Wataru Uchida

Wataru Uchida

Musicians | Instrument: Saxophone, tenor | Location: New York City

Updated: September 10, 2024

Wataru Uchida is a saxophonist and composer. He studied fundamental saxophone technique and jazz composition with Chico Freeman, who was a student of Muhal Richard Abrams, the composer and founder of AACM. In 2001, Wataru worked as a teaching assistant for Rory Stuart's rhythm analysis class at the New School University Jazz & Contemporary Music Program.

Since 2003, Wataru has been leading his jazz projects in New York. He began practicing straight-ahead jazz at his apartment with Terence Conley, former pianist of the Count Basie Orchestra, and performed with the legendary Bill Saxton, former soloist of the Count Basie Orchestra, in 2009.

In 2010, Wataru released his first CD, Blue Morpho, recorded with NY-based Brazilian jazz artists Romero Lubambo, Helio Alves, Nilson Matta, Café Da Silva, and Ze Mauricio. The album, dedicated to the legendary Brazilian guitarist Baden Powell, was produced by Nilson Matta.


In 2015, Wataru recorded his original compositions with the astonishing Brazilian jazz pianist Abelita Mateus, along with Itaiguara Brandão and Vanderlei Pereira. The album, Predawn Shenanigans Club, is an old-school, one-room recording without any computer manipulation.

Besides the artists who joined the recording projects, Wataru has performed with excellent Brazilian jazz artists such as Vitor Gonçalves, Gustavo Amarante, Eduardo Belo, Rogerio Boccato, and Fernando Saci.

Also, Wataru has supported the Tocho Swing Beats Jazz Big Band and performed at renowned venues like Birdland, Jazz Standard, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York.

On May 15, 2010, Wataru performed at the Museum of the City of New York, leading his quintet with selected Japanese jazz performers in New York, as part of events celebrating the 150th anniversary of Japan-U.S. trade.

In 2018, Wataru published a vinyl album, The Heart Intact, featuring eight original jazz compositions. The music was recorded on open reel tapes and mixed from those tapes to stereo tapes, with no computer involvement. It was mastered manually at an acetate cutting factory to create the mother discs. The rhythm section included Noah Haidu, Kenny Davis, and Mark Whitfield Jr.

In 2024, Wataru released the album On a Journey Ailing / Tabi ni Yande, recorded by a unique trio with piano and upright bass, without drums. The album features several odd-meter compositions, along with slow and open pieces. All nine instrumental original tunes are lyrical and story-telling. The amazing pianist Fima Chupakhin, originally from Ukraine, and the excellent bassist Oleg Osenkov, originally from Russia, contributed their Eastern European sensibilities to the creative expression.

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Take Five With...

Take Five With Saxophonist / Composer Wataru Uchida

Read "Take Five With Saxophonist / Composer Wataru Uchida" reviewed by AAJ Staff


About Wataru Uchida Wataru Uchida is a saxophonist and composer who has been leading jazz projects in New York City since 2003. He studied saxophone performance and composition with Chico Freeman. In 2001, Wataru worked as a teaching assistant of Rory Stuart's rhythm analysis class at New School University Jazz & Contemporary Music program. In 2010, Wataru released his first CD Blue Morpho, recorded with NY-based Brazilian jazz artists, Romero Lubambo, Helio Alves, Nilson Matta. The ...

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Recording

A New Album, "Predawn Shenanigans Club" By Wataru Uchida

A New Album, "Predawn Shenanigans Club" By Wataru Uchida

Source: Wataru Uchida

Born in Japan, tenor saxophonist Wataru Uchida was compelled by the power of swing to move to New York, only to come under the spell of Latin rhythms such as samba, Baião and Maracatu that form the core of a new release entitled Predawn Shenanigans Club. A specially recruited lineup of Brazilian jazz players bring life to his ten original compositions and give Wataru ample room to shine. Among many highlights, the title tune, “Predawn Shenanigans Club” contains alternating 3/4 ...

Interview : April 2012 — Jazz Inside Magazine

Primary Instrument

Saxophone, tenor

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Skype Private Lesson
Customized lessons via internet chat system. Anytime you are comfortable, anyone who can communicate in English

Basic
($30~45 / 1 hour)
Breath & embouchure
Reading music
Proper Fingering & posture
Scale & basic jazz Harmony

Intermediate
($35~60 / 1.5hours)
How to learn jazz tunes without visual
Ear training for jazz improvisation
Analysis of bebop solo development (Charlie Parker)
Pentatonic scales (application to chords, step &skip)

Advanced
($60~90 / 1.5hours)
Style analysis of jazz giants
John Coltrane (early era & Coltrane change), Wayne Shorter(harmonic devices, space in solo) Or any jazz saxophonist you want to study

Wayne Shorter
saxophone
John Coltrane
saxophone
Chico Freeman
saxophone
Von Freeman
saxophone, tenor
Kenny Wheeler
flugelhorn
https://wataruuchida.bandcamp.com/album/on-a-journey-ailing-tabi-ni-yande https://wataruuchida.bandcamp.com/album/the-heart-intact

Bed-Stuy Lullaby

From: Predawn Shenanigans Club
By Wataru Uchida