In the early 1990s, drummer Kozo Suganuma formed half of the rhythm section of the legendary Japanese fusion trio Fragile.



His eponymous solo cd on the Jewel Sound label features eight tracks of modern and traditional fusion, including one Coltrane standard and four tracks written by Fragile guitarist Koichi Yabori.



Biography:

A native of Osaka, Japan, Kozo Suganuma began playing drums at the age of eight and remarkably, became a professional session player at the age of fifteen.



Kozo is now a major feature of the Japanese pop scene performing with such groups as Chage and Aska, as well as working with famous Japanese Jazz icons Hidehiko Matumoto, Makoto Ozone, and Kazumi Watanabe. Kozo has also worked with American artists such as Larry Graham and Louis Johnson.



Kozo Suganuma is an extremely active player and can be found performing in small jazz venues one day and 20,000 seat auditoriums the next.



Because of his amazing technique, Kozo Suganuma has been given the name “The King of Many Strokes.” This title has been incorporated in several teaching videos: Te Kaz Oh (”The King of Many Strokes”); Ashi Kaz Oh (”The King of Many Footworks”); Kaettekita Te Kaz Oh (”Return of the King of Many Strokes”); and Te Kaz Oh Live Jissenhen (”Live Applications of Many Strokes”), released by Rittor Music.