Ars Nova (rock)
Encyclopedia
Ars Nova is a Japan
ese progressive rock
band. The current members are Keiko Kumagai (keyboards), Shinko "Panky" Shibata (bass guitar), Hazime (drums) and Satoshi Handa (guitar).
Ars Nova's music features keyboards heavily—this was particularly true between 1998 and 2003 when the band had two keyboard players. Common sounds include the ubiquitous Hammond organ
, as well as more recent digital sounds. Almost all of their music is instrumental.
The band's musical influences are ELP
, Goblin
, PFM
, Rick Wakeman
, Balletto di Bronzo and classical music. Kumagai, the keyboard player, writes all of the band's compositions. She has played on the Ayreon
album Universal Migrator part two: Flight of the Migrator. This band has been for a long time an all-female band, an unusual case in the world of progressive rock.
and Trace. In 1986, Thubata left the band. Keiko Kumagai replaced her and played two gigs with the band before leaving for personal reasons.
In 1991, the band was reformed with Keiko Kumagai on the keyboards. In 1992, the band released Fear and Anxiety. The following year, in 1993, Saito was replaced by Akiko Takahashi on the drums.
In 1994, their second album, Transi, was released. It allowed the band to be known outside Japan. In 1995, Ars Nova played a gig for the first time outside Japan, at the Prog Fest '95 festival in Los Angeles, USA.
In 1996, their third album, The Goddess of Darkness, was released and in 1997 they played their first gigs in Europe. Kyoko Kanazawa left the band in October.
In 1998, the album, The Book Of the Dead, was released with guest bass guitarist, Ken Ishita (ex-Deja Vu). A world tour began in October with Naomi Miura as a second keyboard player and bass guitar replacement.
Android Domina was released in 2001, with Mika Nakajima as a second keyboard player, followed in 2003 by Biogenesis Project, an album featuring numerous guest musicians, including Masuhiro Goto (Gerard
, Ningen-Isu), who became the new drummer of the band, replacing Takahashi. Nakajima also left the band and was replaced by the bass guitarist Shinko Shibata. Satoshi Handa began playing as a guest for live gigs later in the year.
In 2005, drummer Goto left the band and was replaced by Hazime. Handa became a member of the band and played on the next studio album.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band. The current members are Keiko Kumagai (keyboards), Shinko "Panky" Shibata (bass guitar), Hazime (drums) and Satoshi Handa (guitar).
Ars Nova's music features keyboards heavily—this was particularly true between 1998 and 2003 when the band had two keyboard players. Common sounds include the ubiquitous Hammond organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
, as well as more recent digital sounds. Almost all of their music is instrumental.
The band's musical influences are ELP
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock supergroup. They found success in the 1970s and sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts. The band consists of Keith Emerson , Greg Lake and Carl Palmer...
, Goblin
Goblin
A goblin is a legendary evil or mischievous illiterate creature, a grotesquely evil or evil-like phantom.They are attributed with various abilities, temperaments and appearances depending on the story and country of origin. In some cases, goblins have been classified as constantly annoying little...
, PFM
Premiata Forneria Marconi
Premiata Forneria Marconi is an Italian progressive rock band. They were the first Italian group to have success abroad, entering both the British and American charts. Between 1973 and 1977 they released five albums with English lyrics...
, Rick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
, Balletto di Bronzo and classical music. Kumagai, the keyboard player, writes all of the band's compositions. She has played on the Ayreon
Ayreon
Ayreon is a project by Dutch composer and musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen.Ayreon's musical style derives mostly from heavy metal and progressive rock, but combines them with genres like folk, classical and electronica...
album Universal Migrator part two: Flight of the Migrator. This band has been for a long time an all-female band, an unusual case in the world of progressive rock.
Band history
Ars Nova was formed in 1983 by Kyoko Kanazawa (bass guitar), Keiko Thubata (keyboards) and Yumiko Saito (drums). The band covered bands such as ELPEmerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock supergroup. They found success in the 1970s and sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts. The band consists of Keith Emerson , Greg Lake and Carl Palmer...
and Trace. In 1986, Thubata left the band. Keiko Kumagai replaced her and played two gigs with the band before leaving for personal reasons.
In 1991, the band was reformed with Keiko Kumagai on the keyboards. In 1992, the band released Fear and Anxiety. The following year, in 1993, Saito was replaced by Akiko Takahashi on the drums.
In 1994, their second album, Transi, was released. It allowed the band to be known outside Japan. In 1995, Ars Nova played a gig for the first time outside Japan, at the Prog Fest '95 festival in Los Angeles, USA.
In 1996, their third album, The Goddess of Darkness, was released and in 1997 they played their first gigs in Europe. Kyoko Kanazawa left the band in October.
In 1998, the album, The Book Of the Dead, was released with guest bass guitarist, Ken Ishita (ex-Deja Vu). A world tour began in October with Naomi Miura as a second keyboard player and bass guitar replacement.
Android Domina was released in 2001, with Mika Nakajima as a second keyboard player, followed in 2003 by Biogenesis Project, an album featuring numerous guest musicians, including Masuhiro Goto (Gerard
Gerard (band)
Gerard is a Japanese progressive rock band.The current members are :* Toshio Egawa : keyboards* Kenichi Fujimoto : drums* Atsushi Hasegawa : bass-Biography:Gerard is led by the keyboardist Toshio Egawa...
, Ningen-Isu), who became the new drummer of the band, replacing Takahashi. Nakajima also left the band and was replaced by the bass guitarist Shinko Shibata. Satoshi Handa began playing as a guest for live gigs later in the year.
In 2005, drummer Goto left the band and was replaced by Hazime. Handa became a member of the band and played on the next studio album.
Discography
- 1992 : Fear and Anxiety
- 1994 : Transi
- 1996 : The Goddess of Darkness
- 1997 : The Six Singular Impressions (compilation)
- 1998 : The Book of the DeadThe Book of the Dead (Ars Nova album)The Book of the Dead is a 1998 album by Ars Nova. It had slightly different releases in the Japanese and European markets...
- 2001 : Android Domina
- 2001 : Lacrimaria
- 2003 : Biogenesis Project
- 2005 : Force for the Fourth -Chrysalis-
- 2009 : Seventh Hell