LATE NIGHT GROOVE SERIES: HIRONOBU SAITO GROUP

FEATURING:
Hironobu Saito, guitar
Danny Grisett, piano
Marco Panascia, bass
Brian Fishler, drums

Hironobu Saito is a guitarist, composer, and producer from Japan. In 1990 he won an award at the teen music festival in Japan. Afterwards Hiro began his professional career playing at various clubs throughout Japan.

After graduating from O-TANI University in Kyoto, he won a talent scholarship and entered Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1999. He has studied with various great players such as JOE LOVANO, MICK GOODRICK, HAL CROOK, DARREN BARRETT, RICHIE HART, MARK WHITFIELD, JOHN WILKINS, KIYOHITO KOIZUMI and others. In 2001, he recorded a song for VICTORIA TRAVEL commercial.

In 2002 he played with PETER BERNSTEIN acting as a representative for the Berklee Guitar Department. In 2002 he toured in Japan as cultural exchange event of Kyoto City and appeared on Kyoto TV, Kyoto Newspaper and many others.

In 2003 February, he joined in the recording of "STANDARD DEVIATION." Hiro was the recipient of the Guitar Department Achievement Award. In October 2003, Hiro received the 2nd place prize in the Gibson Jazz Guitar Competition. He appeared in magazines such as Swing Journal, Jazz Life and Jazz Guitar Book.

In 2004, he created his first CD with Darren Barrett, John Lamkin, Walter Smith, Milton Fletcher and Yasushi Nakamura. It was released from Fresh Sound Records in Spain worldwide. (www.freshsoundrecords.com) In June 2004, he appeared on WBAI FM99.5 (New York Broadcast). Since 2004, he led Hiro Jazz Tour around U.S.A, Japan, Europe and Hawaii.

In November 2004, October 2005, and May 2007, he performed at Blue Note NY.

In July 2006, he created his 2nd album entitled "The Sea."(FSNT 266) w/Walter Smith(ts), Gretchen Parlato(vo), Milton Fletcher(p), Yasushi Nakamura(bass) and Eric Harland(dr)) In November 2006, he joined Maya's recording called "Kiss of Life" (Columbia Records).

In September 2006, he created his LP called "Formentera Sea." (Othafish Music). In October 2006, he offered music by trackmaking for the website of jewel companies called "4 degrees C" and "Rugiada".

In July 2007, he created his single CD called "Jungle" (Epicreo Music). In 2007, he joined takaya's afroyoker's mix for a latest song of a Gospel singer, Susu Bobien's "Set Free" (Traxsource.com). He translated Kurt Rosenwinkel's book "Kurt Rosenwinkel Compositions" and Jon Damian's book "The Guitarist's Guide to Composing and Improvising" from English to Japanese for a Japanese publishing company (ATN, inc).

He is endorsed by Ibanez Guitars.