Fumio Karashima

Japanese jazz pianist and composer. Born March 9, 1948 in Oita, Japan; died February 24, 2017 in Tokyo, Japan.

After moving to Tokyo, he became a member of The Elvin Jones Jazz Machine and played in the band for six years. From that time onwards, he was actively performing in the jazz scene in the U.S. and Europe, and established a solid position as one of the top pianists in the world.

He also began a friendship with the same generation jazz great Anthony Williams participated as a member.

After that, he released “Open the Gate” with all-star performers including Kei Akagi “Grand New Touch” made a real hit of jazz piano.

His later works include his collaboration with Jack DeJohnette “Great Time”, his standard solo album “Moon River” in which he played a Fazioli piano regarded as the best piano manufactured in Italy, and his tribute album to Elvin Jones “E. J. Blues – Fumio Karashima meets Takeo Moriyama”.