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1962年7月12日生まれ東京都出身。宮之上貴昭氏にジャズギターを師事し、23歳でプロ入りする。
1992年今津雅仁のアルバム『STICKY』に参加(初レコーディング)。

1993年Paddle Wheel Labelより初リーダーアルバム『Midnight groove』を発表する。

その後、同レーベルより数々のリーダーアルバムを発表し不動の人気を得る。
現在は自己のレギュラートリオの他、「東京名曲堂」等で都内をはじめ全国のライブスポットで活躍中。

岡安芳明は日本を代表する正統派ジャズギタリストの一人である。 そのプレイは60年代のケニーバレルを彷彿とさせる。この時代のバレルはすでに確立した自己のスタイルから、さらに次の段階へ進もうとする勢いの真っ只中にあった。

現在の岡安芳明にもまさに同じような勢いが感じられる。そこには彼が深く敬愛するケニーバレルのコンセプトを継承しようとする姿勢が垣間見える。岡安芳明の印象は一見もの静かで派手さは無い。しかしその落ち着いた風貌からは考えもつかない熱っぽい演奏で観客を魅了する。ジャズギターを愛してやまない彼独自の深みのある澄んだ音色と、よく歌うフレーズが聴く者の感性を揺さぶり捉えて。 それは、充実した昂揚感を聴く者に与えてくれる。

彼は数多くのライブやアルバムを発表するたびに演奏の熟成度を高めている。けして妥協せず常により良い音と演奏を求め続ける姿は、彼の人柄と共に多くのファンを魅了し続けている。

Text : Hideo Takahashi

Yoshiaki Okayasu was born on July 12, 1962 in Tokyo, Japan.
Following his interest in the guitar, he became a student of jazz guitarist, Yoshiaki Miyanoue. His apprenticeship began upon the completion of school and continued as his professional career began.

The beginning of his recording career came at the age of thirty. In 1992, he was rewarded for the his dedicated preparation with an opportunity to join Masahito Imatsu's recording, "Sticky."

From this period his work began to be noticed by the recording industry, which resulted in an opportunity from Paddle Wheel Records.
This debut album, "MIDNIGHT GROOVES," was released in 1993. Subsequent recordings released by Paddle Wheel created the foundation for a growing popularity and critical acclaim across Japan. Paddle Wheel, as a subsidiary of the famous jazz recording company, King Records was instrumental in placing Okayasu's work before the ear of the Japanese jazz fan. Thanks to his excellent performances through the following eight recordings, Yoshiaki Okayasu’s future as a major artist in Japan is secure.

Okayasu is now working, performing for jazz fans in many venues whether it be an intimate jazz club setting or one of the several major jazz festivals in Japan.

Okayasu, when asked about his influences and his personal taste, lists such guitar greats as Grant Green and Charlle Christian, but a special place is reserved for Kenny Burrell. "Kenny has been a source of inspiration from my earliest days in music!” Speaking of Kenny Burrell with an obvious respect, Okayasu hopes to not only learn from Kenny Burrell"s concept, but also to absorb it as a basis for creating his own personal style. This motto of growth and development has been a consistent factor in Okayasu's continuing success.

Yoshiaki Okayasu has already achieved attention by his fans for his personal style. His audience is entranced by his quiet subtlety and grateful for his singing phrases, playing for the music and not using virtuosity for showy demonstration. His love for jazz guitar is readily apparent to all audiences. Consequently, an aesthetic of greater dimension is realized when the audience can not only appreciate the music, but also the character of the man making the music!