SADAO WATANABE

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Sadao Watanabe (渡辺 貞夫, Watanabe Sadao?) (born Utsunomiya, Japan, February 1, 1933) is an influential Japanese jazz musician and saxophonist. He plays the alto saxophone, soprano saxophone and flute, and his work encompasses a large range of styles, with collaborations with musicians from all over the world, and also with friends such as Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, and Hank Jones. His more prestigious awards include the Order of the Rising Sun, the imperial medal of honour for his contribution to the arts, numerous cultural achievements from around the world, the Fumio Nanri award, and his cities first honour award. Sadao first began learning jazz at the age of 18, and established a name for himself. When he turned 29, he left Japan to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston. In 1995, the college awarded him an honorary doctorate degree for his contributions to music. In addition to his musical career, Watanabe has also published six photography books in Japan.

DiscographyAs leader
1961 SADAO WATANABE
1965 SADAO WATANABE PLAYS
1966 GOIN' HOME MODERN JAZZ ALBUM
1966 TAKT JAZZ JAZZ&BOSSA
1967: Sadao Watanabe & Charlie Mariano: Iberian Waltz (Denon)
1967 NABESADA & CHARLIE
1967 BOSSA BEAT COLLECTION
1967 JAZZ SAMBA
1967 MY ROMANCE
1967 BOSSA NOVA '67
1967 BOSSA NOVA CONCERT
1967 MUSIC BREAK
1967 ENCORE!! JAZZ & BOSSA / SADAO MEETS SHARPS & FLATS
1968 WE GOT A NEW BAG / SADAO AND CHARLIE AGAIN
1968 SADAO MEETS BRAZILIAN FRIENDS / SADAO & BRAZILIAN8
1968 SADAO PLAYS BEATLES AND BACHARACH
1969 SWING JOURNAL JAZZ WORKSHOP
1969 PASTORAL
1969 SONG BOOK
1969 SADAO WATANABE LIVE AT THE JUNK
1969: Dedicated to Charlie Parker with Terumasa Hino, Masanaga Harada, Fumio Watanabe, Kazuo Yashiro
1970 SADAO WATANABE AT MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL
1970: Round Trip (Universe) with Jack DeJohnette, Miroslav Vitouš, Chick Corea
1970 COLLABORATION QUARTET with MASABUMI KIKUCHI SEXTET
1971 PAYSAGES
1972 SADAO WATANABE
1973 OPEN ROAD
1973 KENYA YA AFRICA MEETS INTER-AFRICAN THEATRE GROUP
1974 MBALI AFRICA LIVE
1974 SADAO WATANABE AT “PIT INN”
1975 SWISS AIR
1975 PAMOJA
1976: I’m Old Fashioned (Sony) with Ron Carter, Hank Jones
1976 SADAO WATANABE RECITAL
1977 MY DEAR LIFE
1977 BIRD OF PARADISE
1977 AUTUMN BLOW featuring LEE RITENOUR & HIS GENTLE THOUGHTS
1977: Birds of Passage (Elektra) with Ron Carter, George Duke, Hank Jones, Hubert Laws, Kazumi Watanabe, Tony Williams, Jimmy Haslip, Alex Acuña, Diana Acuna,
1978 CALIFORNIA SHOWER
1979 MORNING ISLAND
1980 HOW'S EVERYTHING
1981: Orange Express with Dave Grusin, George Benson, Bobby Broom, Marcus Miller, Budddy Williams
1983 FILL UP THE NIGHT
1984 RENDEZVOUS
1985 MAISHA
1985: Parker’s Mood with Seigen Ono, James Williams, Jeff Tain Watts, Charnett Moffett
1985 TOKYO DATING
1986 GOOD TIME FOR LOVE
1988 ELIS
1988 MADE IN CORACAO TOQUINHO
1989 FRONT SEAT
1991 SWEET DEAL
1992 A NIGHT WITH STRINGS
1993 EARTH STEP
1994 IN TEMPO
1993 A NIGHT WITH STRINGS Vol.2
1994 A NIGHT WITH STRINGS Vol.3 / SADAO PLAYS PARKER
1997 Go Straight Ahead ’n Make a Left with Bernard Wright, Charley Drayton, Mike Flythe,
1997 KUROI HITOMI SONG BOOK
1998 VIAJANDO
1999: Remembrance (verve) with Robin Eubanks, Billy Drummond, Jim Anderson, Cyrus Chestnut, Romero Lubambo, Christian McBride, Nicholas Payton
2000 SADAO 2000
2000 MINHA SAUDADE
2001 SADAO WATANABE MY DEAR LIFE 50th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION
2003 WHEEL OF LIFE
200? SKETCHES OF NATURE
2005 ONE FOR YOU
2005 Broadcast Tracks '69-'72
2005 Sadao & Charlie Again
2007 BASIE'S AT NIGHT
2009 INTO TOMORROW