Toshinori Kondo (1948-2020)

[OliverM]

Great trumpeter Toshinori Kondo has died on Saturday, October 17, his sons have stated in an obituary this Sunday:

http://www.toshinorikondo.com/

He was a personal favorite as part of Die Like a Dog Quartet and something very special to be experienced live, as seen in two different settings at Mulhouse festival in 2017.

This is sudden and sad.

 

[Justin V]

Ah, man.  I really like him on the five Die Like a Dog discs I have.  Thank you for the music, Mr. Kondo, and rest in peace.

[Steve Reynolds]

Was just listening to him the other day on a recently released show with Fred Anderson, Tatsu Aoki & Hamid Drake from December 1994. His playing on this recordings is off the hook incredible. To be at The Velvet Lounge for that show?!?! Wow - I had no idea he played with Fred.

I commented that there was no one like him and what he did with Die Like a Dog quartet with Peter, William & Hamid would be legendary in a sane musical world 

one of my biggest musical regrets was a missed opportunity to see the full quartet back in the late 90’s. 

genius improvisor - what he did with the pedals and electronics with his trumpet was untouchable 

 

RIP, Sir

 

of course I dedicate that sign off to Ulrich 

Edited October 19, 2020 by Steve Reynolds

[ejp626]

RIP.  I will definitely be picking up the 1994 Velvet Lounge show and probably a couple of the Die Like a Dog recordings on the next Bandcamp Friday. 

I'm currently streaming music with very different vibe - Realm 2 Parallax with Kondo and Barton Rage.

[clifford_thornton]

Brilliant musician indeed, sad to see him go. Have a number of his improv LPs, all excellent, as well as his work with Brötzmann a.o.. But I need to get that Fred Anderson disc!

[Rabshakeh]

Very sad. A really unique musician.

[soulpope]

R.I.P ....

[mjazzg]

What a shame.

I sat in the front row when he played with Full Blast at the Vortex. It was so loud it nearly hurt (shades of Motorhead).  But the playing was wonderful, Kondo's in particular.

I don't know nearly enough about his recordings away from Brotzmann.

Edited October 19, 2020 by mjazzg

[Jason Bivins]

Very sad news. Seeing DLAD live at the Empty Bottle is still one of my favorite live experiences ever, thanks in no small part to TK's cosmic shapes. RIP, sir, and thank you.

[Steve Reynolds]

  On 10/19/2020 at 3:19 PM, Jason Bivins said:

Very sad news. Seeing DLAD live at the Empty Bottle is still one of my favorite live experiences ever, thanks in no small part to TK's cosmic shapes. RIP, sir, and thank you.

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Jason - remember the days we were all discovering this stuff and sharing with each other on line? With Bruce K Woods, Gordon, Walter & Sisco? When was the Empty Bottle show?

[Jason Bivins]

  On 10/19/2020 at 5:33 PM, Steve Reynolds said:

Jason - remember the days we were all discovering this stuff and sharing with each other on line? With Bruce K Woods, Gordon, Walter & Sisco? When was the Empty Bottle show?

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Very fondly, brother Steve! The show was, I think, 1998 or 1999.

[Holy Ghost]

This dude, Parker, Drake made sense. In a Iron Maiden way, this band was mind-boggling. Heavy metal jazz, and we are afforded this incredible footage of an incredible artist: new to me! 

 

[Holy Ghost]

  On 10/19/2020 at 12:46 AM, Steve Reynolds said:

Was just listening to him the other day on a recently released show with Fred Anderson, Tatsu Aoki & Hamid Drake from December 1994. His playing on this recordings is off the hook incredible. To be at The Velvet Lounge for that show?!?! Wow - I had no idea he played with Fred.

I commented that there was no one like him and what he did with Die Like a Dog quartet with Peter, William & Hamid would be legendary in a sane musical world 

one of my biggest musical regrets was a missed opportunity to see the full quartet back in the late 90’s. 

genius improvisor - what he did with the pedals and electronics with his trumpet was untouchable 

 

RIP, Sir

 

of course I dedicate that sign off to Ulrich 

Expand  

Word, dude.