The face behind the moustache of Yamasaki is Tom Edwards of Portsmouth England.

Born at an early age Tom made his way in the world before turning to music and finding his calling in smooshing sounds togther like liquid kittens before squeezing them until tunes come out. Most of these sounds were quite pleasant and came in the form of  Yamasaki. "An awesome beat creating sound guru who is forever innovative in his approach to music" . Some were a bit less user friendly and manifested in the alter ego Digital Breaks and some stateside releases of drum and bass cacophany.

Yamasaki has enjoyed album releases with the independent labels Criminal Recordz and Just Joe as well as achieving underground acclaim and radio play in 3 continents (including having his tracks feature on Scott Mills show as well as Colin Murray's "Black Hole" on BBC Radio 1). 

"As Yamasaki I have continued to build momentum, working with many great artists along the way (such as Emeson, Echo Armande, Mr Spin, CRF, the mighty Hiperik and Children of  a New Jazz Era) defining my sound and moving onwards and upwards". 2012 has seen more genre defying antics appearing on street sounds Nu Electro volume 4 alongside such luminries as Chuck D and Davy DMX.  As well as the release of my 4th solo album Cardboard Jukebox.     

The Yamasaki sound is not to be pigeon-holed, its a funked up, ambient explosion of  lounge classics, "steeped in the greats, but also intrinsically linked to the lure of  Jazz and Funk. Yamasaki takes the sterling early nineties work of the Acid Jazz label and builds upon it yet again" (Robert McNamara, Redtrackmusic). 
Yamasaki
deep six EP ft Emeson EP (just joe records)
sunshine in a teacup EP (criminal recordz)
boston neck full album (just joe records)
high tide full album (criminal recordz)
new jazz era (yamasaki & children of a new jazz era CD single (criminal recordz)
new jazz era (yamasaki & children of a new jazz era full album (criminal recordz)
the truth full album (the truth)
untitled (yamasaki) full album (the truth)
cardboard jukebox full album (the truth)
nu electro 4 compilation (street sounds) with mr spin & crf

Digital breaks
The Therapy Sessions (Wreked records US)
Thrash And Burn (Wreked records US)
New Jazz Era
The long awaited collaboration between two modern Jazz Pioneers - Yamasaki and Children Of The New Jazz Era. This album is the future of Jazz and is quite possibly the most ambitous Yamasaki Project to date. Receiving rave reviews across genres this album is a must buy for Jazz fans and Non Jazz fans alike! "New Jazz Era", will have you laying back thinking that you are at the crowded bar of a smoky club listen to the strums of a guitar or transport you to the far-flung mountain hearing the play of a a lone trumpeter' (Garry Irwin - RedTrackMusic)

Boston Neck
Taking his queue from jazz, soul and Funk, Portsmouth's Tom Edwards, better known as instrumental artist Yamasaki, has made a debut album of diverse, modern and curious sounds. Album opener and title track 'Boston Neck' tips it's hat to John Coltrane's 'Ole' with it's deep upright bass and forward moving momentum. It's an agreeable induction to a record full of nuggets such as this.
It's not hard to hear Yamasaki's influences on this record yet he doesn't fall into the trap of imitation. The Herbie Hancock like 'Crown St.' with it's jaunty piano is embellished with some funky fuzz bass and serves to update rather than compliment. It's a theme that runs through Boston Neck and keeps it vibrant and fresh. While the sounds are steeped in the greats like Hancock, Coltrane and Gil Scott- Heron they are also intrinsically linked to the lure of modern Jazz and Funk. It takes the sterling early nineties work of the Acid Jazz label ( Where luminaries such as Jamiroquai, The James Taylor Quartet and Mother Earth laid the foundations for a resurgence in a widespread appreciation of early seventies Funk ) and builds upon it yet again.
The echoed guitar on 'Jojo' turns the album 180 degrees and throws in some soulful flute and joyous ivory tinkling for good measure. It's engaging stuff and as the album progresses it becomes more apparent how original this work is. It's an admirable trait. Around every piano riff and chord change is something new, something to keep you hooked. Take 'Mexico' for example, it turns many musical corners and it's honestly one of the most dynamic piece's of music I've heard in a while. 'My Friend the Cat' is subtle and simplistic yet creates an excellent moment on the album with just duelling acoustic and electric guitars.
It would be lazy to call Yamasaki lounge as the grooves emanating from 'Boston Neck' are far too efflorescent. Never for a second is any of these instrumentals daunted by the absence of lyrics, in-fact it would be a misapplication to include any as this music is taking you somewhere where words are not needed. 'Me, my Dad and the Van the Man' is a sparkling slice of Funk laden with wonderful furnishments and samples. It's almost futuristic.
We still haven't reached the album zenith however and we only arrive there with the closing tracks 'Bought and Sold' and 'Copper Blue' , two musical suites brimming with sophistication and the variations in tone that make this recording so enduring. There's much to admire here, 'Boston Neck' is an extremely mature and full record.
Robert McNamara redtrackmusic.com

His music seamlessly blends jazz, soul, and big beat breaks into tracks that seriously make you want to get up and groove along with the beats. Save on that vacation to the Bahamas by simply buying a Yamasaki track, loading it into your iPod, throwing on your headphones, standing in a sandbox, and youll swear you were in the tropics.
as featured in spacecadetz.com

Yamasaki blends the sounds of; funk, soul, big-beat, and jazz, to create his lounge trip-hop style. Any of the Yamasaki tracks could be the soundtrack to a summer vacation. Imagine a consistently lounge sounding version of Fat Boy Slim, but signed to Ninja Tune, then you might be somewhere close to knowing what Yamasaki sounds like.
as featured in just like music

Watch out for Yamasaki. He is a rising star - innovative yet assured, his music merges genres such as funk, jazz, big-beat and soul. Always surprising, this talented artist is always on my iPod and never disappoints. Check him out for some seriously good tunes.
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