Composer and Jazz Bassist Mark Izu has Died, Aged 70

Izu was a pioneer of Asian-American jazz, incorporating Japanese styles such as gagaku and taiko drumming

The Japanese-American bassist and composer Mark Izu, whose music fused traditional Asian styles with jazz, has passed away at the age of 70 from colon cancer.

Born in Vallejo, California in 1954, Izu studied at San Francisco State University. Alongside the pianist Jon Jang, percussionist Anthony Brown, and saxophonist Francis Wong, Izu was part of a group of jazz musicians based in San Francisco who sought to incorporate Asian music (particularly Japanese gagaku) into post-bop jazz style.

Izu developed a deep mastery of this style, spending 26 years studying with gagaku master Togi Suyenobu, who was part of the Court Music Department of the Japanese Imperial Household. He also incorporated taiko drumming into his work, and drummer Kenny Endo was a close collaborator in this regard.

In 1981, Izu curated the first Asian American Jazz Festival (AAJF) in San Francisco and he remained its Artistic Director until 2000. In this position, he brought Asian American jazz artists together in one place to experiment and compose new music. Out of this sprang a number of important recordings, such as the 1992 disc Circle of Fire.

"Mark was a visionary artist," said pianist Jon Jang, co-founder of Asian Improv Records. "In the 1980s the discussion was mainly focused on Chinese Americans and Japanese Americans. ‘Circle of Fire’ related to the Pacific Rim. He was trying to redefine Asian America, and the album opens with the very joyful ‘Come On Let’s Go,’ which is also a pun on komungo."

Our condolences to Izu's family, friends, and colleagues.