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Article: What is Jazz?

Tokyo Jazz Joints: Capturing An Old Love Story

Read "Tokyo Jazz Joints: Capturing An Old Love Story" reviewed by Ian Patterson


Could you imagine coffee shops in any North American or European city that played jazz non-stop all day, or bars where, variously, as you quenched your thirst, you heard only Blue Note Records, free-jazz or the music of, say, Miles Davis, according to the bar owner's tastes? Could you imagine such places where speaking is not ...

Results for pages tagged "Japan"...

Musician

Seiki Yukimoto

Born:

After spending his early adult years on the lower east side of New York City studying and eventually playing trumpet with his roommate the acclaimed trumpeter Don Cherry, Seiki “Yuki” Yukimoto returned to Osaka, Japan with a renewed musical vision. His inspiration led him to form Soulbleed, a group famous for its jam sessions and passionate style. Seiki Yukimoto plays both the trumpet and quena at these usually sold out events.

As an homage to the city that gave him so much inspiration and is his musical muse, Seiki Yukimoto has returned to New York to play a concert almost yearly since 2008

Results for pages tagged "Japan"...

Musician

Kiyo & Sen

Active since:

Kiyo*Sen is the name of a Japanese fusion jazz duo created in 2013 with a core collaboration between Kiyomi Otaka, the keyboard player of Japanese fusion group Casiopea 3rd and the Japanese drummer Senri Kawaguchi often accompanied by guest artists playing guitar and bass guitar. To date, they have released 5 CDs: Chocolate Booster, Duology, Trick or Treat; Organiser and Drumatica and one DVD Chocco Boo Live!

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Article: Profile

Blue Note Tokyo: Still Holds Praise From Jazz Musicians & Fans Alike

Read "Blue Note Tokyo: Still Holds Praise From Jazz Musicians & Fans Alike" reviewed by Doug Hall


Opened in 1988, the Blue Note Tokyo nightclub has a long-established history of providing top-tier jazz performances and holds a special place in the veins of many renown jazz artists. Over several decades, the A-list of jazz performances include Sarah Vaughan, Oscar Peterson, Tony Bennett, Chick Corea, Stan Getz, McCoy Tyner, Dizzy Gillespie, Joe ...

Results for pages tagged "Japan"...

Musician

Walter Clark

Born:

Born in Brooklyn, New York,

 

Although recordings of his unique voice and arrangement style have just begun to surface with the 2002 release of his first album, "Perfect Love," Walter Clark has been on the music scene, performing for audiences around the world for over 30 years. He has become a fixture at such upscale hotels as The Ritz Carlton in Osaka Japan. With a repertoire of over 500 songs spanning multiple genres and decades he has been able to excite and satisfy listeners of varied backgrounds and maintain a career exclusively as a full-time performing artist since 1980. Unique and non- traditional in his approach to harmony and arrangement Clark also manages to convey an air of spirituality and humility in his music which can be quite appealing. Sometimes called "the singer with the bedroom voice," he covers music that has a positive message timelessness and staying power. Through a wide variety of musical genres and original arrangements Walter imbues every performance with a jazz ambiance delivering relaxing renditions of ballads and love songs. My new CD Night And Day, has an emphasis on love songs. Its a collection of recordings made from 2001-2020, some from old CDs and vintage live recordings, others are more recent, since my rebuilding and relocation of the studio. Although my preference is to make the emotional quality of music more important than technical aspects, I do my best to faithfully serve the original writers of the songs. His CD, "Best Thing to Come," was released early in August of 2011. Blending elements of lounge, new age, ethnic, jazz, rock, pop and gospel music. Featuring new songs and new arrangements of earlier songs. Intimate and laid back, smooth vocals with thoughtful, uplifting lyrics. No pitch shifted vocals. 93% pure analog. 100% Love! "Whatever the genre, my goal is to present music which is healing and uplifting." Born in Brooklyn New York, he studied classical music for 10 years in Philadelphia, but took a U turn in his studies in the mid- sixties and decided to pursue more popular music, learning by ear some of his favorites by such greats as Ramsey Lewis, The Beatles, McCoy Tyner and Quincy Jones. He dabbled in various R&B groups in Philadelphia but had all but given up on a musical career until a fateful meeting with John Lennon in the early 70's. Lennon urged him not to give up on his music, but Philadelphia had little to offer in the way of full time work, and after leaving the city and relocating to the Washington D.C area he decided, immediately upon the death of Lennon to quit his day job, putting all his energy into pursuing a career in music. Detailed Biographical Information: He attended Temple University in Philadelphia, where he formed The Last Musicians, an avante-garde group of poets, actors, and musicians who produced films, soundtracks, concerts, and appeared in radio programs for the university for two years. Walter found Philadelphia a difficult place to find steady work, especially since most of the music which he was writing at the time was what would probably be categorized today as “New Age Music.” He had all but given up on a musical career until a fateful meeting with John Lennon and Yoko Ono in the early 70's at the Drake Hotel in Philadelphia. After talking, drinks, and an impromptu jam session in the lounge John fervently urged him, “Don't give up on your music, man.” But it was a long road back, and he spent most of the 70's surviving by working various jobs: truck driver, taxi driver, construction worker, armed guard, and occasionally finding work on weekends with the local R&B bands. Walter eventually relocated to the Washington, D.C. area in 1979, and decided after the death of Lennon to put all of his energies into becoming a full time musician. “From the moment I made that decision, everything changed. Before that, I had been content to work a day job and gig at night, but now Lennon's words came back to haunt me. I realized that over 7 years had passed since the meeting and I still had not made a firm and complete commitment to my art, and had made no progress. It was time to make a choice. It was very scary to just up and quit my job, but little by little, positive things started happening to me.” During the early 1980's he performed as a lead vocalist, backup vocalist, and multi-keyboard player in a variety of Top 40, Rock, Soul, Reggae, and Jazz groups. In 1983 a talent scout saw him performing in a group, and invited him to become the regular entertainer at former Washington Redskins' quarterback Joe Theismann's Restaurant in Bailey's Crossroads Virginia. There he began his solo career and worked for two years, building up his repertoire, fans, and his confidence as an artist. He then moved on to the Washington, D.C. hotel circuit, first with a full time position entertaining at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, a 5 Star hotel in Rockville, Maryland, and then at the Olde Towne Holiday Inn, in Alexandria, Virginia, and the Ramada Hotel in Oxon Hill Maryland, where he entertained for a period of three years. On October 3, 1986 he appeared at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C. in a noontime concert entitled “Portraits in Jazz” sponsored by the National Portrait Gallery of Washington. In 1989 a friend submitted one of Walter's tapes to Quincy Jones. Although Quincy was reportedly very excited about his fresh and original sound he was too busy with other projects to get involved with Walter, but sent the word back that he should get out of the hotel circuit, and do some traveling, preferably internationally in order to expand his horizons. “ I wasn't expecting to hear anything from Quincy. The fact that one of my idols had actually took the time to listen to my demo, that he liked it and had even offered some advice was a stupendous event to me. I immediately decided to make some international connections and see what would come of it.” And in November 1989, Walter decided to do just that and to try his luck on the road. After several trips to the Far East he settled in Japan. Why Japan? My interest in Japan started at a young age. In my pre-teens I studied judo from a Japanese sensei in Philadelphia. Then later in college I continued judo and also took up an interest in Japanese cooking and adopted their macrobiotic diet. So when the gig in Japan came up, I jumped at the chance to see this country. The Japanese audiences' level of sophistication, respect and knowledge of jazz here was a big surprise to me. The people have been very kind and supportive. Its peaceful, clean, safe and quiet here, and I love the food. Since 1992 it has been his base of operations, and between international engagements, he has worked there in Tokyo, Kobe, Osaka, and Fukuoka in various clubs, restaurants, and 4 star hotel's numerous dinner shows, concerts and special events . He frequently performs nightly at THE BAR in Osaka's Ritz Carlton Hotel. The warm and relaxing quality of his vocal intonation has enabled him to work in a variety of fields, including that of a narrator for Universal Studios, Japan, and Fujitec International. There was also a national television appearance by Mr. Clark on the popular “Ninki Mono” celebrity TV program in Japan. From 2000-2001 Clark also appeared in a TV commercial for Genova jewelry in Japan's Kobe/Osaka area. In the year 2001, in spite of a rigorous performing schedule, he produced and released two CD's which featured live and multitrack recordings. In February 2002 Clark appeared as an actor several times on NHK's TV series “Sono toki rekishi ga ugoita,” roughly translated as “This was a turning point in history.” It was also a turning point for Walter. After that TV project, Clark began to spend more time at home. The focus for the remainder of the year was on research and development of new songs, new techniques of recording, and personal growth. The 2002 year end release of Perfect Love was the product of the years efforts and rewards. It was also the first CD to feature Original songs, and the first CD to be marketed commercially. This biography was provided by the artist or their representative.

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Article: Chats with Cats

The Jazz Artist: Takao Fujioka

Read "The Jazz Artist: Takao Fujioka" reviewed by B.D. Lenz


Although music is an auditory art form, for some, there has always been a strong visual component to it, particularly when album covers were at a high point. It's hard to imagine some of the most famous albums without simultaneously visualizing their iconic covers. At their best, they contribute to the ambience of the experience and ...

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Article: Catching Up With

Masayoshi Sukita: A Higher Place

Read "Masayoshi Sukita: A Higher Place" reviewed by Nenad Georgievski


Japanese photographer Masayoshi Sukita is a giant of 20th-century photography, and his contributions are immeasurable. His work ranges from documenting urban life, fashion and travel to taking celebrity portraits and film sets. Born in Nogata Shi, Japan, in 1938, his photo career began when he received his first camera as a present from his mother and ...

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Article: Book Review

Masayoshi Sukita: Eternity

Read "Masayoshi Sukita: Eternity" reviewed by Nenad Georgievski


Eternity Masayoshi Sukita 256 Pages ISBN: 9781788841078 ACC Art Books 2021 People may or may not recognize his name but they have certainly seen his photographs. For the past 50 years, photographer Masayoshi Sukita and his camera have captured an enormous number of genuinely emblematic images of pop ...

23

Article: Live Review

Harumo Imai Band at Keystone Club

Read "Harumo Imai Band at Keystone Club" reviewed by John E Allen


Harumo Imai Band Keystone Club Tokyo, Japan December 19, 2021 The Harumo Imai Band energized the Keystone Club in Tokyo, Japan, before a lively sold-out audience. The band played two electrifying sets of music ranging from jazz, soul, R&B to rap and hip hop. The stellar band, led by the ...

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Article: SoCal Jazz

Hiromi: Dancing and Smiling With Every Note

Read "Hiromi: Dancing and Smiling With Every Note" reviewed by Jim Worsley


Few musicians have impacted the jazz and music world with the zeal and character of Hiromi. She paints on the finest palette, on par with the finest wine or richest chocolate. Her ambitious and superlative skills as a pianist are matched by the complexities and sheer genius of her compositions. Whether flying solo, in trio, quartet, ...


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