Issei Noro is a Japanese jazz fusion guitarist who is one of the founding members and the main composer of the band Casiopea. He has released 6 solo albums and a compilation. He also works as an instructor of a guitar clinic, and as a producer. In 1983, Yamaha had manufactured a guitar specifically for Issei Noro, known as the Yamaha SG-IN (I.N. represent his initials.) In 1987, he joined forces with The Square (now T-Square) guitarist Masahiro Andoh and Hirokuni Korekata. They released 2 live albums and 1 studio album under the name Ottottrio as a side project. In 1989, Issei Noro was a guest musician who performed with the Sega Sound Team. It was announced on August 1, 2006 that Casiopea would take a hiatus until further announcement, due to Noro's constant exhaustion from touring and recording. The closest Casiopea came to a reunion prior to 2012 was Issei Noro's band Inspirits, which included previous Casiopea drummer Akira Jimbo, bassist Yuji Yajima, Ohgiya Kento on Electric Piano, and Ryo Hayashi on Keyboards. Inspirits is all musical composition and all arrangement by Noro. The group recorded and released 3 albums until Casiopea reunited in 2012, again, under Noro's leadership. Both Inspirits and Casiopea are now active groups.

Discography

Solo albums

Inspirits

Casiopea

Ottottrio