"HANA Hajime & Crazy Cats" - The members' solo performances
"HANA Hajime & Crazy Cats" (JPN: ハナ肇とクレイジーキャッツ) is a famous and renowned Japanese comic jazz band, mainly inspired by the US originals including Spike Jones. After gaining success as musicians first, they went into performing business in films and the early days of TV in the 1960's Japan, producing many various famous gags and jokes which are still remembered nowadays by many Japanese.
The band had seen several members joining and resigning until it reached the final form, allegedly in 1955, with the following 7 players (in order of appearance in this clip):
(1) YASUDA Shin (安田伸, 1932-1996) (Saxophone/Clarinet, playing "Harlem Nocturne" at 0:00-1:50) (2) ISHIBASHI Eetaro (石橋エータロー, 1927-1994) (Piano, playing the 1st half of "To Love Again" at 1:51-2:37) (3) SAKURAI Senri (桜井センリ, 1926-2012) (Piano, playing the 2nd half of "To Love Again" at 2:38-4:47) (4) INUZUKA Hiroshi (犬塚弘, 1929-) (Bass, playing "Hello, Dolly!" at 4:48-6:41) (5) TANI Kei (谷啓, 1932-2010) (Trombone, playing "Stardust" at 6:42-8:58) (6) UEKI Hitoshi (植木等, 1927-2007) (Vocal/Guitar, playing "Una Sera Di Tokyo" at 8:59-10:47) (7) HANA Hajime (ハナ肇, 1930-1993) (Bandmaster/Drums, playing "Ol' Man's River" at 10:48-)
As of November 2012, INUZUKA is the last surviving member, followed by SAKURAI's passing.