was a Japanese American jazz trombonist and musical artist most well known for his 1976 album Cat.
Career Suzuki moved to the United States at 38 to play with bandleader and drummer Buddy Rich. During this time, Suzuki lived in Las Vegas. In 1975, he returned to Japan, recording the five tracks on his album Cat during October the same year at Nippon Columbia Studio in Tokyo. The album was released on February 26, 1976. After release, the album didn't receive any notable acclaim, flopping in sales in Japan, and Suzuki experienced little to no recognition throughout his career. However, 39 years later in 2015, Columbia Records re-released the album in Japan to bring it to a wider audience. In the 21st century, the album has received light critical acclaim, and has found somewhat of a cult following amongst listeners of Japanese jazz, receiving recognition for its laid-back production and catchy rhythm. Cat was praised by The Vinyl Factory in 2021.Our favourite reissue albums of 2021. Vinyl Factory. 20 December 2021.For other reviews of this album, see "Review", 49 analog 174 and 第7回 今週のレコード：CAT 鈴木 弘, Weekly NY Japion, 11 July 2024. "Romance" was included on the WaJazz album series, becoming his most well-known track across multiple music platforms and receiving over 11 million views on YouTube.Deep Japanese jazz from the ‘60s-‘80s celebrated in WaJazz comp. Vinyl Factory. 5 April 2022. A posthumous music video for "Romance" was released in 2023.日本コロムビアのカタログ発信プロジェクト J-DIGSより鈴木弘「ロマンス」MV公開. Real Sound. 25 December 2023.
Personal life Suzuki died on January 16, 2020, in Las Vegas at the age of 86.
Discography Studio albums Variation (1969) Up Up and Away (1969) Trombone Standard Deluxe (1969) Trombone Deluxe (1970) Cat (1976)
References