Banksia Trio
Biography
Banksia Trio is a cutting-edge jazz trio based in Tokyo.
Formed in 2017 by Takashi Sugawa (double bass) with Masaki Hayashi (piano) and Shun Ishiwaka (drums), the group primarily performs original compositions, with all members contributing to the writing process.
To date, they have produced three albums and collaborated with numerous renowned artists both in Japan and abroad. Most recently, Banksia Trio shared the stage with Gretchen Parlato, during a double bill concert featuring the Gretchen Parlato Quartet in September 2024.
In November 2021, they performed at "TOKYO JAZZ 20th," which was held without an audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2023, they released their latest album, "MASKS," on Sugawa's own label, TSGW MUSIC. This was followed by a performance at Blue Note Tokyo in November 2023.
The band's name comes from the Banksia, a genus of flowering plants native to Australia. They were drawn to the plant's unique method of seed dispersal, in which re is required to release the seeds from their pods, finding a certain charm in this unusual life cycle.
Takashi Sugawa (bass)
Born in Isesaki, Gunma, Japan, Takashi Sugawa began playing the cello at the age of 11 and the contrabass at 18. After graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2006, he moved to New York City, where he met pianist Masabumi Kikuchi, who became his musical mentor. After returning to Japan in 2009, he joined the Fumio Karashima Trio and later became the bassist for the Terumasa Hino band for six years. He currently performs with numerous groups, including the Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio, Kosuke Mine Quartet, Tamaya Honda Trio, and Michiyo Yagi Trio. He has performed at numerous international jazz festivals, including Tokyo Jazz, Detroit, Montreux, and others. His diverse projects include composing for the launch of the new Audi A5 (2017), creating a solo piece for the "Nihon no Genei" exhibition at the Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum (2019), and improvising for actor Ai Kaneko's stage production of "Heike Monogatari (The Tale of the Heike)." His discography includes his 2018 debut album, "Outgrowing" (featuring Leo Genovese and Tom Rainey), and three albums with Banksia Trio: "Time Remembered," "Ancient Blue," and "MASKS."
Masaki Hayashi (piano)
Pianist and composer Masaki Hayashi performs solo works, often featuring his original compositions. He also engages in collaborative projects, such as "Ma wo Kanaderu" (Playing the Silence), which explores the beauty of unamplified ensemble sound. He is also known for his acclaimed acoustic performances with a wide range of artists, including Lisa Ono, Aska Maret, Seigen Tokuzawa, Kazuma Fujimoto, and akiko. He is a member of the Sadao Watanabe Quintet, Naruyoshi Kikuchi & Pepe Tormento Azucarar, and Cuatrocientos. Hayashi's unique style blends minimalist songwriting, wry humor, and delicate performance, drawing inspiration from a wide range of musical influences. This unique style has earned him critical acclaim in Japan and internationally, leading to collaborations with artists such as Jun Miyake and Sheena Ringo. As a composer, he has scored various projects, including the 2016 stage production "Kaku Onna" (starring Haru Kuroki, written and directed by Ai Nagai), the 2017 stage play "Orlando" (starring Mikako Tabe, directed by Akira Shirai), and the 2021 film "Under the Open Sky" (directed by Miwa Nishikawa, starring Koji Yakusho).
Shun Ishiwaka (drums)
Born in Hokkaido in 1992, Shun Ishiwaka graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts after studying percussion at the university's affiliated music high school. He was awarded the Acanthus Music Prize and the Doseikai Prize upon graduation. He leads his own projects, including Answer to Remember, SMTK, and Songbook Trio, and actively performs and records with artists such as Quruli, CRCK/LCKS, Kid Fresino, Ohzora Kimishima, and Millennium Parade. Recently, he presented "Sound Mine" at the Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media (YCAM), a new concert piece created in collaboration with Miyu Hosoi and YCAM that explores how sound and resonance evoke personal memories. He also performed a roaming performance, "Shun Ishiwaka × Nobuyoshi Asai Live Session," which used the entire former Minato Dormitory of Nagoya Custom as a stage at Assembridge Nagoya. His solo performances have been featured in diverse media, including a commercial for Yamamoto Manufacturing's 100th-anniversary model "OU." He has also appeared in an online special movie for filmmaker Tomokazu Yamada's new "Niji no Koku" series (Chapter 15 in Figaro Japon) and a documentary about the new Art and Science Department building at Osaka University of Arts, designed by architect Kazuyo Sejima.