Vincent Atmicus

Vincent Atmicus
OriginJapan
GenresExperimental, avant-garde, free improvisation, jazz, rock, world music
Years active1999–
LabelsEast Works Entertainment, Glamorous Records

Vincent Atmicus is a Japanese music ensemble formed by drummer Yasuhiro Yoshigaki in the late 1990s.
The group is noted for its unusual instrumentation - twin drums, twin violins, twin trombones, bass, and extensive percussion - and for blending polyrhythms, odd meters, improvisation, rock, and world music elements.[1][2][3]

History

The project was launched by Yoshigaki around 1999, drawing on his experiences with Rovo, ONJO, and DCPRG.[1]
The first album Vincent I was released in November 2002 on East Works Entertainment.[3]
This was followed by Vincent II in September 2004 and Vincent III in July 2005 on Glamorous Records.[3]
They performed at venues such as Shinjuku Pit Inn, where release shows were sold out.[4]

The group was also profiled in the bilingual annual magazine Improvised Music from Japan 2002–2003, which included interviews and articles in both Japanese and English.[5]

In the 2010s, Vincent Atmicus continued occasional live activity.[6][7][8]

Musical style

Vincent Atmicus is characterized by the use of polyrhythms, layered instrumental textures, and collective improvisation.
The ensemble has been described as combining elements of experimental and avant-garde music with influences from world music and modern classical traditions, alongside jazz and rock.[2][9]
Reviews noted the ensemble’s dense sound, with overlapping brass, strings, percussion, and vibraphone lines creating complex textures.[2]
Other coverage emphasized the prominence of ringing overtones and a quieter, atmospheric side, relating the music to ambient or modern classical sensibilities rather than conventional jazz.[10]

Members

Core members

  • Yasuhiro Yoshigaki - drums, percussion, vocals (leader)[3]
  • Yoichi Okabe - drums, percussion[3]
  • Yuji Katsui - violin, effects[3]
  • Keisuke Ohta - violin, voice[3]
  • Taisei Aoki - trombone, pianica, keyboards[3]
  • Osamu Matsumoto - trombone[3]
  • Hiroaki Mizutani - bass[3]
  • Kumiko Takara - vibraphone, marimba, percussion[3]

Additional contributor

  • Naruyoshi Kikuchi - saxophone on Vincent I[11]

Several members were simultaneously active in other ensembles such as ROVO, Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Orchestra (ONJO), and Date Course Pentagon Royal Garden (DCPRG), which are therefore listed as associated acts.[1]

Discography

No. Release date Title Track list Personnel
1 21 November 2002 Vincent I
  1. Nemurenu Yoru no Tameni (For Sleepless Nights)
  2. Maqam Yegya
  3. Turkish Van
  4. While Smoking Ginger Cigarettes
  5. Barley Field with Cypress
  6. Dance of Barley (or Expo '70)
  7. Uocho and the Hundertwasser House
  8. Green Claws
  9. Jungle Boogie
  10. Great Construction (Theme of Thunder Marathon)
  11. Kino
 Yasuhiro Yoshigaki (ds, perc, tp, vo)

Taisei Aoki (tb, pianica, vo)
Osamu Matsumoto (tb, vo)
Naruyoshi Kikuchi (sax, vo)
Yuji Katsui (vln, effects, vo)
Keisuke Ohta (vln, Arabic vo)
Hiroaki Mizutani (b, perc, vo)
Yoichi Okabe (ds, perc)
Kumiko Takara (vib, mar, perc)

2 10 September 2004 Vincent II
  1. Katsuwamushi
  2. MBIR-VA
  3. Oferere / Azoth
  4. The Cat Goes into the Woods on a Moonlit Night
  5. ☆☆Moon – Clown's Requiem and Merry-Go-Round
  6. Re-Baptizum
  7. Rooftop Kite
 Yasuhiro Yoshigaki (ds, perc)

Taisei Aoki (tb, pianica, bamboo fl, org)
Osamu Matsumoto (tb)
Yuji Katsui (el.&ac.vln, effects)
Keisuke Ohta (el.vln, Arabic vo)
Hiroaki Mizutani (cb)
Kumiko Takara (vib, mar, perc)
Yoichi Okabe (ds, perc)

3 10 July 2005 Vincent III
  1. Eatborfa
  2. Parade Part 1
  3. Parade Part 2
  4. Dancin’ in Your Head [D.V.B. ver.]
  5. Lester B
  6. Dancin’ in Your Head [F.Z. ver.]
  7. Tanguy’s Dance
  8. Crimson Sky
  9. Cool Running
  10. Talking Drums
  11. Colombian March
  12. Kino 2
 Yasuhiro Yoshigaki (ds, perc, vo)

Taisei Aoki (tb, keys, vo)
Osamu Matsumoto (tb, vo)
Yuji Katsui (vln, vo)
Keisuke Ohta (vln, vo)
Hiroaki Mizutani (b, vo)
Kumiko Takara (perc, vo)
Yoichi Okabe (perc, ds, vo)

Reception

Vincent II was noted for its distinctive sound, combining improvisational freedom with structural precision.[2]
In 2017, Vincent I and Vincent III were reissued in paper-sleeve editions, demonstrating ongoing interest in the group.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Yasuhiro Yoshigaki interview: "I want to have fun performing again"". CINRA.NET. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Vincent Atmicus "Vincent II" (Glamorous Records, 2004)". Jazz in Japan. 22 November 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Discography – Yasuhiro Yoshigaki Official Site". Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Vincent Atmicus live report, 24 August 2005". Take’s Music Review. 24 August 2005. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Improvised Music from Japan 2002–2003 (IMJ-301)". Ftarri / Improvised Music from Japan. 29 December 2002. Retrieved 30 August 2025. Bilingual English–Japanese; 160 pages; interviews, concert reports, CD reviews; CD included.
  6. ^ "2010 Live Archives — Vincent Atmicus". Yasuhiro Yoshigaki official site. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Live Review Index: Vincent Atmicus 2010/12/09 at Shinjuku PIT-INN". Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Live at SuperDeluxe, Tokyo May 12, 2010". Flickr. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Vincent III (product description)". HMV Japan. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Review of Vincent Atmicus". Vital Weekly. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Vincent I (album details)". CDJournal. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  12. ^ "Vincent I – Yasuhiro Yoshigaki East Works Years". Disk Union. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  13. ^ "Vincent III – Yasuhiro Yoshigaki East Works Years". Disk Union. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2025.

See also

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