Profile Tokyo Blue, formed in 2008, is a collaborative project featuring Japanese bassist Hiroaki Maekawa, Indonesian pianist Ywenna Carollin, and Malaysian drummer Joshua Maran. The band is dedicated to composing and performing original instrumental music. Currently, the drumming duties are handled by Cuban musician Pablo Calzado, who replaced Joshua Maran, who is now studying at Berklee. Based in Malaysia, Tokyo Blue has gained recognition as one of the country's prominent jazz acts and continues to perform actively. Their music draws heavily from a diverse array of international artists and composers, including Hiromi Uehara, Avishai Cohen, Marcus Miller, and Joe Hisaishi, blending elements of jazz, fusion, Latin, progressive rock, and film music.

Tokyo Blue's distinctive sound is characterized by sweet melodies, a funky rhythm section, and the occasional use of odd meters. The trio constantly explores the boundaries of jazz composition and improvisation while maintaining a focus on melodious storytelling. They perform at various jazz venues, festivals, and private events throughout Malaysia. The band made a significant impact on local music enthusiasts and industry professionals with their instrumental explorations, culminating in the release of their debut album, The Naked Soul, in October 2009. This album aims to reveal the essence of their musical identities while embracing experimental boundaries.

The trio's sound features adventurous bass lines, dynamic yet sensitive piano work, and solid drumming. The album showcases a variety of tracks that reflect the multifaceted personalities of the band members, incorporating elements such as powerful rock piano riffs, melodious fretless bass leads, disco beats with montuno, intricate odd-meter piano with double bass, and funky Latin rhythms with slap bass. Through these compositions, Tokyo Blue illustrates their ability to create innovative and meaningful music while providing entertainment through instrumental performance.

Tokyo Blue has performed at several notable events, including the Penang Island Jazz Festival in 2009 (Malaysia), the Jakarta ‘Jazz Goes to Campus’ in November 2009 (Indonesia), the Bangkok Jazz Festival in 2009 (Thailand), the Jazz Goes to Campus in Indonesia in November 2010, and the Singapore Mosaic Music Festival in March 2011.

Members All members of Tokyo Blue are active composers. Hiroaki Maekawa serves as the founder and principal composer, while Ywenna Carollin has been writing for her own Jazz Soul band in addition to contributing compositions to Tokyo Blue. Joshua Maran also composes for his own Funk Rock band. As session musicians and arrangers, each member remains engaged with performances and compositions for other artists. The collaboration of these three musicians brings together their distinct styles and musical influences, setting them apart from other jazz fusion bands. Hiroaki and Ywenna studied jazz under Malaysia's acclaimed pianist, Michael Veerapen, while Joshua is a scholarship recipient of Berklee College of Music in the USA. Each member's diverse experiences—including performances in clubs, festivals, private events, and television—contributes to their versatility. Under Hiroaki's leadership, the band has participated in notable events such as the Penang Island Jazz Festival 2006 (Malaysia), Rock The World 2006 (Malaysia), Genting International Jazz Festival 2007 (Malaysia), Gumi Jazz Festival 2007 (Korea), Sunrise Jazz Festival 2008 (Malaysia), Sunburst Festival 2009 (Malaysia), Dig It All Festival 2009 (Malaysia), and Jarasum Jazz Festival 2009 (Korea). The cultural backgrounds of the members from Japan, Indonesia, and Malaysia further enrich their music, differentiating Tokyo Blue from other jazz-oriented bands.