ENDEIT
Sadao Watanabe
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Saxophonists · b. 1933

Sadao Watanabe

Japanese jazz saxophonist, composer, bandmaster (1933-)

Born
1 February 1933
Utsunomiya
Country
Japan
Active
1953–
Record labels
Verve Records, Elektra, Victor Entertainment, Sony Music, Flying Disk
Discography
66 albums

Biography

Sadao Watanabe is a jazz musician who plays saxophone, clarinet, flute and alto saxophone. Sadao Watanabe was born on 1 February 1933 in Utsunomiya. The music is usually filed under jazz, jazz fusion and bossa nova. Record labels: Verve Records, Elektra, Victor Entertainment and Sony Music. The discography here lists 66 albums, from “Sadao Watanabe Plays” (1966) to “Hope for Tomorrow” (2025). Honours include Fumio Nanri Award (1977), Medal with Purple Ribbon (1995) and Order of Rio Branco (2015).

Sadao Watanabe (渡辺 貞夫, Watanabe Sadao; born 1 February 1933) is a Japanese jazz musician who plays alto saxophone and sopranino saxophone. He is known for his bossa nova recordings, although his work encompasses many styles, with collaborations from musicians all over the world.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

Sadao Watanabe Plays 1966 · Polydor Bossa Best Collection 1967 · Union Records Iberian Waltz 1967 · Takt Jazz & Bossa 1967 · Takt My Romance: Sadao Plays Ballads 1967 · Takt Sadao Meets Brazilian Friends 1968 · Columbia Dedicated to Charlie Parker 1969 · Columbia Music Break 1969 · Columbia Pastoral 1969 · CBS/Sony Sadao Plays Bacharach and Beatles 1969 · Columbia Live at the Junk 1970 · Live · CBS/Sony Round Trip 1970 · CBS/Sony Paysages 1971 · CBS/Sony Around the Time 1972 · WAM Sadao Watanabe 1972 · CBS/Sony Kenya Ya Africa 1973 · CBS/Sony Open Road 1973 · CBS/Sony Mbali Africa 1974 · CBS/Sony Swing Journal Jazz Workshop 2 - Sadao Watanabe / Dedicated to Charlie Parker 1974 · Columbia The Girl From Ipanema 1974 · RCA At Pit Inn 1975 · Live · CBS/Sony Swiss Air: Live at Montreux 1975 1975 · Live · CBS/Sony I'm Old Fashioned 1976 · EAST WIND Pamoja 1976 · Live · EAST WIND Autumn Blow 1977 · Flying Disk Goin' Home 1977 · Columbia My Dear Life 1977 · Inner City Records Recital 1977 · EAST WIND California Shower 1978
Hunt Up Wind 1978
Bird of Paradise 1979 · Flying Disk Morning Island 1979 · Flying Disk How’s Everything 1980 · Live · Columbia Orange Express 1981 · CBS/Sony Fill Up the Night 1983 · wea Rendezvous 1984 · Elektra Maisha 1985 · Elektra
Parker's Mood 1985 · Live
Tokyo Dating 1985 · wea Good Time for Love 1986 · Elektra Birds Of Passage 1987 · Elektra Elis 1988 · Elektra Front Seat 1989 · Elektra Carnaval 1990 Super Mario World [Disc 1] 1991 · Warner–Pioneer Corporation Sweet Deal 1991 · wea
A Night with Strings 1993 · Live
Earth Step 1993 · PolyGram In Tempo 1994 · Verve Forecast Viajando 1998 · Verve Remembrance 1999 · Verve Birds Of Passage 2000 · Elektra Sadao 2000 2000 · Polydor
Sadao Watanabe at Montreux Jazz Festival 2000 · Live
Song Book 2000 · SME Records Wheel Of Life 2003 · Verve
SKETCHES OF NATURE 2005
Sadao & Charlie Again 2006
Jazz Samba 2007 · KOCH Records Sadao meets Sharps & Flats Limited Edition 2007 · BMG Japan
Basie's at Night 2008 · Live
Come Today 2013 Outra Vez 2013 · Red River Entertainment
Hope for Tomorrow 2025 · Live
"One For You" Sadao & Bona Live · Live
Jazz & Bossa

Also plays on

Albums where Sadao Watanabe is credited as a sideman

1966 El Chico — Chico Hamilton woodwind
1966 Gypsy '66 — Gábor Szabó flute
1967 Charlie Mariano & Sadao Watanabe — Charlie Mariano & Sadao Watanabe woodwind
1974 Toshiko Meets Her Old Pals — Toshiko Akiyoshi alto saxophone
1983 Carnaval — Ron Carter, Hank Jones, Sadao Watanabe, Tony Williams alto saxophone
1985 Amanda — Randy Brecker & Eliane Elias alto saxophone
1992 Through the Eyes of Love — Randy Crawford alto saxophone, producer

Awards

Listen on Spotify

Frequently asked questions

What instrument does Sadao Watanabe play?

Sadao Watanabe is known for playing saxophone, clarinet, flute and alto saxophone.

When and where was Sadao Watanabe born?

Sadao Watanabe was born 1 February 1933 in Utsunomiya.

What are Sadao Watanabe's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Sadao Watanabe Plays (1966), Bossa Best Collection (1967), Iberian Waltz (1967), Jazz & Bossa (1967) and My Romance: Sadao Plays Ballads (1967).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.