Nobuo Watanabe

Pianist, Arranger, Composer

Austria
Background image of Nobuo

Biography

Born into a musical family in Tokyo, Japan. Nobuo Watanabe took his first piano lessons at the age of six. After submerging himself in classical music for ten years, he began exploring the world of Jazz by listening to the recordings of the early masters such as Paul Whiteman, Duke Ellington and Bix Beiderbecke. Later interested in Bebop, he learnt improvisation by attending masterclasses of the bebop legend Barry Harris. He has performed at numerous jazz clubs and festivals in Japan since 2010. In 2014, he moved to Graz to study jazz piano performance at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz with Prof. Olaf Polziehn. He received his Bachelor’s degree with distinction in 2019 and is currently enrolled in a Master’s programme in jazz composition and arrangement with Prof. Ed Partyka.
He leads a 10-piece Prohibition Orchestra, dedicated to performing the music of the 1920s, as an arranger and pianist. In addition to his projects ranging from a duo, trio to the orchestra, he performs as a sideman with Prohibition Stompers and other traditional jazz and swing bands.
As a skilled arranger, Nobuo has scored for various ensembles and projects such as Jugend Jazzorchester Steiermark, a youth big band in Graz, a Viennese ensemble philharmonix, and for a styriarte 2017 festival production Ginger & Fred.SOAP.
As a composer, he has recently been chosen as a finalist of Jazz Comp Graz 2020, a triannual competition for contemporary jazz composition.

Background image of Nobuo

Gigs

  • 11 Apr 2025

    JP Tokyo / Bar Cajica

    Kyoichi Watanabe & Nobuo Watanabe📍 東京都世田谷区代沢2-29-1 MART下北沢Ⅱ 2階
  • 16 Apr 2025

    JP Kōenji, Tokyo / MOON STOMP

    The Swing Three📍 キャニオンプラザ大須賀 B103, 2 Chome-22-6 Koenjikita, Suginami City, Tokyo 166-0002, Japan
  • 19 Apr 2025

    JP Mejiro, Tokyo / Mark VI

    Kai Ichikawa Quintet feat. Nobuo Watanabe📍 Tokyo, Toshima City, Mejiro, 3 Chome−17−23 AVIWSビル 1F
  • 24 Apr 2025

    JP Tokyo / 赤坂dot & blue

    高岩遼 with Jazz Friends📍 東京都港区赤坂7-9-7 バルビゾン74

Blog

  • 4/19 市川海容クインテット feat. 渡邊暢生@目白Mark VI

    10年以上前に活動してビバップを追求しており、第32回浅草ジャズコンテストでは共に銀賞を受賞したサックスの市川海容と久々の共演です。 【Live info】4/19(土)目白Mark VIhttps://mark6mejiro.comOpen 18:30 Start 19:00料金 ¥3,000 + 1 order市川海容(sax)岡田遥来(tp)渡邊暢生(pf)菊池藍(bass)橋詰大智(drums)ご予約はこちらのリンクからお願いいたします。https://forms.gle/RCy5V2X34HPT7CPQ9

    Open Blog Post
  • 4/16 The Swing Three@高円寺Moon Stomp

    今春の一時帰国中に、10年以上前、大学生の頃にThe Swing Fourというバンドで一緒に活動していた クラリネットの宮崎佳彦と久々のライブします! 高円寺Moon Stompさんにて、素晴らしいドラマーのたきざわあつきさんを招いてスウィングジャズのトリオ編成です。皆様のお越しをお待ちしております。 ご予約はこちらのリンクから https://yoshimiyazk.wixsite.com/yoshihiko-jazz/reservation Moon Stomp https://bighitcompany.com/moonstomp https://maps.app.goo.gl/m3ET7ezgjAtebXRt5

    Open Blog Post
Background image of Nobuo

Discography

Duke's Place
No More Shadows

Arrangement & Transcription

As a highly skilled arranger and transcriber, Nobuo Watanabe has produced over 100 sheet music arrangements for individual clients, professional productions, and renowned ensembles, including the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, Zürich Jazz Orchestra, Jazzorchester Steiermark, and Philharmonix. With his exceptional absolute pitch and deep understanding of harmony and diverse orchestration styles, he ensures precise note-for-note transcriptions, covering everything from solo instruments to big band and orchestral works.

For enquiries, contact us today to request a quote!

Contact and Booking

Feel free to ask anything.

Google reCaptcha: Invalid site key.

Nobuo Watanabe in 1920s outfit