Ryukyu-no (Okinawan) Rock – JET

Cover Design: Haruki Yoshida

(Click on images to view large size)

Guitar… Atsushi (Appin) Shinjo
Drums/vocals… Koji (Kochan or Kozi) Nagahama
Bass guitar/lead vocals… Takashi (Taki) Furugen

Supporting musicians that are featured on the CD and helped make it a reality

Keyboards… Hajimu Takeda
Harp… Shinjyu Arakaki
Back Vocals & Chorus… Carlos J. Saldana

(Photos Courtesy of Hiroshi Hamaguchi)

1.I’ve Got This Feelin’
Lyrics by Taki, Dawn
Music by Taki

2.Take Me Back (English Version)
Lyrics by Taki, Dawn
Music by Taki

3.If You Love Me
Lyrics & Music by Taki

4.Cool Cats
Music by Jimmy

5.Dokata Blues
Lyrics & Music by Koji Nagahama

6.Take Me Back (Japanese Version)
Lyrics & Music by Taki

7.Summer Breeze
Music by Jimmy

Guitar/vocals…Jimmy Ginoza
Drums/vocals…Koji (Kozi) Nagahama
Bass guitar/lead vocals…Taki Furugen

The musicians first played together in the early seventies in a band known as Kotobuki. Kochan (Koji) quit Kotobuki in 1972 and eventually joined Marie with Medusa. In the `80s he joined forces with George Murasaki in the band Okinawa, as well as Taki in Bullet in the mid-’80s, and in the `90s Katchan in Katchan Band.

Jimmy and Taki continued to play as Kotobuki, with various drummers, until their departure to Guam in 1976. In Guam they played Japanese tourist hotels as Prism.

Taki moved to the U.S. in 1978, playing and recording with STP (Steve Tingen Plus) in Washington D.C. and the surrounding areas. He returned to Okinawa in 1980 and helped form the band Bullet with Mimi and Eddie, which played the Okinawan military circuit and various local concerts throughout the `80s.

Jimmy remained in Guam until 1983, rejoining Taki in Bullet in 1988. Etsu Aguni of Condition Green, and a former Kotobuki drummer, hooked-up with Jimmy and Taki in 1994, leading to the formation of JET. Etsu quit in November 1996 and Koji finally rejoined Taki and Jimmy in March 1998.

Also heard on the CD is keyboardist Yutaka Tajima (seen here at the annual Peaceful Love Rock Festival).

Photos Courtesy of Hiroshi Hamaguchi

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