Japanese Saxophone Quartet
Kohei Ueno, Yuki Miyakoshi, Jun Tsuzuki, and Soichiro Tanaka first crossed paths at competitions and academies during their high-school years, reunited at Tokyo University of the Arts, and formed the quartet in 2013. The name "Rev" comes from "rev." — the revolutions of an engine — carrying the wish that the four members would let the infinite energy of music sound out together and race in one direction.
The quartet performs widely — from recitals to outreach work — across Japan, continually exploring new possibilities for the saxophone quartet. After celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2023 with television and radio appearances, anniversary concerts, and solo recitals, the group released its long-awaited third album "for" in March 2024. The album spans extreme works originally written for saxophone quartet to beloved piano and orchestral pieces arranged for them. In Debussy's "Clair de lune" from the Bergamasque Suite, their decade of growth is audible as they turn formidable technique into pure expression.
Each member is also active as a soloist; because all four have distinct characters, together they become a one-of-a-kind ensemble with colors that emerge only when united. They also run REV_BASE, a fan club of an entirely new form — a paid online salon offering content only available there, including glimpses of members' everyday lives and interests, the "Quartet Karaoke" series that lets fans sing as one of Rev, and rehearsal footage.
Born in Tokai-mura, Ibaraki. Began playing the saxophone at age 8 in his school's wind ensemble. Conductor Kazuki Yamada once said of him, "After just one note, I knew he was no ordinary player." Keith Lockhart, music director of the Boston Pops, called his saxophone tone "unlike anything I've ever heard — my eyes nearly popped out." He appeared as a soloist at the 16th World Saxophone Congress in Scotland, earning acclaim from leading figures in the field. In his 2016 B→C recital, he performed an entirely unaccompanied program to high praise. Constantly pursuing new programs, he communicates the full breadth of the saxophone's possibilities. Now among Japan's top young artists, he appears on television programs such as "Daimei no nai Ongakukai" and "Jonetsu Tairiku," and serves as concertmaster of both The Rev Saxophone Quartet and the Panda Wind Orchestra.
Graduated from the instrumental music department of Tokyo University of the Arts after attending its affiliated high school, and completed a master's degree there. Received the Acanthus Music Award and the Doseikai Prize during his studies. Performed with the late Kentaro Haneda and the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra on TV Asahi's "Daimei no nai Ongakukai 21." A regular member of MALTA's Jazz Big Band and MALTA 11 Orchestra plus One, he actively explores jazz. As a multi-reed player on flute and clarinet as well, he appears in musicals, recordings, and live support. Alongside performing with saxophone ensembles, he also composes and arranges. Studied with Hiroko Uehara, Shin-ichiro Hikosaka, Shoji Oshiro, Takumi Kainuma, Nobuya Sugawa, and MALTA. 2009 Yamaha Music Scholar. Alto saxophonist of The Rev Saxophone Quartet and leader of Saxophone Quintet "Five by Five."
Born in Kochi Prefecture. Graduated from the music course of Kochi Marunouchi High School and the instrumental music department of Tokyo University of the Arts. Awards include the top prize at the 20th Japan Classic Music Competition, 2nd prize at the 13th Junior Saxophone Competition of the Japan Saxophone Association, 1st prize at the 37th Kochi Music Competition (Shimohachikawa Keisuke Memorial), 2nd prize (saxophone) at the 6th Akiyoshidai Music Competition, and 4th prize at the 34th Japan Wind and Percussion Competition. Selected in the inaugural class of Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre's performer-training project "Geigeki Wind Orchestra Academy" (launched 2014), performing in many of its concerts. Currently active in solo and chamber work, as well as in concerts and recordings with professional wind orchestras and orchestras across Japan. Studied saxophone with Kanae Fukuda, Hiromi Hara, Masanori Oishi, Katsuki Tochio, and Nobuya Sugawa; chamber music with Hirokazu Hayashida, Sumichika Arimura, and Nobuya Sugawa; and attended master classes by Arno Bornkamp, Kenneth Tse, and Jean-Yves Fourmeau. Since 2018, he has taught as a part-time lecturer at Musashino Academia Musicae. Tenor saxophonist of The Rev Saxophone Quartet and Panda Wind Orchestra.
Born in Omuta, Fukuoka. Started saxophone at age 9, taught by his father. Appeared on TV Asahi's "Daimei no nai Ongakukai" as a member of The Rev Saxophone Quartet, and released three CDs with the Quartet and Saxophone Quintet "Five by Five." Beyond his group activities, he frequently performs as an extra with professional orchestras and wind ensembles throughout Japan. Studied saxophone with Miyuki Shigaki, Yasuhito Tanaka, Hirokazu Hayashida, Kazuo Tomioka, Nobuya Sugawa, and Masanori Oishi; chamber music with Sumichika Arimura, Shoji Oshiro, Nobuya Sugawa, and Hirokazu Hayashida. Baritone saxophonist of The Rev Saxophone Quartet and member of Saxophone Quintet "Five by Five." Graduated from the undergraduate and graduate programs of Tokyo University of the Arts.
