Projects
Nobuo Watanabe Trio
Piano Trio
In 1937, Nat King Cole introduced the first-ever jazz piano trio format, consisting of a piano, guitar and bass into the jazz scene, and it remained fashionable through the following decade. However, this format gradually disappeared by late 1950s amid the growing popularity of the newer format featuring drums instead of guitar. The Japanese pianist Nobuo Watanabe revives this classic setup and explores its contrapuntal possibilities and chamber-musical sound.
Prohibition orchestra
10-piece Orchestra
Prohibition Orchestra was formed in 2018 in Graz, Austria. Consisting of the leader, arranger, and pianist Nobuo Watanabe and his cherry-picked nine young musicians from seven different countries, this international 10-piece orchestra authentically performs Hot Jazz from the Prohibition era, 1920-1933. Their repertoire ranges from the hot numbers from Fletcher Henderson and Duke Ellington to the sweet melodies of George Gershwin and Cole Porter. The Japanese pianist Nobuo Watanabe revives this classic setup and explores its contrapuntal possibilities and chamber-musical sound.
As Sideman
Prohibition Stompers
Hot Jazz Septet
The Prohibition Stompers project was launched in late 2016 in Graz, Austria, and comprises seven early jazz enthusiasts from different corners of the world. Their choice of music brings us back to the era referred to as the golden age of jazz or the roaring 20s, a period marked by boundless optimism and endless possibilities. This time was characterized by a booming economy, as well as the first widespread use of automobiles, telephones, radios, and other electrical appliances. The media was focused on celebrities, including sports stars like Babe Ruth and movie stars like Charlie Chaplin. As a result, the first pop-culture emerged with all the energy and madness of the period contained in the music. People began to dance to a fast-paced, rhythmic style of music known as stomp. The band strives to revive the spirit of that era, filled with new energy.