, is a Japanese

jazz fusion Jazz fusion (also known as jazz rock, jazz-rock fusion, or simply fusion) is a popular music genre that developed in the late 1960s when musicians combined jazz harmony and improvisation with rock music, funk, and rhythm and blues. Electric gui ...

drummer, best known as the drummer for the Japanese jazz fusion band Casiopea in 3 separate stints (1980-1989, 1997-2006 and 2012-2022). Aside from his work with Casiopea, Jimbo has also participated in side projects with Keiko Matsui, Shambara, and

Brian Bromberg Brian Bromberg (born December 5, 1960) is an American jazz bassist and record producer who performs on electric and acoustic instruments. Biography Bromberg was born on December 5, 1960, in Tucson, Arizona. His father and brother both played ...

Background

Akira Jimbo began drumming at the age of 18 when he joined the

Keio University , abbreviated as or , is a private university, private research university located in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It was originally established as a school for Rangaku, Western studies in 1858 in Edo. It was granted university status in 1920, becomi ...

Light Music Society Big Band. He became a member of Casiopea in 1980. During his solo career, he formed

Jimsaku is a Japanese drum and bass duo formed by Akira Jimbo and Tetsuo Sakurai in 1990, after they left the jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and ear ...

, a duo consisting of himself and Casiopea's bassist Tetsuo Sakurai in 1989. He has also worked with Hiroyuki Noritake from

T-Square A T-square is a technical drawing instrument used by draftsmen primarily as a guide for drawing horizontal lines on a drafting table. The instrument is named after its resemblance to the letter T, with a long shaft called the "blade" and a s ...

in the drum duo Synchronized DNA. Jimbo uses a hybrid drumming style, combining elements of acoustic and electronic percussion, 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 fully orchestrated songs without a backing track. Jimbo has assisted in the design of K Custom Hybrid Series of cymbals by Zildjian. His drum hero is

Steve Gadd Stephen Kendall Gadd (born April 9, 1945) is an American jazz fusion drummer, percussionist, and session musician. Gadd is one of the best-known and most highly regarded session and studio drummers in the industry, recognized by his induction i ...

. In 1999, he won second 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 ''

Modern Drummer ''Modern Drummer'' is a monthly publication targeting the interests of drummers and percussionists. The magazine features interviews, equipment reviews, columns offering advice on technique, and information for the general public. ''Modern Dru ...

'' magazine. He appeared in the Modern Drummers Festival in 2000.

Drum setup

One unique aspect of Jimbo's drumming is the setup of his drums. Using acoustic drums together with Yamaha electronic drum triggers, Jimbo is able to create a live performance with an array of different sounds. Apart from endorsing Yamaha drums and Zildjian cymbals, he also endorses Vic Firth drumsticks.

MIDI Drum Trigger System

Jimbo has claimed that every sound is triggered by himself as part of a live performance, which was true in the past, due to the limitations of the trigger system technology. As his career has progressed, however, he now uses various sequencing programs during some portions of his performances, such as during intense drum solos or particularly difficult arrangements.

Main Drum Kit Setup

Acoustic Drums * Yamaha WSD13AJ (13"×7") Beech Custom Akira Jimbo Signature Snare Drum * Yamaha YD9000AJ (8",10",12",14",16",22") Recording Custom Akira Jimbo debut 30th Anniversary Kit Cymbals * Zildjian K Custom Hybrid Series ** 13.25" Hi-Hat ** 17" Crash ** 19" Trash Smash ** 19" China ** 21" Ride ** 9" Splash ** 13" Trash Splash/15" Trash Crash (stack) Electronic Drum Trigger * Yamaha DTX900

Past Equipment

Drum Sets *1980 – YD9000R *1983 to 1986 –

Simmons SDS-V The Simmons SDS 5, SDSV, or Simmons Drum Synthesizer (notated as ''SDS-V'' on the following) was the first viable electronic replacement for acoustic drums. It was developed by Richard James Burgess and Dave Simmons, manufactured initially by M ...

*1990 – Yamaha Rock Tour Custom *1992 – Maple 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

Studio Albums - Solo

Covers Albums

Collaborations

Compilations

Unit albums

Drums Lesson Series

References

External links

Official site in Japanese

Akira Jimbo Interview
NAMM Oral History Library (2008) {{DEFAULTSORT:Jimbo, Akira 1959 births Living people Japanese drummers Japanese jazz musicians Japanese male jazz musicians Optimism Records artists Casiopea members