市野元彥 Motohiko Ichino / 吉他，中音吉他
津上研太 Kenta Tsugami / 中音薩克斯風 Alto saxophone
外山明 Akira Sotoyama / 鼓組 Drums
謝明諺 Minyen Hsieh / 次中音薩克斯風 Tenor Saxophone

[melodies] is a trio project by guitarist Motohiko Ichino with his long-time collaborator Kenta Tsugami (alto saxophone) and Akira Sotoyama (drums), highly acclaimed improvisers in the Tokyo music scene. Formed in 2023, the trio plays Ichino’s compositions written especially focusing on space and simple melodies for the band's floating improvisation, and on the attempt to make musical “kinetic art”. The band is scheduled to release their debut album in 2024, with guest saxophonist Minyen Hsieh.

Motohiko Ichino (compose , guitar, baritone guitar, compositions)

Tokyo-based guitarist/composer MOTOHIKO ICHINO graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1999, where he studied harmony and improvisation with Mick Goodrick and Bret Willmott. As a bandleader, he has released 6 albums of original music. He has released “Sketches”(2007) and “Time Flows Like Water”(2008) under the name of Motohiko Ichino Quartet. He also leads a five-piece band ‘rabbitoo,’ and has released “national anthem of unknown country” (2014) and “the torch” (2016). The band’s debut album is also released all over Europe by naïve records, and selected as a Top Mezzo of September 2014 (MEZZO TV, France). Also, he leads ‘Sweet Herringbone,’ a four-piece band with focus on the improvisational aspect of music, and has digitally released “After Ten”(2020) and “Flourish”(2021). In recent years he leads a guitar-saxophone-drums trio [melodies] with Akira Sotoyama and Kenta Tsugami, and is scheduled to release their debut album in 2024. Besides playing his music as a leader, he has been featured on various groups and has appeared on more than 30 albums as a sideman.

Minyen Hsieh

Minyen Hsieh is a highly regarded, award-winning Taiwanese saxophonist. The Taipei native, born in 1981, started to perform professionally at the age of 19, and received his Master degree from the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Brussels on 2010. His strong improvisation skills and rich tone has made him a coveted player in several genres varying from: jazz, rock, folk, hip-hop, electronic to avant-garde. He won the Taichung Saxophone Competition in 2012, 2 times Golden Melody Awards (Grammy Awards in Chinese speaking world) and 5 times Golden Indie Music Award with His solo& co-leading albums. Besides Taiwan, he also tour frequently in Japan, Hong Kong, South-East Asia and west Europe.

Kenta Tsugami - alto saxophone, soprano saxophone

Kenta Tsugami had studied music with Yoshio Otomo and George Otsuka when he attended college. He first performed as a professional musician with Otsuka and Ryojiro Frusawa in 1987. He has toured and recorded with many of Japan's leading musicians, including Imawano Kyoshiro, Akira Sakata, Takeshi Shibuya, Yosuke Yamashita, Chie Ayado, Otomo Yoshihide, Naruyoshi Kikuchi and many others. He also recorded and toured worldwide with Otomo Yoshihide's ‘New Jazz Ensemble’ ’New Jazz Quintet’ and Naruyoshi Kikuchi’s ‘Date Course Pentagon Royal Garden’. As a bandleader, he leads the band ‘Bozo’ with Hiroshi Minami (piano), Hiroaki Mizutani (bass) and Akira Sotoyama (drums), and plays his own compositions and arrangements. Bozo has released 4 albums.

Akira Sotoyama - drums, percussions

Akira Sotoyama is one of the most exciting drummers working in Japan today, who creates an extraordinary musical "magnetic field" with his innovative playing style. and is active in a variety of genres. Since moving to Tokyo, he is active in a variety of genres. He has toured and recorded with many of Japan's leading musicians, including Tipographica, Akira Sakata, Terumasa Hino, Sadao Watanabe, Yosuke Yamashita, Takeshi Shibuya, Fumio Itabashi, Kiyoshiro Imawano, Hiroshi Takano, Kenji Ozawa, UA and many others. His strikingly original drumming style is the result of a long journey through many countries, including Cuba, India and West Africa, where he was able to collaborate with local percussionists.