Kyoto Jazz Massive

Formed in 1991 by brothers Shuya and Yoshihiro Okino, from Uji in Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto Jazz Massive initially emerged on the Japanese club scene before moving closer to Tokyo and its DJ networks. The duo developed a crossover sound where acid jazz meets jazz‑funk, soul, house and broken beat, using club structures while maintaining constant attention to harmonies, bass lines and arrangements. In the 1990s, Kyoto Jazz Massive first gained recognition through their selections, compilations and DJ sets, at a time when club jazz connected Japan, the UK and several European scenes. The project later assumed a more defined discographic shape with Spirit of the Sun (2002) and Message From A New Dawn (2021), after a long period marked by Shuya Okino’s parallel activities as a DJ, producer and figure in the Shibuya scene. Kyoto Jazz Massive remains committed to a writing that links jazz heritage, organic groove and house pulse without confining itself to a single track or performance format.