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Takeshi Itō伊東 たけし
Itō in 2012.
Background information
Born	(1954-03-15) March 15, 1954 (age 70) Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
Genres	Jazz fusion
Instruments	Saxophone wind controller flute
Years active	1976–present
Member of	T-Square

Takeshi Itō (伊東毅 or 伊東 たけし, Itō Takeshi; born March 15, 1954) is a Japanese jazz fusion saxophonist and flute player. He is currently a part of the jazz fusion band T-Square.

Biography

Early life and career

Itō had been interested in music since he was a child, leaning how to play piano and violin. At Momochi Junior High School, he joined a brass band with a euphonium and tuba. He entered Seinan Gakuin High School and chose to become a flute player, but after reading Sadao Watanabe 's autobiography, Boku Jishin no Tame no Jazz, he turned to alto saxophone.

He entered the Nihon University College of Art and belonged to the Rhythm Society Orchestra. At the same time, he joined the bands Witch Hunt and Last Day. The drummer of Witch Hunt, Michael Seiichi Kawai, was also the drummer for a band called The Square, led by guitarist Masahiro Andō, and Itō made guest appearances due to this connection. After the disbandment of Witch Hunt, he joined The Square in 1977.

Debut and T-Square

In 1984, he released his debut album, Dear Hearts. In 1985, he released his second album L7.

In 1990, he left T-Square to pursue a solo career, but returned to the band in late 2000. Around the time of his return, T-Square had split into two separate groups: Trio The Square (with bassist Mitsuru Sutō, drummer Hiroyuki Noritake and keyboardist Keiji Matsumoto) and T-Square (with Itō, guitarist Masahiro Andō and session musicians). From 2004 and onward, T-Square relied on newer, now Full-time band members.

In 2014, he released the album Favorites, his first solo album in seven years.

In 2021, Masahiro Ando left T-Square, effectively making Takeshi Itoh the band's leader.

Discography

Studio albums

References

1. "1ファンが勝手に語る伊東たけしサックスセッティング遍歴 その1". Winds on Venus (in Japanese). February 1, 2017.
2. "『宝島』～吹奏楽ポップスの頂点に君臨する名曲～". Suibaka (in Japanese).
3. "T-Square". EasyATM (in Japanese).
4. "YAMANO BIG BAND JAZZ CONTEST 今昔物語". Yamano Music (in Japanese).
5. "曲作りが緻密になっています　２４日に福岡でライブ　Ｔ－ＳＱＵＡＲＥ　伊東たけしさん". Nishinippon Shimbun. July 10, 2016. Archived from the original on November 26, 2016.
6. "伊東たけし(サックス奏者)の若い頃と現在！家族や結婚・身長などプロフィールまとめ". Arty (in Japanese).
7. "困った時は J-Fusion (5) ＆ 伊東たけし". Inaka Buta no Aichō Henreki – No Music No Life (in Japanese). Excite.
8. "伊東 たけし ／ エル・セヴン". Adoriblog ~ JAZZ/FUSION Hihyō ~ (in Japanese). Livedoor.
9. "「伊東たけし」web限定インタビュー". Meg (in Japanese). March 22, 2014.
10. "ソロ・アルバムがまもなくリリース！伊東たけしが自身のセプテットを率いてコットンクラブに登場". CDJournal (in Japanese). November 16, 2014.
11. "伊東たけし、７年ぶりのソロ・アルバム『FAVORITE』をリリース". CDJournal (in Japanese). November 26, 2014.
12. Kanno, Kiyoshi (December 9, 2014). "伊東たけし 『Favorites』". Mikiki (in Japanese).

• Japanese jazz flautists
• Japanese jazz saxophonists
• Living people
• 1954 births
• 20th-century Japanese musicians
• 20th-century flautists