Casiopea

Casiopea
Origin	Tokyo, Japan
Genres	Jazz fusion, funk, progressive rock, new wave
Years active	1976–2006, 2012-present
Associated acts	Jimsaku, Ottottrio, T-Square
Website	http://www.casiopea.co.jp/
Members	Issei Noro Yoshihiro Naruse Kiyomi Otaka Akira Jimbo (Support)
Past members	Tetsuo Sakurai Takashi Sasaki Masaaki Hiyama Noriaki Kumagai Hidehiko Koike Minoru Mukaiya

Casiopea (カシオペア, Kashiopea^?, Japanese transcription of the name of the constellation Cassiopeia) is a Japanese jazz fusion band that was formed in 1976 by guitarist Issei Noro, bassist Tetsuo Sakurai and keyboardist Hidehiko Koike. In 1977, keyboardist Minoru Mukaiya and drummer Takashi Sasaki joined the group, leaving Hidehiko out of Casiopea. The group debuted with the self-titled album Casiopea in 1979, featuring Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker and David Sanborn as guest musicians. In 1980, Sasaki was replaced by Akira Jimbo. Casiopea has released over 35 albums to date in both Japan and the United States.

Some of Casiopea's most famous tracks include Asayake, Galactic Funk and Eyes of the Mind.

The first record label to sign them was Alfa Records in 1979, with their first album Casiopea.

Galactic Funk first featured in their 1981 album "Crosspoint" which had around 10 different versions recorded both live and in studio.

The album "Eyes of the Mind" was released in the United States in 1981. They then released the album Mint Jams in 1982, followed by Four by Four the same year, which was a collaborative album with Lee Ritenour, Harvey Mason, Nathan East and Don Grusin (all except Don Grusin later became founding members of Fourplay). Their first overseas concert was held in the United Kingdom in 1983. The group has toured Europe, South America, Australia, and Southeast Asia.

...
Wikipedia