[Stylish & melodious]
No.170EX "Christmas Flower☆" by Trix
Hi. It's an instrumental day. And Today's track is "Christmas Flower ☆" by "Trix".
This will be the last post for this year.
Thank you very much to all of you visiting our site in 2019. We are much appreciated, and feeling energized by each one of your calls.
Our post for the new year is scheduled to start from the 4th January (Sat), 2020. If you like, please have a look.
Back to the subject, today's track, "Christmas Flower ☆" is a stylish & melodious Fusion instrumental, though the meaning of the "☆" is unknown.
The performer is a unique Fusion band "Trix", composed of 4 skilled musicians, but with showmanship.
If you like, please listen.
Links to the music shops, offering song samples, are located on the bottom of this page.
Some contents have been put away in tabs with " ▼ " marks in each section, so please click it to read.
The most of linked sites like youtube, or Apple music uses Java script. So, if you are visiting them , please turn the Java script on at your browser.
Lastly, thank you again for your support this year.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Song data
| Title | Christmas Flower ☆ |
|---|---|
| Artist | Trix |
| Album Title | |
| Catalog Number | KICJ-586 |
| Track No. | 10 |
| Duration | 6:51 |
| Released | 2010 |
| Publisher | Electric Bird |
| Lyricist | Instrumental music |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Instrumental music Lyricist
Noriaki Kumagai Composer
Noriaki Kumagai is a drummer, composer, arranger, and a leader of an Fusion instrumental group, "Trix" active since 1988.
He is also known as a former drummer to a famous Fusion group "CASIOPEA" from 1992 to 1996.
Early times
Kumagai started his career as a professional musician by becoming a Drum instructor at a Yamaha music school.
In 1989, Kumagai participated in a public music seminar hosted by "Berklee College of Music". Luckily, he won the first prize at the internal contest in the seminar, and awarded a scholarship from the college.
Then in 1990, Kumagai went to the United States to study at the "Berklee College of Music".
Recognized
While he was in the United States, he also became a member of a known Jazz Fusion group, "Tiger's Baku", which is lead by a prominent trumpeter,"Tiger Okoshi". And performed at like "Montreal International Jazz Festival".
In 1992, Kumagai came back to Japan even he was still studying at the college, because he was invited from a popular Japanese Fusion group, "Casiopea" to play as a regular drummer.
From Casiopea to solo
Kumagai participated in 6 albums of "Casiopea" while he was with them for 5 years. Then in 1996, he left the group, and started as a solo musician.
From 1996 to 2001, he played the drums as a tour support musician for the various artists, including a notable pop-rock singer,"Maki Ohguro"
And in around 2001, Kumagai formed a prototype of the later band "Trix".
Founding "Trix"
In 2004, they finally named their group as "Trix".
Since then, they have released 15 studio albums. and actively performing on the various stages.
-
(Ref: ost-noriaki.music.coocan.jp,
Noriaki Kumagai profile)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, here is a PR video of a drum trigger module (Synthesizer drum) TM-2, manufactured by an electronic music instruments company, Roland.
On this video, "Noriaki Kumagai" is demonstrating the trigger module TM-2 by using his amazing drum technique.
The music he is performing is "PUMA" selected from the 4th album "Force" of his band "Trix".
If you like, please listen.
Trix Arranger
The band name "Trix" is credited as an Arranger on this track.
It seems that is a common practice for an instrumental band like them, since each members would usually arrange their part by themselves.
"Trix" is also a performer of this instrumental number, and we would like to come back to them later in "About the artist" section.
Cover art today
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Smooth & refined
It is a light, smooth & stylish Fusion music in a comfortable 16-beat rhythm.
Slightly emotional
The electronic piano, percussion, and drums begin a tender introduction, and the bass, and guitar join.
Slightly overdriven, but natural sound electric guitar plays a tender main melody .
The keyboard and electric guitar take a lead alternatively, and play a impressive phrase gently.
Casiopea?
Some of you might have felt that this sound is like "Casiopea", which is one of the most famous Fusion band in Japan.
You are right. Because, the formation of the band is exactly the same, then it sounds similar to them. But if you listen one more time, you soon notice, "Yeah, it is quite different."
In Japan, the Jazz-Fusion bands tend to have wind instrument (like Saxophone) in theie ensembles. So, the bands like "Trix" or "Casiopea", which has no wind instrument, can be said as unique groups.
But "sounds like Casiopea" maybe a honorable phrase, since it is a proof of excellent skill.
FEVER
The most of you might wonder why "Fever", and why a slot machine.
One of our neighbors who used to be a teacher told us that,
"In Japan, the word 'Fever' is almost never used to mean the increase in the body's temperature. But means 'Jackpot' in 'Pachinko' gambling, or possibly a feverish social phenomenon." (Like travel fever, or construction fever...)
"The use of word 'FEVER' to mean a 'Jackpot' might come form the 'Pachinko' machine 'FEVER', which was introduced in 1980.
"Once you win a 'FEVER' (Jackpot), you are going to receive roughly 100USD equivalent payout in 5-10 minutes time. So, the machine caused a huge boom among the people."
This "Fever" (jackpot) system was reverse-imported, and transplanted to the slot machines later. That is why even a slot machine is claiming "Fever".
Now, the word "Fever" has already become one of the old-fashioned expressions.
But therefore, it has got a humorous nuance, and occasionally be used by comedians or, some fearless people.
Here, we found a video of an earliest model of the "Pachinko" machine "Fever". If you like, please have a look.
The first 2 minutes plus are so called "Reach" stage. And at 2 min 30 sec, the machine starts "FEVER"ing. (All of 3 drum wheels, and above 1 digit indicate 7 at the same time. And begin to pay out lots of iron balls.)
Pachinko Fan
"Noriaki Kumagai" is a drummer, and leader of Trix, but he seems to be also a bit of Pachinko Fan, and there are many "Pachinko" related jokes in Trix's live stage.
If you like, please join.
About the artist
Trix Thrilling Fusion
"Trix" is a 4-piece Japanese Fusion group founded in 2004.
"2004" was the year that "Trix" released their first album, and announced their start publicly.
But its precursor band "Mitsuru Sutoh ultra session", which had almost the same members to "Trix", was formed in 2001. So, they already have 18 years history by the 2019.
"Trix" debuted with their first album, "Index". Since then, 16 original and 2 best albums, and 4 live DVDs (Incl. BD) have been released until now.
Early times
"Trix" is a popular Japanese Fusion group teamed up in 2004 by 4 of masterly musicians, namely,
- Drums, leader
- Noriaki Kumagai
- Bass
- Mitsuru Sutoh
- Keyboard
- Hiroshi Kubota (up until 2012)
- Guitar
- Takeshi Hirai (up until 2011)
The roots of "Trix" can be traced back to a session band called "Mitsuru Sutoh ultra session" formed for a several live stages in 2001.
The members were almost same, but the guitarist was also a brilliant musician, "Takashi Yōfu" at that time, instead of Takeshi Hirai (Jet).
It seems they worked well with each other, since they were repeatedly having sessions with same members.
And in 2004, the session team started as a new Fusion band "Trix", though the guitarist was changed from "Yōfu" to "Hirai".
And released their first album "Index" in April in the same year.
Amazing performance
"Trix" is generally understood as a Fusion band, but a classical term, "Jazz-rock" might fit with their music more.
Their quality of music, and masterly playing technique are both superb, and regarded as one of the most excellent instrumental group in the current Japanese Jazz-Fusion scene.
Actually, the members of "Trix" are all "5 stars" super musicians, and therefore, their performance is outstanding.
Noriaki Kumagai is a former durmer of a famed fusion group "Casiopea".
Mitsuru Sutoh is the longest served bassist of another super Fusion group, "T-Square".
Hiroshi Kubota is a keyboardist who has the most advance playing technique for the "Electone".
And, Takeshi Hirai (Jet) was a rising high-potential guitarist, when he started at "Trix". And he became a notable young guitarist now.
Therefore, their excellent ensemble is backed by the true careers of these skillful musicians.
Showmanship
Another distinctive feature of Trix is their always humorous, and enjoyable performance.
Generally, Jazz-Fusion bands in Japan are the teams of the most skillful musicians. Therefore, they are all confident, and proud of their fine performances.
Music as well. The melodies they create are mostly, cool, stylish, smooth, refined, and artistic. And therefore, the band and members also try to keep same quality image by showing beautiful performances in a decent atmosphere.
In this sense, "Trix" has the opposite philosophy to such general standard. Their live stage is exciting, humorous and funny, but sound quality is doubtlessly the first class.
"Noriaki Kumagai", the leader of Trix, calls his band "Hyper-technical comic fusion service group".
As he is describing, each member of band demonstrate their showmanship from the opening to the end of live session, and make concert enjoyable.
They often use gimmick during concert, but a mechanized & illuminating electric wig, called "Dendō-zura" (Electric wig) is a particularly famous one.
Each member wear this jokingly humorous, "auto-stretching & illuminating" wig on their head, and play a high-tech Fusion in cool face.
It's funny and almost surreal. If you by chance find some videos on Youtube, please have a look.
Member Change
In 2011, an original member and guitarist, "Takeshi Hirai" left the group, and "Yūya Komoguchi" joined.
In 2012, an original member of "Trix", and a super "Electone" player, "Hiroshi Kubota" switched places with young, but brilliant keyboardist, "AYAKI".
In 2016, "Yūya Komoguchi" left the band, and a young guitarist, "Hidehisa Sasaki" has taken over his position in 2017.
Recently
In 2016, the band and "Kumagai" announced, that Trix has to slow down the pace of their activity, due to a problem occurred on the legs of Kumagai, though it is treatable.
Since then, they have reduced the number of live stages, but album-recording wise, "Trix" has constantly released 3 new albums in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
We wish if "Trix" can continue current level of activity as a unique Fusion band, without imposing unnecessary burden on Kumagai's legs.
-
(Ref: yuya-komoguchi.jp,
yuya komoguchi profile)🇯🇵 -
(Ref: ost-noriaki.music.coocan.jp,
Noriaki Kumagai profile)🇯🇵 -
(Ref: vfk.music.coocan.jp,
Mitsuru Sutoh ultra session)🇯🇵
Video clip
We couldn't find any suitable video clip of "Trix", so, we would like to introduce a video of a music session performed by a former member of Trix, "Hiroshi Kubota".
Please have a look at his incredible performance on the "Electone".
("Electone" is a trade mark of the Electronic Organ manufactured by Yamaha.)
The session partner for this day was "Hiroyuki Noritake", who was a former drummer of a great pop instrumental band "T-Square", and certainly one of the finest drum player in Japan.
In fact, Kubota's play of the "Electone" is surprising.
If you like, please have a look.
Music Samples
10
(試聴する)
Amazon JP(en)
hmv.co.jp
Apple Music(jp)
10
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | Christmas Flower ☆ |
|---|---|
| Artist | Trix |
| Album Title | Fever |
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