” - Bill Evans.

If your house was being foreclosed and you had minute before the banks changed the locks, which one record would you save before the Bank Of Japan liquidated your assets?

“Back on the Block” - Quincy Jones.

When you’re not listening to jazz, what else do you listen to?
Hip-hop, bossa nova, Tchaikovsky, Villalobos [Ricardo or Hector? –Ed.], Flying Lotus....

What else do you do when you’re not making/playing music?

Reading books (Mishima Yukio, Abe Kobo, Thomas Mann) and watching sci-fi movies.

Blue In Green, “Get Back (To Soulful Music)” [Cold Busted]

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing with your life?

A researcher at a university.

Any upcoming gigs/tours? Any other releases in the near future?

I always make new songs, so maybe the next album will be finished after not too long a period.

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