It was a cold evening almost two years ago when Daiki took me to Ikebukuro Nishi Guchi Koen (West Gate Park) to see his friend's band which played on the street on weekend evenings. Daiki had just completed a tour of western Japan with this band, which was a four-member, smooth jazz and R&B group, named Free Trans Ensemble.

Daiki introduced me to the band members and then the band started to play, and I immediately became a fan of FTE's smooth, cool melodies, and jazzy rhythm, and Koichi's (keyboard, vocals, and band leader) singing.

Of course I bought their In Life cd on the spot and it has remained one of my favorites. The tunes on In Life are truly world-class, and would put a big smile on the face of any smooth jazz or R&B fan. Since that night I've seen FTE more than a few times in various clubs around Tokyo. And they have always put a big, big smile on my face and in my heart. Check out Free Trans Ensemble. you won't be let down!

Free Trans Ensemble's website 

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