Kazumi Watanabe

is a Japanese guitarist. Other guitarists such as Luke Takamura and Sugizo have cited him as an influence.

Career Watanabe learned guitar at the age of 12 from Sadanori Nakamure at the Yamaha Music School in Tokyo. He released his first album in 1971. In 1979, he formed a jazz rock band with some of Japan's leading studio musicians, and recorded the album Kylyn. During that year, he toured with the pop band Yellow Magic Orchestra.

Discography As leader

Infinite (Express, 1971) Endless Way (Columbia, 1975) Monday Blues (RCA, 1976) Milky Shade (Union, 1976) Olive's Step (Better Days, 1977) Guitar Work Shop (Flying Dog, 1977) Lonesome Cat (Denon, 1978) Kaleidoscope (Denon, 1978) Mermaid Boulevard (Alfa, 1978) Tokyo Joe (Denon, 1978) Village in Bubbles (Better Days, 1978) Kylyn (Better Days, 1979) Kylyn Live (Better Days, 1979) To Chi Ka (Better Days, 1980) Dogatana (Denon, 1981) Mobo (Domo, 1984) Mobo I (Gramavision, 1984) Mobo II (Gramavision, 1984) Mobo Live (Domo, 1985) Mobo Splash (Domo, 1985) The Spice of Life (Domo, 1987) The Spice of Life Too (Gramavision, 1988) Kilowatt (Gramavision, 1989) Romanesque (Domo, 1990) Pandora (Polydor, 1991) O-X-O (Domo, 1992) Resonance Vox (Domo, 1993) Esprit (Domo, 1996) Dandyism (Domo, 1998) One for All (EmArcy, 1999) Beyond the Infinite (Dozo, 2001) Guitar Renaissance (EWE, 2003) Mo' Bop II (East Works, 2004) Guitar Renaissance II (EWE, 2005) Guitar Renaissance III (EWE, 2006) Kaihogen (Cube, 2006) Guitar Renaissance IV (EWE, 2007) Acoustic Flakes (EWE, 2009) Jazz Impression (EWE, 2009) Tricoroll (EWE, 2011) Mo' Bop III (EWE, 2011) Guitar Renaissance V (EWE, 2012) Live at Iridium (EWE, 2012) Spinning Globe (Warner, 2013) En Vivo! (Victor, 2015) Gracim (Warner, 2016) Lotus Night (Warner, 2016)

As sideman

Jimmy Hopps, Mudari: Spirit of Song (Denon, 1977) Hideki Matsutake, Live Space Fantasy (For Life, 1978) Jaco Pastorius, Word of Mouth Band 1983 Japan Tour (Rhino, 2012)