Legendary vibraphone player Roy Ayers holds a sophisticated gathering to celebrate the conclusion of his 2009 Japan tour, which is supported by URBAN RESEARCH and Music Shop SUPER SLICK. Musical entertainment comes courtesy of Grooveman Spot of the Jazzy Sport label and Yusuke Yoshinaga.

ROY AYERS
Roy Ayers could very well be the best jazz/R&B artist you don’t know. In his 40-plus years as a vibraphonist, he has produced a string of soul and funk classics, like “We Live in Brooklyn Baby” and “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” that have arguably made him the second-most sampled musician in hip-hop, after James Brown. Despite 68 years of age, Ayers remains busy. Last year, he produced a track called “In the Mood” with Kanye West for Brooklyn MC Talib Kweli’s seminal album Eardrum, and he is working on an album due to drop in 2009. Meanwhile, US label Verve has reissued three of his albums from the 1970s, which highlight some of his best work.

Grooveman Spot (Jazzy Sport)
Part of the Jazzy Sport label, which boasts talents like Enbull, Mitsu The Beats and Cro-Magnon on its roster, Grooveman Spot a.k.a DJ Kou-G is one of Japan’s hottest hip-hop DJ/producers. His legendary grooveman Spot EP sold an exceptional 3000 copies and his own MIX CD ”grooveman Spot” gave him his break. After that, his first solo album “Eternal Development” was released on Planetgroove which also represents Mitsu The Beats. The long-player’s success won him global recognition. He also works as a producer and re-mixer for artists like Gagle, Kenshin, Ken The 390, Jazztronik, Yoshika, Jeru The Damaja and the Platinum Pied Pipers. He is also in charge of producing and re-mixing for a unit with Masaya Fantasista called “Tettory BLK”. In September he will release a full-length album “Unite” from a unit he runs with Simbad called “Tettory Bad”.