Yoshiaki Masuo has been played on NTS in shows including The Early Bird Show w/ Spirit Blue, featured first on 5 March 2017. Songs played include Visions, Two Hearts and Summer Rain.

Born in Tokyo, Japan on October 12 1946 as a son of a jazz band leader and pianist, Yoshiaki Masuo grew up surrounded by jazz music, although he never had any formal musical training.

At the age of 15, he started playing the guitar on his own. Prominent among his early influences were Wes Montgomery and Grant Green.

While in Waseda University Jazz Club, Masuo was discovered by alto saxophonist Sadao Watanabe, and joined his…