Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

Infobox musical artist
Name = Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

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Img_capt = Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra at the Eurockéennes 2007
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Background = group_or_band
Alias = Skapara, TSPO
Origin = Tokyo, Japan
Genre = Ska, Jazz
Years_active = 1985 - Present
Label =
Associated_acts = Tsuyoshi Kawakami and His Mood Makers
Sembello
Speed King
Losalios
Fishmans
Sfkuank
URL = [http://www.tokyoska.net/ Official Site]
Current_members = Nargo
Masahiko Kitahara
Tatsuyuki Hiyamuta
Gamou
Atsushi Yanaka
Yuichi Oki
Takashi Kato
Tsuyoshi Kawakami
Hajime Ohmori
Kin-ichi Motegi
Past_members = Yuhei Takeuchi
Masayuki Hayashi
Asa-Chang
Cleanhead Gimura
Toru Terashi
Rui Sugimura
Tatsuyuki Aoki
Tatsuyuki Hiyamuta

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra (東京スカパラダイスオーケストラ), commonly abbreviated by fans as "Skapara", is a Japanese Ska and Jazz band formed in 1985 by the percussionist Asa-Chang. Initially comprised of more than 10 veterans of Tokyo's underground scene. At the time, the band's sound was unlike that of any of its contemporaries in the then fledgling Japanese ska scene, and over the course of the past 21 years, their innovation has proved to have been very influential on Japanese music as a whole. Its sound, the product of the musical influences of its numerous members, is an eclectic mix of traditional ska, jazz, and rock. In the vein of many other more traditional ska acts, many of Skapara's songs are purely instrumental. Since their inception, the band has done many nationwide tours of Japan, and have toured extensively worldwide.

Skapara has collaborated with several vocalists outside of their band, including Shiina Ringo, Yusuke Chiba of Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, Takao Tajima, PUFFY and Tamio Okuda. They also performed the Japanese theme song to the PlayStation 2 game "Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus", entitled "BLACK JACK".

Members

Current

Former

*Yuhei Takeuchi on Soprano Sax, Flute (left 4/1990)
*Masayuki "MARC" Hayashi on Guitar (left 6/1992)
*Asa-Chang on percussion (left 3/1993)
**Left the band in order to pursue other projects.
*Cleanhead Gimura on vocals (died 4/23/1995)
**The band's frontman. Died following a battle with brain cancer.
*Toru Terashi on guitar (joined 7/1993, left 1/1998)
*Rui Sugimura on vocals (joined 2/1998, left 2/1999)
*Tatsuyuki Aoki on Drums (died 5/2/1999)
**Killed in a rail accident.
*Tatsuyuki Hiyamuta on Alto Saxophone, Guitar (left 7/17/2008)
**Left to focus on healing and recovery from an injury received to his right foot in Thailand from a motorcycle accident in 1996 that had been hindered by constant travel and performances. He has expressed interest in returning after his recovery has been completed.

Discography/Works

Albums

*Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra (東京スカパラダイスオーケストラ) (1989)
*Skapara Toujou (スカパラ登場) (Skapara's Intro) (1990)
*World Famous (ワールドフェイマス) (1991)
*World Famous Remix (1991)
*Pioneers (1993)
*FANTASIA (1994)
*JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA (vinyl) (rare) (1994)
*WATERMELON/高橋幸宏 (featuring 東京スカパラダイスオーケストラ) (1995)
*Grand Prix (1995)
*Tokyo Strut (トーキョー・ストラット) (1996)
*Arkestra (1998)
*Full-Tension Beaters (2000)
*Stompin' On Down Beat Alley (2002)
*High Numbers (2003)
*Answer (2005)
*Wild Peace (6/7/06)
*Perfect Future (3/26/08)

ingles

*MONSTER ROCK - 4/21/90
*Countdown To Glory (栄光へのカウントダウン) - 1/21/91
*Hole in One (ホールインワン) - 6/21/91
*Burning Scale - 12/2/92
*Mark of Marai (マライの號) - 5/1/93
*gold rush - 8/21/93
*Happening (ハプニング) - 10/23/93, 1995 on vinyl
*Blue Mermaid (ブルーマーメイド) - 12/12/93
*HAPPY GO LUCKY - 9/7/94
*Tokyo Deluxe (東京デラックス) - 1/21/95
*WATERMELON - 4/28/95
*JAM - 7/21/95
*ROCK MONSTER STRIKES BACK - 7/21/96 on CD, 8/13/96 on vinyl
*HURRY UP!! - 4/21/97
*Does Love Exist? (愛があるかい？) - 4/22/98
*Dear My Sister - 7/8/98
*The Movin' Dub (On the Whole Red Satellites) - 1998 (vinyl only)
*Jon Lord - 1998 (vinyl only)
*One Night (vinyl only) - 1998
*Abracadabra (vinyl only) - 1998
*Ring O' Fire (vinyl Only) - 1998
*Hinotama Jive (火の玉ジャイヴ) - 5/12/99
*Devote to the Battle Melody (戦場に捧げるメロディー) - 11/17/99
*Filmmakers Bleed ~Decisive Battle on the Summit~ (フィルムメイカーズ・ブリード～頂上決戦～) - 6/21/00
*Theme of Lupin III Pt. I & II (vinyl only) - 2000
*Afro Art Remixes (vinyl-only Paul Murphy Remixes)
*Peeled Orange (めくれたオレンジ) - 8/8/01
*Great Singing Bird Sky (カナリヤ鳴く空) - 12/12/01
*Beautiful Burning Forest (美しく燃える森) - 2/14/02
*Downbeat Selector (vinyl only box set with Downbeat Alley singles)- 2002
*The Galaxy and Maze (銀河と迷路) - 2/5/03
*A Quick Drunkard - 6/4/03
*世界地図 (Sekai chizu) - 5/25/04
*STROKE OF FATE - 7/8/04
*さらば友よ (Saraba tomo yo) - Limited edition sold only at ANSWER TOUR concert venues
*迫憶のライラック (Tsuioku no Lilac) - 12/14/05
*サファイアの星 (Sapphire no hoshi) - 2/15/06
*星降る夜に (Hoshi furu yoru ni) - 5/10/06

Collaborations / Splits

*Akira Bushi Akira No Jin To Paradise (with Akira Kobayashi)(1995)
*Watermelon (with Yukihiro Takahashi) (1995)
*Decameron (with Naoto Takenaka)(1997)
*Spanish Hustle (with Malawi Rocks) (2000)
*Mayonaka wa Junketsu (with Ringo Shiina) (2001)
*Hazumu Rhythm (with Puffy) (2006)
*Secret Code (with KinKi Kids)(2008)

Live Albums

*Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra Live (東京スカパラダイスオーケストラライブ) (1991)
*Gunslingers (2001)
*On Tour (2004)

Comp Tracks / Tributes

*Respectable Roosters - A Tribute To The Roosters: "Rosie" (1999)
*Welcome to the Plastic World: "Cards" (1999)
*Punch the Monkey Vol II: "Lupin the 3rd '78" (1999)
*Tribute to Haruomi Hoson: "アブソリュート・エゴ・ダンス" (2007)

Videos

*Skapara Video (スカパラビデオ) (video) (1991)
*Osamu's Amazing Songs (音曲の乱) (video) (1992)
*TOKYOSKA: Everytime We Say Goodbye (video) (1992)
*World Series from Tokyo Ska (video) (1992)
*Skapara at Cabaret (スカパラatキャバレー) (video) (1993)
*LIVE FANTASIA (video) (1994)
*VIDEO FANTASIA (video) (1994)
*LIVE GRAND PRIX (video) (1995)
*18540617 (video) (1997)
*SKA EVANGELISTS ON THE RUN TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA 1998>>1999 (video) (1999)
*DOWN BEAT SELECTOR (DVD) (2002)
*DOWN BEAT ARENA～Yokohama Arena 7.7.2002(Complete) (DOWN BEAT ARENA～横浜アリーナ7.7.2002(完全版) (DVD) (2002)
*Europe Tour 2003 Road-Move DVD (Catch the Rainbow (EUROPE TOUR 2003 ロード・ムーヴィーDVD「CATCH THE RAINBOW」) (DVD) (2004)
*15th Anniversary Live Since Debut (DVD) (2005)
*Wild Peace Final - January 2007 - (released 5/3/2007)
*Smile- A Film by Koichi Makino (Sept 2007)

oundtracks

*Tokyo Deluxe Original Soundtrack (東京デラックスオリジナルサウンドトラック) (1995)
*Incredible Crisis! Original Soundtrack (とんでもクライシス！オリジナルサウンドトラック) (1999)
*New Moral Battle Homicide Original Soundtrack (新仁義なき戦い謀殺オリジナルサウンドトラック) (2003)

Band Compilations

*gifted WINTER SELECTION (1993)
*THE BEST SELECTION (THE BEST SELECTION (タイ盤）(rare) (1996)
*MOODS FOR TOKYO SKA: WE DON'T KNOW WHAT SKA IS (1997)
*JUSTA RECORD COMPILATION Vol.1 (1999)
*BEST(1989～1997) (2002)
*SKA ME CRAZY: THE BEST Of TSPO (2005)

*Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra: Best of Tokyo Ska 1998~2007 (March, 21 2007) - 26 songs selected by Kin-ichi Motegi

ide Projects

Tsuyoshi Kawakami and His Mood Makers

(Tsuyoshi Kawakami, Nargo, Hajime Ohmori)
*Tsuyoshi Kawakami and His Mood Makers (川上つよしと彼のムードメイカーズ) - 2001.12.12
*Moodmaker's mood - 2003.08.06
*Floatin Mood - 2004.07.28
*Sparklin' Mood - 2004.12.01

embello

(Yuichi Oki)
*Sembellogy - 2003.08.06
*The Second Album - 2004.11.25
*Kairos - 2006.06.07

peed King

(TSPO + Fantastic Plastic Machine + Dr Ys + KMP + OCHICHY)
*SPEED KING - 2000.02.21

Losalios

(Takashi Kato)
*Sekaichizuwa Chinoato - 1999.11.10
*Colorado Shit Dog - 2002.05.01
*School Of High Sense - 2002.10.26
*The End Of The Beauty - 2003.09.03
*ゆうれい船長がハナシてくれた こと - 2005.05.25

Fishmans

(Kin-Ichi Motegi) See Fishmans Page

fkuank

(Nargo & Masahiko Kitahara)
*Sfkuank!!- 2005.12.14
*Stand Up Pleeeease!!- 2006.10.18

Compilations Curated By Band Members

*Frank Zappa Compiler - 1999
*Big Bang Blow: Japanese Jazz selected By Nargo, M.Kitahara & Gamo of TSPO - 2003
*JUSTA RECORD presents: 'The 3rd Era of Ska~EURO AUTHENTIC SKA COLLECTION' - 2004.07.28
*JUSTA RECORD presents: 'The 3rd Era of Ska~NORTH AMERICAN SKA COLLECTION' - 2005.03.30

See also

*The Leaf Label (for Asa Chang & Junray)

External links

* [http://www.tokyoska.net/ Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra Official Website]
* [http://www.jame-world.com/uk/article.php?id=2642 Interview with Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra]