Osaka Monaurail are a Japanese funk band formed in Osaka in 1992 by Ryo Nakata and fellow students from Osaka University's jazz society. The group originally consisted of more than 20 musicians before settling into a 13-piece ensemble and later a smaller touring band. Their name is taken from the J.B.'s 1975 funk classic “(It's Not the Express) It's the J.B.'s Monaurail,” retaining the deliberately misspelled “Monaurail” spelling.
Nakata had originally studied and played Count Basie-style jazz, but became increasingly interested in funk and decided to form a band dedicated to the music of James Brown and The J.B.'s. From the beginning, Osaka Monaurail's aim was to recreate the energy and discipline of late-1960s and early-1970s funk, with a particular emphasis on live performance, tight rhythm sections and prominent horn arrangements.
After performing in Osaka's bars and nightclubs during the mid-1990s, the group established its own record label in the late 1990s. Their debut album, What It Is... What It Was, was released in 2000, followed by Rumble'n Struggle in 2001 and Thankful (For What You've Done) in 2004. Later albums included Reality for the People (2007) and State of the World.
Osaka Monaurail developed a particularly strong connection with the international rare-groove and funk DJ scene. From the mid-2000s they began releasing music in Europe and touring extensively outside Japan, appearing at festivals and venues across Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The group has performed in more than 20 countries, including appearances at the North Sea Jazz Festival and Montreal International Jazz Festival.
The band have also worked directly with members of the James Brown musical family. They organised Marva Whitney's first tour of Japan in 2006 and produced her first new album in decades. They subsequently worked with Martha High and Sir Joe Quarterman, with Nakata and the band providing production, backing and live performances.
Osaka Monaurail's stage presentation is an important part of their identity. Led by vocalist, keyboard player and band director Ryo Nakata, the group performs in coordinated suits and incorporates choreographed movements and horn arrangements into their shows. The current band is an eight-piece, featuring Nakata alongside horns, two guitars, bass and drums.
With their uncompromising focus on the funk of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Osaka Monaurail have become one of Japan's best-known modern funk groups. Their combination of James Brown-inspired rhythm, soul, sharp horn arrangements and highly choreographed live performances has connected Japanese musicians with the international funk, rare-groove and DJ communities for more than three decades.
