5 Japanese Big Bands

When many American big-band singers toured Japan and Australia in the early 1960s, musical directors brought along the arrangements rather than 18 to 21 musicians. In some cases it was cheaper. In other situations, countries and unions had regulations that insisted that artists hire their own musicians for the job. Like Australia, Japan had top-notch big-band players then and today, the nation still does. Here are five videos featuring terrific Japanese bands:

Here's Anita O'Day in 1963...

Here are the Four Freshmen in 1964...

Here are the Four Freshmen again...

And more recently, here's flutist Ali Ryerson with the Japan Jazz Flute Big Band...

Here's Bill Watrous and the Masaru Uchibori Big Band...

And here's BFJO Takasago, a Japanese all-female jazz band, ...