Kaichiro Kitamura (Kai) is famous as “Jazz Vocal Percussionist” in Japan. Born in 1974 and a former member of TRY-TONE, he started doing vocal percussion as a child. He can make sounds that sound just like real drumming while breathing in and out. This kind of sound is unique and can accompany both instrumental as well as choral groups. He held a vocal drumming workshop for singers at the Taiwan Choral ensemble Festival, 2007 / 2008, and in South Korea he has held numerous workshops for students during over 30 visits. He is also invited as a guest performer for recordings and at concerts. Then, he works with some great musicians such as Yoshihiko Naya, Makoto Kuriya, Noriko Satomi, Geila Zilkha, Ayumu Yahaba and Yonwoo Kim. He is now trying out vocal percussion in jazz.
And in 2009 and 2010, he was invited to 'Hong Kong A cappella festival' as the master and the guest performer. In 2015, he officially started to work with Australian A cappella group 'The Idea of North' as fifth of addition, touring around Australia, Asia, Europe and Middle East.
Kai has also been performing with Japanese male a cappella quartet 'HamojiN' and released 2 albums and toured all over Japan. You might remember HamojiN had a show in Hong Kong in 2015.
Kai has been working for “Vocal Asia” as former-Japanese Representative for 11 years, and now in 2020, he was converted to “Artistic Adviser”.
北村嘉一郎(Kai)在日本以「爵士人聲敲擊樂手」聞名。Kai出生於1974年,從小就以人聲敲擊為樂,並曾擔任TRY-TONE成員。他獨特的吸氣和呼氣敲擊法聽起來像真正的鼓一樣,甚至可以分別為樂隊和人聲樂團伴奏。他在 2007 / 2008台灣國際重唱藝術節上為一眾歌者舉辦聲樂擊鼓工作坊,並三十多次到訪韓國為學生舉辦了眾多工作坊。他還多次被邀請在唱片和音樂會獻技。他亦與一些著名的音樂家合作,如 Yoshihiko Naya、Makoto Kuriya、Noriko Satomi、Geila Zilkha、Ayumu Yahaba和 Yonwoo Kim等等。他現正鑽研爵士樂中的人聲敲擊。
Kai分別在2009年和2010年以大師和嘉賓身份受邀參加香港國際無伴奏合唱節。而在2015年,他亦正式加盟澳洲無伴奏組合The Idea of North,並在澳洲、亞洲、歐洲和中東巡演。
Kai亦是日本全男班無伴奏合唱四重奏HamojiN的一員,他們發行了兩張專輯,並在日本各地巡迴演出。大家還記得HamojiN在2015年在香港國際無伴奏合唱節的表演嗎?
Kai曾在Vocal Asia出任日本代表十一年之久,並在2020年轉任「藝術顧問」一職。