Multi-instrumentalist Chi Saito started playing guitar when he was 13 years old and began his career as a professional performer playing bass for the house band of a Tokyo cabaret when he was still a teenager. During that time he also learned to play drums, which solidified his specialty as a rhythm player. That was back in the early ‘70’s when Japan was becoming a major world power and at the same time information about global culture and art was pouring into Japan, so the internationally popular favorites he was performing at the cabaret gave him a diverse palette to work with in his own compositions.The contacts he made in this position led to national tours and work as a session player, and also a stint of study with free jazz pioneer Jojo Takayanagi, which further expanded his musical canvas.
In early 1998 he met violinist Brenda K and they began performing his original music and released an EP “Neo” under the name “Brenda and Me” in September of that same year. Shortly afterward he opened a bar/bistro/live performance venue “Asagaya Drum” in the northwest Tokyo area.
In late 2004 Chi sold Asagaya Drum and relocated with Brenda to her hometown of San Diego, California and then to Los Angeles in early 2006 where Chi immediately found work as a background actor, discovering another of his talents. Chi and Brenda continued their efforts with the original instrumental duo that they renamed “The Panache Orchestra” and released a double album “10 Strings” in 2008, but later split up after nothing sustainable materialized. In 2011 Chi went to Havana to participate in a two-week percussion master class where he immersed himself in Cuban music, adding another dimension to his artistic palette.
Despite being limited by not developing a strong command of the English language, that did not stop Chi from landing the role of drummer in the house band for Season 5 of the Eric Andre Show (WarnerMedia) in 2019. Chi currently makes his home in Carson (South Bay Los Angeles area) and continues working as an actor and musical instructor (guitar, bass, drums and percussion) while recording more of his own music.
1959年１月、東京生まれ、男性。マルチプレーヤー。
高校入学と同時に東京のキャバレーでベースプレーヤーとして音楽活動をスタート。
３ヵ月後にはギタープレーヤーとしても活動開始。
その後ドラマーとして、更にハンドパーカッショ二ストとしても活動。
10代でのツアーで前衛音楽家と出会い、後にフリージャズのギタリストに師事。
音楽のジャンルにこだわることなく、レコーディングやライブバーやイベントでの演奏活動。
1980年12月ジョンレノンの死に衝撃を受け作曲を始め、その後作詞家·編曲者としても活動、
歌手のバックバンドや作品提供を行い、各楽器の指導や歌唱指導なども行う。
1998年１月、ヴァイオリニストであるブレンダ·ケイに出会いブレンダ＆ミー、及びストレンジ·ドリーム結成。
2004年の渡米を機にゼィ·エグザイルズと名称変更、しかし日本の同名の歌手グループの存在を知り、
現在のパナッシュ·オーケストラとなる。
渡米後は主にサポーターとしてベースギターとドラムスで活動。
移り住んだサンディエゴではまずドラマーとしてジャズコーラスバンドに参加、
その後ベースプレーヤーとしてナショナルツアーリングバンドでツアーに出る。
アコスティック·エレキギターは自身のパナッシュ·オーケストラでのみ演奏。
尚副業としてエクストラアクターとしても働き、GQマガジンなどプリントの被写体にもなる。
2019年にはエリックアンドレ·ショーのハウスバンドのドラマーとして10エピソードに出演。
ブレンダ·ケイとの離婚後も音楽制作は続けるが、演奏活動は停止。
サウンドクラウドやユーチューブに作品を発表し続けながら現在に至る。