DCPRG are a jazz collective led by keyboard player Naruyoshi Kikuchi. Kikuchi has involved himself in a number of other projects also, some of which he plays sax in, including playing with pop singer UA, playing straight jazz, as well as playing in other improvisional settings, playing and recording in a duo called Spank Happy, and recording his own solo album Degustation a Jazz. He also teaches a course in jazz at the prestigious Tokyo University, writes books and maintains a website tracking his psychiatric state. The band’s other fairly well known member is guitarist Otomo Yoshide, who also works a wide spectrum of projects, including recording with club music oriented Nobukazu Takemura, improvised music/ free jazz with the likes of Bill Laswell and Chris Cutler, recording for John Zorn’s Tzadik label, modern classical leaning work with Carl Stone, as well as ethnomusicology study, much of which is based on music and musical instruments during China’s Cultural Revolution (and as result he has worked extensively with Chinese musicians and in Chinese film). While most of DCPRG members have a history of playing in jazz bands, the more or less 11-piece band are not of a purist ilk of any sort. They happily mix post-rock minimalism, free jazz, funk and electronica influences, and their audience includes rock, dance club, and jam band fans. Their debut album in 2001 Report From Iron Mountain, was often compared in style to the Miles Davis masterpiece Bitches Brew, and received numerous reviews in foreign media. They have also released a split album with Rovo, a live album called Musical From Chaos, and released re-mixed albums. The band mostly performs their own compositions but also do a number of odd (for jazz) covers including “Hey Joe”, “Stayin’ Alive”, and “Fame”. Initially not much embraced by the Japanese jazz establishment, the group now gets some nod there, and in addition has a varied fan base in Japan and internationally.
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