Hide Tanaka Trio

Hide Tanaka was born in Tokyo on June 28th, 1956. He started playing wood bass when he was 17. His first Bass teacher was Yoshio Ikeda. He took private lessons from Ikeda and learned important basic skills from him. In 1981, he joined famous Japanese jazz big band "Blue Coats" and at the same time, played various Jazz live spot like Pit Inn, Satin Doll or Body & Soul in Tokyo. In 1982, he moved to New York and started living in a small Chelsea apartment. But his initial New York life was not very easy. He was dragged around and thrown against a shutter by a stranger on the street of Times Square and got 3 stitches on his face. He quit the Japanese restaurant where he worked as a busboy after a month, because his hand started shaking from stress. Despite these unfortunate incidents, he didn't give up his dream of New York Jazz Life. After he tried a few other odd jobs, he decided to quit all his side jobs in order to concentrate only on Jazz music. But how? He shared his small studio apartment with three men to save money and played on the streets every day. He started the Jazz Life that had always dreamed of. Although he was usually in the red, he was fortunately blessed with a lot of opportunity to play with good (sometime great ! ) musicians. He was very happy. In 1984, he had a chance to play with Barry Harris at the Jazz Culture Theatre as a house bassist and had been there for about 4 years. At the same time he took gigs from various live spots like Angry Squire, West End Cafe. He performed with Walter Bishop Jr, Al Corn, Cecil Payne, Hank Mobley, Benny Powell, Jaki Byard, and legendary C Sharp, Chris Anderson. At last his New York Jazz Life started take off. In 1991, he finally obtained his Green Card after applying for the Government's lottery. He has a unique experience that is legend among the musicians "The man who got Green Card lugging a wood bass into American Embassy and started a session with the embassy staff". In 2005, He played with Junior Mance at "Jazz At Noon" at Cafe St. Bart's in NYC. Mr. Mance was a guest artist). Mr. Mance asked him join his trio as a regular bassist. Hide Tanaka was born in Tokyo on June 28th, 1956. He started playing wood bass when he was 17. His first Bass teacher was Yoshio Ikeda. He took private lessons from Ikeda and learned important basic skills from him. In 1981, he joined famous Japanese jazz big band "Blue Coats" and at the same time, played various Jazz live spot like Pit Inn, Satin Doll or Body & Soul in Tokyo In 1982, he moved to New York and started living in a small Chelsea apartment. But his initial New York life was not very easy. He was dragged around and thrown against a shutter by a stranger on the street of Times Square and got 3 stitches on his face. He quit the Japanese restaurant where he worked as a busboy after a month, because his hand started shaking from stress. He said "I was most impressed with Mr.Mance for his deep spiritual feeling of blues that is root of jazz." He has been performing all over the jazz place with Mr. Mance and amazing drummer Jakie Williams. Now, he lives in Manhattan Plaza where Dexter Gordon and young Wynton Marsalis once lived. He enjoys 3 miles jogging almost everyday along a Hudson River and is very happy living in a totally Jazz concentrated life more than ever.