View source for Soil & "Pimp" Sessions

{{Short description|Japanese jazz group}}
{{Infobox musical artist  <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name                = SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS
| image                 = Midorin in Iwaki.JPG
| caption            = Midorin, former drummer for Soil & "Pimp" Sessions, in Iwaki, Fukishima, Japan
| image_size            = 250
| background          = group_or_band
| alias               =
| origin              = [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]
| genre               = [[Jazz]], [[punk jazz]], [[bebop]], [[bossa nova]], Death Jazz
| years_active        = 2001–present
| label               = [[Victor Entertainment|JVC Music]]<br>[[Brownswood Recordings]]
| associated_acts     = J.A.M
| website                 = [http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/soilpimp/ www.jvcmusic.co.jp/soilpimp/]
| current_members     = Shacho<br>Tabu Zombie<br>Josei<br>Akita Goldman
| past_members        = Motoharu<br>Midorin
}}
'''Soil & "Pimp" Sessions''' (stylised as '''SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS''') is a [[Music of Japan|Japanese]] club jazz sextet who formed in [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]], in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|title=JVC Music: Soil & "Pimp" Sessions|url=http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/soilpimp/profile/index.html|website=Jvcmusic.co.jp|accessdate=31 August 2011|language=Japanese}}</ref> They are known for their energetic live performances, having coined the term "death jazz" to describe their music.<ref>{{cite web|title=JVC Music: Soil & "Pimp" Sessions|url=http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/soilpimp/eng/profile/index.html|website=Jvcmusic.co.jp|accessdate=31 August 2011}}</ref>
==History==
The band was born out of Tokyo's club scene, when Shacho and Tabu Zombie started including live jam sessions in DJ sets. Gradually the other members were invited, the band's line-up was finalised and the DJ sets dropped.
The band's live sets started to create a buzz on the Tokyo live scene, and in 2003 they became the first unsigned band to perform at Japan's [[Fuji Rock Festival]]. They were well received there and in the following months record companies were scrambling to offer contracts. [[JVC]] Victor won the battle, and summer 2004 saw the release of the mini-album ''Pimpin'''.
The album was a critical and commercial success, and this together with constant touring paved the way for the release of their first full album, ''Pimp Master'' in early 2005. The album captures the power of their live performances as well as highlighting their individual musical talents. Two tracks in particular, "Waltz For Goddess" and their cover of "A Wheel Within a Wheel", caught the attention of DJs abroad, and they began to receive heavy air-play on [[Gilles Peterson]]'s Worldwide radio program on [[BBC Radio 1]] in the U.K.
Summer 2005 was a busy time for the band, with the release of their second mini-album, ''Summer Goddess'', and their first live dates outside Japan. [[Gilles Peterson]] invited them to play at Cargo in London, and [[Jazzanova]] invited them to play in Berlin.
They spent the rest of the year touring in Japan and Europe, and they were also featured in the live broadcast of the Gilles Peterson Worldwide Awards in 2005, where they were awarded the John Peel Play More Jazz Award.
A second full album, ''Pimp of the Year'', was released in spring 2006, showcasing innovations that showed a development of their sound, as well as one or two tracks that marked a new departure.
2006 also saw the official release of ''Pimp Master'' in Europe on Compost Records and the UK on Gilles Peterson's [[Brownswood Recordings]] label. They continued touring constantly throughout the year, taking in Britain, Italy, France, Serbia, Belgium, Germany, Slovakia and Croatia, as well as an appearance at the [[Montreux Jazz Festival]].
March 2007 saw the release of their third full album, ''Pimpoint'', on the Victor Entertainment label, which features thirteen tracks.
Soil & "Pimp" Sessions' song "Paraiso" is the opening theme for the anime [[Michiko to Hatchin]].
A side project, called "J.A.M.", was formed by members Josei (piano), Akita Goldman (double bass) and Midorin (drums) in 2007. The name of the band is derived from the first letters of each member's name. The project features a notable different sound, combining house, hip-hop and the "rocking jazz of now". The band has released four albums, with their first album, ''Just A Maestro'', being released in 2008, followed by ''Just Another Mind'' in 2010, ''Jazz Acoustic Machine'' in 2012 and ''Silent Notes'' in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Official Profile|url=http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/Profile/A021569.html|website=Jvcmusic.co.jp|language=Japanese}}</ref>
"Agitator" Shacho announced during their performance at the Relentless Garage in London that their latest album '' 6 '' was due for release on 26 April 2010 in the United Kingdom. No other release locations were confirmed by him at the time.
On 8 December 2010, Soil and "Pimp" Sessions released their album, "SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS Presents STONED PIRATES RADIO", containing 20 tracks. All of the tracks (aside from the occasional skit tracks) are covers, arranged in various ways using their style. From reggae to calypso to their aggressive jazz sound, you can hear tracks like "Walkie-Talkie Man," "Beat It," and "Imagine."
Around September 2011, they announced that a new album will be released shortly, and that release was "MAGNETIC SOIL", containing all new material of 15 tracks (except track 2 is their rendition of the Brecker Brothers' piece "Some Skunk Funk"), including a new version of the track "Summer Goddess."
On August 7, 2013, they released their ninth album, ''Circles'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=VICL-64049 |title=CIRCLES [Regular Edition&#93; SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS CD Album |website=CDJapan.co.jp |date=2013-08-07 |accessdate=2016-11-17}}</ref> which featured collaborations with Japanese artists from various genres, including [[Miyavi]], [[Rhymester (group)|Rhymester]] and [[Ringo Sheena]]. The album also featured a track, titled "Summer Love", featuring American Jazz [[hip-hop]] vocalist [[José James]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Official discography|url=http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/soilpimp/eng/discography/index.html|website=Jvcmusic.co.jp|accessdate=2016-11-17}}</ref> Tim Conley aka [[Mast_(musician)|MAST]] plays guitar on track 8  "記憶の旅 (Kioku no Tavi)".
At the end of 2016, Motoharu (Sax) left the band and they entered a "charging phase", meaning they were on hiatus.  In 2017, the band returned without Motoharu with the release of their album "Music from and inspired by [[Hello Harinezumi]]".  The band were joined by Takeshi Kurihara (Sax & Flute) on this and all future albums.
In June 2023, Midorin was arrested for possession of marijuana;<ref>{{cite web|title=SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS drummer Midorin arrested for violating Cannabis Control Law|url=https://www.tokyohive.com/article/2023/06/soilpimpsessions-drummer-midorin-arrested-for-violating-cannabis-control-law|website=Tokyohive.com}}</ref> the band subsequently mutually agreed to part ways with Midorin.<ref>{{cite web|title=Report from SOIL&”PIMP”SESSIONS|url=https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/News/A018653/434.html|website=Jvcmusic.co.jp|language=Japanese}}</ref>
===Members===
* President a.k.a. Shacho {{nihongo||久嶋識史|}}, born January 18, 1978, in [[Takefu]], [[Fukui Prefecture]], agitator
* Tabu Zombie {{nihongo||椨智紹|}}, born April 13, 1977, in [[Kagoshima]], [[Kagoshima Prefecture]], trumpet
* Josei {{nihongo||佐藤丈青|}}, born October 30, 1975, in the [[Saeki-ku, Hiroshima|Saeki-ku Ward]] of [[Hiroshima]], [[Hiroshima Prefecture]], piano, keyboards
* Akita Goldman {{nihongo||秋田紀彰|}}, born July 8, 1977, in [[Hachiōji]], [[Tokyo]], double bass
===Support musicians===
* Takeshi Kurihara {{nihongo||栗原 健|}}, saxophone, flute
===Former members===
* Motoharu {{nihongo||深田元晴|}}, born June 29, 1973, in [[Nayoro]], [[Hokkaido]], saxophone
* Midorin {{nihongo||緑川直人|}}, born January 30, 1978, in [[Iwaki, Fukushima|Iwaki]], [[Fukushima Prefecture]], drums
== Discography ==
=== Studio albums ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!| Year
!| Album Information
!| ''[[Oricon]]''<br />albums<br />charts<br /><ref name="OriconPositions">{{cite web | title=ＳＯＩＬ＆"ＰＩＭＰ"ＳＥＳＳＩＯＮＳのリリース一覧 |trans-title=Soil & "Pimp" Sessions Releases at a glance | url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/339944/products/release/ | work=[[Oricon]] | accessdate=January 28, 2012}}</ref>
!| Reported<br />sales<br /><ref name="OriconSales">{{cite web | title=オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 | url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp | work=[[Oricon]] | accessdate=January 28, 2012}} (subscription only)</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2004
|''[[Pimpin' (Soil & "Pimp" Sessions album)|Pimpin'<nowiki/>]]''
* <small>Released: June 23, 2004</small>
* <small>Label: [[Victor Entertainment]] (VICL-61421)</small>
* <small>Formats: [[Compact disc|CD]], [[Paid download|digital download]]</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|260
| style="text-align:center;"|2,000<!--1,972-->
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2005
|''[[Pimp Master (Soil & "Pimp" Sessions album)|Pimp Master]]''
* <small>Released: June 23, 2005</small>
* <small>Label:</small>
** <small>Victor (VICL-61566)</small>
** <small>[[Brownswood Recordings]] (BW001CD)</small>
* <small>Formats: CD, digital download</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|80
| style="text-align:center;"|8,300<!--8,298-->
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2006
|''[[Pimp of the Year (Soil & "Pimp" Sessions album)|Pimp of the Year]]''
* <small>Released: March 8, 2006</small>
* <small>Label: Victor (VICL-61892)</small>
* <small>Formats: CD, digital download</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|59
| style="text-align:center;"|12,000<!--11,749-->
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2007
|''[[Pimpoint]]''
* <small>Released: March 7, 2007</small>
* <small>Label:</small>
** <small>Victor (VICL-61892)</small>
** <small>Brownswood (BWOOD019CD)</small>
* <small>Formats: CD, digital download</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|38
| style="text-align:center;"|15,000<!--15,397-->
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2008
|''[[Planet Pimp (album)|Planet Pimp]]''
* <small>Released: May 21, 2008</small>
* <small>Label:</small>
** <small>Victor (VICL-62828)</small>
** <small>Brownswood (BWOOD033CD)</small>
* <small>Formats: CD, digital download</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|33
| style="text-align:center;"|12,000<!--11,838-->
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2009
|''[[6 (Soil & "Pimp" Sessions album)|6]]''
* <small>Released: September 16, 2009</small>
* <small>Label:</small>
** <small>Victor (VICL-63376)</small>
** <small>Brownswood (BWOOD44CD)</small>
* <small>Formats: CD, digital download</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|36
| style="text-align:center;"|8,900<!--8,909-->
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2010
|''[[Stoned Pirates Radio]]''
* <small>Cover album</small>
* <small>Released: December 8, 2010</small>
* <small>Label: Victor (VICL-63684)</small>
* <small>Formats: CD, digital download</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|79
| style="text-align:center;"|3,400<!--3,449-->
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2011
|''[[Magnetic Soil (Soil & "Pimp" Sessions album)|Magnetic Soil]]''
* <small>Released: October 5, 2011</small>
* <small>Label: Victor (VICL-63788)</small>
* <small>Formats: CD, digital download</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|44
| style="text-align:center;"|5,000<!--4,993-->
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2013
|''[[Circles (Soil & "Pimp" Sessions album)|Circles]]''
* <small>Released: August 7, 2013</small>
* <small>Label: Victor (VICL-64049 and VIZL-563)</small>
* <small>Formats: CD, digital download</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|15
| style="text-align:center;"|11,000<!--10,556-->
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2014
|''[[Brothers & Sisters (Soil & "Pimp" Sessions album)|Brothers & Sisters]]''
* <small>Released: September 3, 2014</small>
* <small>Label: Victor (VICL-64205 and VIZL-709)</small>
* <small>Formats: CD, Vinyl, digital download</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|42
| style="text-align:center;"|-<!--unknown-->
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2016
|''[[Black Track (Soil & "Pimp" Sessions album)|Black Track]]''
* <small>Released: April 6, 2016</small>
* <small>Label: Victor (VICL-64559 and VIZL-947)</small>
* <small>Formats:CD, digital download</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|19
| style="text-align:center;"|-<!--unknown-->
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2017
|''[[Music from and inspired by Hello Harinezumi (Soil & "Pimp" Sessions album)|Music from and inspired by Hello Harinezumi]]''
* <small>Released: August 23, 2017</small>
* <small>Label: Victor (VICL-64835)</small>
* <small>Formats:CD, digital download</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|91
| style="text-align:center;"| -
|-
|2018
||''Dapper''
* <small>Released: May 09, 2018</small>
* <small>Label: Victor (VICL-64953)</small><ref>{{Citation |title=Soil & "Pimp" Sessions - Dapper |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/1815410-Soil-Pimp-Sessions-Dapper |access-date=2023-04-07 |language=en}}</ref>
* <small>Formats:CD, digital download</small>
| style="text-align:center;"| -<!--unknown-->
|
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2019
|''[[Outside (Soil & "Pimp" Sessions album)|Outside]] OST for Anime series "Blue Eyed Monster"''
* <small>Released: August 28, 2019</small>
* <small>Label: Victor (VTCL-60505)</small>
* <small>Formats:CD, digital download</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|-<!--unknown-->
| style="text-align:center;"|-<!--unknown-->
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2019
|''[[Man Steals the Stars (Soil & "Pimp" Sessions album)|Man Steals the Stars]]''
* <small>Released: December 4, 2019</small>
* <small>Label: Victor (VICL-65274 and VIZL-1672)</small>
* <small>Formats:CD, DVD, digital download</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|51
| style="text-align:center;"|-<!--unknown-->
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2021
|''[[The Essence of Soil (Soil & "Pimp" Sessions album)|The Essence of Soil]]''
* <small>Released: March 17, 2021</small>
* <small>Label: Victor (VICL-70245)</small>
* <small>Formats:CD, digital download</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|88
| style="text-align:center;"|-<!--unknown-->
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2022
|''[[Lost in Tokyo (Soil & "Pimp" Sessions album)|Lost in Tokyo]]''
* <small>Released: June 8, 2022</small>
* <small>Label: Victor (VICL-65701 and VIZL-2060)</small>
* <small>Formats:CD, DVD, digital download</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|-<!--unknown-->
| style="text-align:center;"|-<!--unknown-->
|}
=== Live albums ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!| Year
!| Album Information
!| ''[[Oricon]]''<br />albums<br />charts<br /><ref name="OriconPositions">{{cite web | title=ＳＯＩＬ＆"ＰＩＭＰ"ＳＥＳＳＩＯＮＳのリリース一覧 |trans-title=Soil & "Pimp" Sessions Releases at a glance | url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/339944/products/release/ | work=[[Oricon]] | accessdate=January 28, 2012}}</ref>
!| Reported<br />sales<br /><ref name="OriconSales">{{cite web | title=オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 | url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp | work=[[Oricon]] | accessdate=January 28, 2012}} (subscription only)</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2015
|A Night in South Blue Mountain
* <small>Released: October 7, 2015</small>
* <small>Label: Victor (VICL-70190)</small>
* <small>Formats: CD, digital download</small>
* <small>Tracks:</small>
# <small>Suffocation (4:49)</small>
# <small>Jazz Crime (8:26)</small>
# <small>First Lady (8:35)</small>
# <small>Mr. Clean (9:29)</small>
# <small>Montara (7:31)</small>
# <small>Una Mas (9:59)</small>
# <small>Spartacus Love Theme (10:07)</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|70
| style="text-align:center;"|-<!--unknown-->
|}
=== Compilation albums ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!| Year
!| Album Information
!| ''Oricon''<br />albums<br />charts<br /><ref name="OriconPositions"/>
!| Reported<br />sales<br /><ref name="OriconSales"/>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2013
|''[[X: Chronicle of Soil & "Pimp" Sessions]]''
* <small>Released: October 23, 2013</small>
* <small>Label: Victor (VICL-61696)</small>
* <small>Formats: CD, 2CD, digital download</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|43
| style="text-align:center;"|3,800<!--3,782-->
|}
=== Extended plays ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!| Year
!| Album Information
!| ''Oricon''<br />albums<br />charts<br /><ref name="OriconPositions"/>
!| Reported<br />sales<br /><ref name="OriconSales"/>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2005
|''[[Summer Goddess]]''
* <small>Released: July 21, 2005</small>
* <small>Label: Victor (VICL-61696)</small>
* <small>Formats: CD, digital download</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|153
| style="text-align:center;"|3,700<!--3,743-->
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2008
|''[[Live Session EP (Soil & "Pimp" Sessions EP)|Live Session EP]]''
* <small>Released: July 23, 2008</small>
* <small>Label: Victor</small>
* <small>Formats: Digital download (iTunes exclusive)</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
|}
=== Singles ===
==== Singles as lead artist ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|- "
! rowspan="2"| Release
! rowspan="2"| Title
! rowspan="2"| Notes
! colspan="2"|Chart positions
! rowspan="2"| ''Oricon''<br />sales<br /><ref name="OriconSales"/>
! rowspan="2"| Album
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
!width="35"|''Oricon'' singles charts<br /><ref name="OriconPositions"/>
!width="35"|''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Japan Hot 100]]<br /><ref name="Billboard">{{cite web | url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/system/jp_charts/hot100/ | title= Hot 100｜JAPAN Charts｜Billboard JAPAN| publisher=Billboard | language=Japanese}}</ref>
|-
||2004
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nihongo|"Suffocaton"|サフォケーション|Safokēshon}}
| style="text-align:left;"|
| —
| —
| style="text-align:right;"|—
| style="text-align:left;"|''Pimp Master''
|-
||2006
| style="text-align:left;"|"Crush!"
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 96
| —
| style="text-align:right;"|2,300<!--2,284-->
| style="text-align:left;"|''Pimp of the Year''
|-
||2007
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nihongo|"Mashiroke"|マシロケ||}}
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 96
| —
| style="text-align:right;"|2,300<!--2,284-->
| style="text-align:left;"|''Pimpoint''
|-
||2008
| style="text-align:left;"|"Storm"
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 68
| —
| style="text-align:right;"|2,700<!--2,727-->
| style="text-align:left;"|''Planet Pimp''
|-
| rowspan="2"|2009
| style="text-align:left;"|"Paraiso"
| style="text-align:left;"|<small>Digital download</small>
| —
| —
| style="text-align:right;"|—
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"|''6''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|"My Foolish Heart"
| style="text-align:left;"|<small>[[Ringo Shiina]] collaboration, digital download</small>
| —
| 85
| style="text-align:right;"|—
|-
||2011
| style="text-align:left;"|"Movin'" feat. [[Maia Hirasawa]]
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 31
| 31
| style="text-align:right;"|3,500<!--3,494-->
| style="text-align:left;"|''Magnetic Soil''
|-
| rowspan="2"|2013
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nihongo|"Jazzy Conversation"|ジャズィ・カンヴァセイション|Jazi Kanvaseishon}} feat. [[Rhymester (group)|Rhymester]]
| style="text-align:left;"|
| —
| 33
| style="text-align:right;"|—
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"|''Circles''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|"[[Koroshiya Kiki Ippatsu]]" feat. Ringo Sheena
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 14
| 18
| style="text-align:right;"|12,000<!--12,406-->
|}
==== Singles as a featured artist ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|- "
! rowspan="2"| Release
! rowspan="2"| Title
! rowspan="2"| Notes
! colspan="2"|Chart positions
! rowspan="2"| Album
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
!width="35"|''Oricon'' singles charts<br /><ref name="OriconPositions"/>
!width="35"|''Billboard'' Japan Hot 100<br /><ref name="Billboard"/>
|-
||2006
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nihongo|"Karisome Otome (Death Jazz Ver.)"|カリソメ乙女||"Temporary Virgin"}} (Ringo Shiina x Soil & "Pimp" Sessions)
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"|<small>Digital download</small>
| —
| —
| style="text-align:left;"|''[[Heisei Fūzoku]]''
|-
||2011
| style="text-align:left;"|"[[Battle Without Honor or Humanity]]" (Soil & "Pimp" Sessions with [[Tomoyasu Hotei]])
| —
| —
| style="text-align:left;"|''All Time Super Guest''
|}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*{{official website|http://www.soilpimp.com|Soil & "Pimp" Sessions}} – official site
*{{discogs artist}}
*[http://www.last.fm/music/SOIL%2B%2526%2B%2522PIMP%2522%2BSessions Soil & "Pimp" Sessions] on [[Last.fm]]
*[http://ukvibe.org/interviews/2010-interviews/soil-pimp-sessions/ Shacho interview] by Michael 'The Dood' Edwards in ''UK Vibe'', July 2010
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110927014241/http://www.bigchill.net/news/2005/06/soil-pimp-sessions-pimp-master/ ''Pimp Master''] review at [[The Big Chill (music festival)|Big Chill]]
{{Soil & "Pimp" Sessions}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Soil and Pimp Sessions}}
[[Category:Japanese jazz ensembles]]
[[Category:Japanese jazz fusion ensembles]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Tokyo]]
[[Category:Brownswood Recordings artists]]