was a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career Imada was born in Tokyo on 21 March 1932. He had classical piano lessons. He played jazz in student bands while a student at Meiji University, after which he worked in business for a year. He then decided to pursue music professionally. From 1953 he was part of clarinetist Eiji Kitamura's band.
Imada had his own trio from 1964. He formed Now'in, a fusion band, in 1984. He played internationally at jazz festivals from the 1970s.
Discography An asterisk (*) after the year indicates that it is the year of release.
As leader/co-leader Year recordedTitleLabelNotes1970*MakiQuartet, with tenor sax, bass, drums1970*Now!Three Blind MiceQuartet, with tenor sax, bass, drums1973PoppyThree Blind MiceSome tracks solo piano; some tracks trio, with Isao Fukui (bass), Masahiko Ozu (drums)1975Green CaterpillarThree Blind MiceQuintet, with Kazumi Watanabe (guitar), Isao Fukui (bass), Tetsujiro Obara (drums), Yuji Imamura (percussion)1976Masaru Imada PianoThree Blind MiceSolo piano1977Alone TogetherThree Blind MiceDuo, with George Mraz (bass)1980Andalusian BreezeTrioWith Kazumi Watanabe (guitar), Mitsuaki Furuno (bass), Shinji Mori (drums), Yuji Imamura (percussion)1981CarnivalTrioWith Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Randy Brecker (flugelhorn), Kiyoshi Sugimoto (guitar), Akira Okazawa (bass), Yuichi Tokashiki (drums), Yuji Imamura (percussion)1982*SeasideWith Grover Washington, Jr. (tenor sax, alto sax, soprano sax, flute), Tom Brown (trumpet), Steve Kahn (guitar), Anthony Jackson (bass), Steve Jordan (drums), Manolo Badrena (percussion)1986*Strange ConversationPolydorQuartet, with keyboard, bass, drums1988*AzureSextet2002*StandardsThree Blind Mice
References