Asa-Chang & Junray

Asa Chang & Junray
Asa Chang & Junray
	Asa-Chang & Junray.
Background information
Origin	Tokyo, Japan
Genres	Avant-garde; electronic; percussive music;
Years active	1998–present
Labels	The Leaf Label, Oon Music Inc
Members	Asa Chang; Hidehiko Urayama; U-zhaan;
Website	www.junray.com

ASA-CHANG & Junray is the band of the Japanese percussionist ASA-CHANG, who was the founder and original bandmaster of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. After leaving that group in 1993, he formed ASA-CHANG & Junray in 1998 with programmer and guitarist Hidehiko Urayama. They were joined in 2000 by tabla player U-zhaan. Live, the group used a portable sound-system called 'Jun-Ray Tronics', hence the name — although the word 'junray' also means 'pilgrimage'.

In 2002, the British label The Leaf Label released Jun Ray Song Chang, which compiled the group's first two, Japan-only albums. It was followed a year later by the mini album, Tsu Gi Ne Pu. The group's song 'Hana' was featured on Fabric Live 07, while 'Tsuginepu To Ittemita' was included on a The Wire Tapper CD. The group's 2005 album, Minna no Junray, featured vocals by singer and actress Kyōko Koizumi. It has not been released overseas.

On March 31, 2010, Urayama and U-zhaan leave the band and the only permanent member is Asa Chang since that.

In 2012, Yoshihiro Goseki, a saxophone flute player, and violinist Anzu Suhara join as live members.

In 2013, their song "Hana" was re-done for the soundtrack to the anime Aku no Hana (lit. Flowers of Evil), an adaptation of the manga of the same name. Several versions are featured throughout the series, and as its ending theme.

Members

Asa Chang (Hirokazu Asakura, ex. Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra): percussion, tabrabongo
Yoshihiro Goseki (ex. DCPRG, ex. Zainichi Funk): sax, flute, vocal
Anzu Suhara (ex. Led Act Sect): violin, guitar, vocal

Former members

Hidehiko Urayama: guitar, music sequencer
U-zhaan: tabla

Albums

Tabla Magma Bongo, 1998 (Japan only)
Hana, 2001 (Japan only)
Jun Ray Song Chang, Leaf Label 2002
Tsu Gi Ne Pu, Leaf Label 2003 (BBC review)
Minna no Junray, 2005
Kage No Nai Hito, 2009
Mahou, 2016
事件, 2020

External links