Artist Profile
AKIAKINORI NIISATO
SAMURAI BASSIST
Akinori Niisato is a Japanese bassist, composer, arranger, producer, and educator known as the Samurai Bassist.
Following his major label debut, he joined the international band BLESSEDMAIN led by renowned drummer Koji Hasegawa, performing primarily in the United States. He released the album FATAL BLOW and was featured in BURRN!, one of Japan's leading hard rock and heavy metal magazines.
He has performed, recorded, and collaborated with numerous acclaimed artists, including Isao Takahashi (Isao), Shinichi Kobayashi, Hiroshi Shibasaki, Yoshio Morikawa, Tetsu Kashiwa, Yasuhiko Shigemura, Koji Hasegawa, Hisanori Kumamaru, Jun Abe, Akira Inoue, Chieko Kinbara, Koichiro Muroya, Takuo Sugiyama, Shinichi Kusama, Yuichiro Honda, Atsushi Kuze, and sakura.
He also provided international support performances as a substitute bassist for IKUO of CUBE-RAY.
As the founder of studio smile sounds, Akinori is involved in composition, arranging, recording, artist development, commercial music production, and music education.
His achievements include the Special Judge's Award presented by Tsugutoshi Goto, Excellence Award, and Runner-up Grand Prize at Japan's Bass Magazine Players Contest, as well as the Tomoharu Takahashi "Jr." Award at the ESP Bass Design Contest. His work and studio have also been featured in Sound & Recording Magazine and Sound Designer.
Under the name Samurai Bassist, Akinori creates instrumental music inspired by the spirit of the Samurai, the Shinsengumi, and Japan's Bakumatsu era. His signature sound combines virtuosic 6-string bass performance with Heavy Metal, Fusion, Progressive Rock, and traditional Japanese influences.
His releases have reached No.3 on the iTunes Metal Album Chart in Japan.
He currently performs with ABE & AKI JAZZ PIANO & BASS DUO alongside pianist ABE KAZUE, mother of CASIOPEA keyboardist Jun Abe. He also performs as a support bassist for acclaimed virtuoso guitarist Shinichi Kobayashi.
Carrying sincerity through sound.
A Samurai Spirit.
A Modern Bass Voice.
A Story Told Through Strings.
Genre: Heavy Metal, JazzStart Year: 2006