Yoko Kanno, is in my opinion, one of the most talented and gifted composers ever. Not only can she masterfully compose music but she even plays the piano, keyboards, sings in, and writes lyrics for much of her own works. A versitile composer, Yoko Kanno has composed jazz, orchestral, rock, techno, choral, jpop, and has even dapped in country and rap music.
Starting her music career in the late eighties, Kanno joined a jazz band named Tetsu 100%. After composing and performing for several of their albums, Kanno left and began composing game music for KOEI. Her most notable KOEI albums include several Nobunaga and Uncharted Waters game soundtracks. Then in 1994, Kanno composed the music for an anime named: Macross Plus. Macross Plus made Kanno instantly popular and gave her worldwide recognition. Shortly thereafter she composed music for another anime named Escaflowne, which is widely regarded now as one of the most popular anime soundtracks ever.
In 1998, Cowboy Bebop was released. The jazzy music for Bebop contrasted with her previous orchestra anime soundtracks, Escaflowne and Brain Powerd. Kanno's success and popularity continued to grow when Cowboy Bebop was released in the US shortly later.
Recently, Kanno returned to work with KOEI to compose music for Napple Tale. She also continues to work on various CMs (Commerical Music), various albums with Samply Red, and compose anime soudntracks. Some of her latest soundtracks include Chikyuu Shoujo Arjuna, Turn A Gundam, Ghost in the Shell - Stand Alone Complex, and Wolf's Rain. |
