Asa-Chang & Junray

Asa Chang & Junray is the band of the Japanese percussionist Asa Chang, who was the founder and original bandmaster of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. After leaving that group in 1993, he formed Asa Chang & Junray in 1998 with programmer and guitarist Hidehiko Urayama. They were joined in 2000 by tabla player U-zhaan. Live, the group use a portable soundsystem called 'Jun-Ray Tronics', hence the name — although the word 'junray' also means 'pilgrimage'.

In 2002, the British label The Leaf Label released Jun Ray Song Chang, which compiled the group's first two, Japan-only albums. It was followed a year later by the mini album, Tsu Gi Ne Pu. The group's song 'Hana' was featured on Fabric Live 07, while 'Tsu Gi Ne Pu' was included on a The Wire Tapper CD. The group's 2005 album, Minna no Junray, featured vocals by singer and actress Kyōko Koizumi. It has not been released overseas.

Albums

• Kage No Nai Hito, 2009
• Minna no Junray, 2005
• Tsu Gi Ne Pu, Leaf Label 2003 (BBC review)
• Jun Ray Song Chang, Leaf Label 2002 (BBC review)
• Hana, 2001 (Japan only)
• Tabla Magma Bongo, 1998 (Japan only)

External links

• Asa Chang on My Space
• Official website (Japanese)
• [1] (English)
• Asa Chang on The Leaf Label