
Sound
Toshinori Kondo
Born 1948-12-15 · Ehime, Japan
Toshinori Kondo (近藤 等則, Kondō Toshinori, 15 December 1948 – 17 October 2020) was a Japanese avant-garde jazz and jazz fusion trumpeter trumpeter whose daring instinct and deep expressive resources slashed through a spectrum of experimental and ambient music. A trailblazing figure in his native Japan, Kondo earned much of his reputation while based in Amsterdam or New York City. He was a sought-after collaborator in free jazz, locking horns with the incendiary German saxophonist Peter Brötzmann and courting revelation with other avant-garde luminaries, like English guitarist Derek Bailey and Dutch drummer Han Bennink. Kondo also thrived in electroacoustic settings where groove was paramount — whether leading his own groups, like Toshinori Kondo IMA; on a range of projects with bassist-producer Bill Laswell; or in a joint effort with DJ Krush, notably on the mid-1990s trip-hop album Ki-Oku.
Acting credits
4.0In this stunningly composed meditation on space and human relationships, an adrift Iranian architect, a disengaged Japanese couple, and a Lithuanian mixed martial arts fighter search for connection in modern Japan. From the stylishly designed shops of Tokyo to a minimalist glass suburban home to a mysterious tree house in the woods, Greater Things reveals the strange places we inhabit, and how they can both unite and divide us.
Greater Things
2015
6.7Every Monday, a young woman is murdered in the subway, leading psychiatrist Setsuko Suma to investigate Dr. Rei Aku's deprogramming of former sect members.
Angel Dust
1994
8.0A new student ,Eiji is forced into playing the drums for the school band by his classmate, Nanao. From the first moment he holds a drumstick in his hands, the rhythm inside Eiji is awakened and he soon becomes captive to its sonic boom. The obsessive and demanding Nanao is soon swayed by Eiji's bright character and natural kindness. Under Nanao's leadership, the band starts making waves in local competitions. Despite their success, can they survive the pressures of school, relationships, and their dreams? In Beat Kids, Director Toshi Shioya weaves a passionate rock and roll coming of age story about a teenager who uses music to turn growing pains into something extraordinary.
Beat Kids
2005
7.0When a Hong Kong teenager from a poor family wins a trip to Japan, he unleashes a chain of events that will soon bring him from his secluded fishing village to Tokyo. On the way, he connects with a barely competent tour guide and a gender-fluid pickpocket. Upon returning home with this merry band of schemers, he and his family of counterfeiters discover that a multinational conglomerate led by a ruthless Japanese developer has found the village, and is determined to raze it to build the new center of world trade.
What's Up Connection
1990
No synopsis available yet.
The Great Music Experience | Nara City, Japan 1994
1994
7.0The wife of a recently deceased yakuza boss is caught in a conflict between the candidates for his succession and must protect her beloved daughter. 9th installment of the 16-film franchise.
Yakuza Ladies: Dangerous Gamble
1996
4.6"AA" is a documentary about Akira Aida (mostly known as Aquirax Aida), a japanese music critic who introduced free jazz, improvisation, and progressive rock to Japan. It's based on interviews with 12 critics and musicians who had connections with him. This is a documentary that considers the past, present and future of improvisation.
AA
2006
Directed by Shinji Aoyama, this NHK documentary follows avant-garde jazz trumpeter Toshinori Kondo as he traces the footsteps of the poet Matsuo Bashō. Blending music, landscape, and literature, the film captures Kondo’s improvisational soundscapes against the spiritual terrain of Kumano, evoking a dialogue between past and present, poetry and performance.
Dreaming Bashō: Toshinori Kondo Blows through Kumano
2002
10.0Throughout three decades, Bill Laswell has been a constant innovator, fusing seemingly disparate genres into a whole new sound. Touching upon everything from worldbeat, funk, rock, hip-hop and jazz, there are no limits to his experimental approach. Among his many talents is his ability to bring together well-matched singers and players to create a distinct style that defies easy classification. His Soundstage episode embodies his unique approach, transcending any genre boundaries and delivering an engaging performance. From the World Beat of Tabla Beat Science, to the jazzy flavors of Pharoah Sanders backed by Material, it’s an exciting mix. Other surprises include a rocking Buckethead set that includes a little breakdancing and songs by Praxis. The show culminates with an all-star performance, funked up by Bootsy Collins.
Bill Laswell - World Beat Sound System: Live at Soundstage
2006