CASIOPEA
Casiopea (カシオペア, Kashiopea) is a Japanese jazz fusion band formed in 1976 by guitarist Issei Noro and bassist Tetsuo Sakurai. After lineup changes the following year that added keyboardist Minoru Mukaiya, Casiopea made their major‑label debut with their self‑titled album in 1979, and drummer Akira Jimbo joined in 1980.
During this period, they released more than a dozen albums, the first was signed and published by Alfa Records, which had multiple variations of Galactic Funk. Next was Make Up City, released in the United States of America in 1980. Cross Point in 1981 featured some new artists: Nathan East, Harvey Mason, Lee Ritenour, and Don Grusin. The others included Eyes of the Mind in 1981, 4x4 in 1982, Photographs in 1983, Jive Jive in 1983, Down Upbeat in 1984, Zoom in 1985, Halle in 1985, Landing To Summer in 1986, Sun Sun in 1986, Platinum in 1987, Wind & Quiet Storm in 1987, Funky Sound Bombers in 1987, and Euphony in 1988,before Sakurai and Jimbo left the band amid disputes over concurrent band memberships. In 1990, bassist Yoshihro Naruse and drummer Masaaki Hiyama joined, resulting in a second era marked by multiple drummer changes, with Jimbo returning as a supporting member in 1997. Noro suspended all band activities in 2006, leading to a six-year hiatus.
In 2012, the band resumed activities without Mukaiya rejoining and Kiyomi Otaka replacing him on keyboards. Renamed Casiopea 3rd for its third period, the group recorded its first album in eight years. After Jimbo left again in 2022, he was replaced by drummer Yoshinori Imai and the band entered its fourth period as Casiopea‑P4. Otaka left in 2025 and was replaced by keyboardist Jun Abe, and the band reverted to its original name.
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