Hiroaki Mizutani

Hiroaki Mizutani (Japanese: 水谷 浩章, born 1963) is a Japanese jazz bassist, composer, arranger, and producer. Known for his versatility and distinctive groove, Mizutani plays both electric and acoustic bass.

Mizutani began his musical career in the early 1980s and studied acoustic bass under Hiroshi Yoshino. He developed a unique style that incorporates both electric and upright bass across genres including jazz, contemporary music, and improvisation.

From 1995 to 1997, he joined guitarist Tsuneo Imahori's group Tipographica and participated in recording sessions and a tour in France. Since 1998, he has worked with pianist Hiroshi Minami, contributing to albums such as Bird in Berlin, Go There!, and Celestial Inside, and performed at the Beijing International Jazz Festival and in Denmark.

Mizutani has been a core member of Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Ensemble and Orchestra (ONJO) since 1999, touring extensively in Europe and participating in many recordings. He also performed with Yosuke Yamashita's band from 2000, and has collaborated with Takashi Kako, MIYA, Yoichiro Yanagihara, and others.

In 2006, he appeared as a bassist in the "40th Anniversary Festival of Shinjuku Pit Inn," performing with Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Orchestra alongside Kahimi Karie, Naruyoshi Kikuchi, and Yasuhiro Yoshigaki.^[1]

In 2024, he directed a large ensemble named "Hiroaki Mizutani Unit (14 players)" to perform music by John Zorn at a special screening of Zorn's documentary trilogy in Ina City, Nagano.^[2]

Mizutani leads the jazz chamber orchestra phonolite, a 10–12 member ensemble that integrates strings, winds, and rhythm section. He also leads sub-units such as the phonolite trio and phonolite strings.

• LowBlow / Café Ojisan (1997)
• phonolite / while I’m sleeping (2003)
• phonolite trio and ensemble / My Heart Belongs to Daddy (2006)
• phonolite / Still Crazy (2008)

• Official site on Note
• Hiroaki Mizutani on Instagram