I had Mr. Katori as a guest in my quartet. It was an amazing experience and I know that it is special but I would love to do it again. Thank you so much for coming.
Tetsu and Miyako they were so kind to me. It was a very important 2 days for me. I really would like to see them again soon. I hope they come to Tokyo.
I learned a few Yoron words and after the recording we watched video of Tetsu and Miyako’s tour in India, also in the Kariyusi band there is a bassist from Scotland which is amazing to meet some one to have connection with England It was so fun. I would love to go to England with the Kariyusi band one day.
I learned one song of Roron. It is called Mukashi Ikinto and it is beautiful but really difficult because the melody and the rhythm was totally new for me. It is impossible to write it down and it took me a long time to be able to play it but Tetsu understood that learning this song meant a lot to me and he thought me until I could play it. I would love to play it at my concert one day.
This is the 3rd day’s sun. Where ever I go it seems to rain but actually maybe it was good because we were recording all day for the first 2 days. I recorded more than 10 songs and all of them are beautiful songs I would really like loads of people to hear the CD. I am really looking forward to it being made and I will let you know when it comes out.
At last I am in Yoron again. This is Tetsu and Takashi. Tetsu is the leader of the Kariyusi Band and Takashi is the new drummer. We went to see this beautiful sea and then straight to the recording. The reason I am in Yoron is that I am going to participate in the Kariyushi’s new CD. When we played together last November it went really well and so this trip became true.
I played solo in the Gohan museum. This time I increased the akapera parts so it felt a little better than the other time. Up until today I was afraid to play on my own but now I have got a little feeling I would like to try it again. I am sure that it will help me when playing with other people.
The photo is rice crackers sold there. It is delicious perfect with beer.
After that I went to a live house in Shibuya called the Ongakushitsu with my friend cellist Orie. It was to see Mr.Isamu Ohashi’s gig whom we played together in satin doll the other day. I have written this before but Mr. Ohashi is a person that you think is made of music. All the joy of music comes through his guitar playing and it was an amazing gig. The leader today Mr.Shiomoto and all the members were really kind and they let me play 3 songs. It was so much fun!! In the after hour session Orie played too and it was an unusual combination so it sounded new to me which was great.
Onngakushitsu is the type of place that I would really like to play one day.
I played a duo with Mr. Rin. It was a while since we played together so I could really tell that he had developed his playing and it was very inspiring. In the day time I had a free improvisation jam session andfor the first time in my life I played for 1 hour non stop. It was really interesting to make music for 1 hour but very tiring at the same time. Still I got many good ideas for my song writing.
The photo is the panda I was given. They have came from China.
I wrote that my aim was to get up in the morning this year. Actually I thought that it would be difficult but I have had some appointments that meant that I really had to get up a few times in a row and it is helping me change my life style.
To tell you why I had to get up that early is that I was playing in a kindergarten. I had to be there by 8am which was so hard for me. All the children were so much full of energy hard to believe for me.
This job came to me introduced by Ms.Junko Harada a violin player we went to the same university and she helped me so much when I wrote my first strings quartet it was a great joy to be able to play together again. All the players except me were classical players so I felt nervous playing in the ensemble but it was a very good experience. They asked me to write a arrangement for I got rhythm so I arranged it for violin cello wood bass and flute. It was interesting to write down what we normally just improvise. They played it perfectly regardless that I gave the music on the spot.
The children were listing to the music using all there bodies and there is so much to learn from them. I really do want to do more concerts for children. I have already done it for my school so please let me know if there is anywhere to play.
Our 2nd live in café clair. I didn’t know what it would be like playing with just the flute and violin but by the second time I really am enjoying it and finding many new approaches. There are so many new discoveries with this duo. It was 4 months since we last played and I could really tell the difference in maiko’s playing had developed to a new stage and it was a great joy to be able to play together. Our next time is in café clair on 3/11
Playing with the singer I really respect Keiko Toge and Syuntaro band. It is a while since I last played with Syuntaro so I was pleased. He was amazing as usuall and a lot to learn from. Keiko’s singing seems to be beyond about music and singing so attractive that it is a great joy to be able to play together. With the power of the 2 of them loads of people came thank you very much.
I had a rehearsal with Momoko at my parents house. To explain why we are rehearsing is that our tour to Toyama and Kanazawa is coming up soon. It is the first time for me to go there and I heard that there is a lot of delicious fresh fish and Japanese wine so I am really looking forward to it. Our duo we play mostly originals and Momoko’s songs are totally new for me. They are difficult but really worth the work. I have to practice a lot. In the night we played in the Dome hotel and had many compliments for Momoko’s songs so I was really pleased.
I have become a regular with these members in Nica’s. The audience here are so nice it is great to be able to play here. I guess the master’s feeling gets through to every one. There were some new faces which was great and Momoko who I was rehearsing with in the day time came to sit in and it was a very happy session. Our next time is on 3/22.
ゲートワンでお馴染みのメンバー。新しくHow my heart singsという曲をやりました。気に入りました！！久々にまりこさんともご一緒できて楽しかったです。次回は3月8日(木)です。是非いらしてくださいね！！
Our regular members in gate one. I played the song called How my heart sings which I really liked. I was happy to be able to play with Mariko again. I am looking forward to our next time on 3/8.
I played in Shitsunai Jazz gakudan leaded by Orie. This time maiko couldn’t make it so we had Mr.Isamu Ohashi on guitar as a guest.
Actually it was my first time to play with some one like Mr.Ohashi. Probably you would say he is a Rock or Fusion musician Every note he plays has a lot of high energy and it sounds so powerful. I have recently been playing in quiet bands so it was refreshing.
The best thing was that I could really feel that I was a part of a big story we all made together.
I really want to thank Orie for all the work to get the band together
I had a rehearsal for Shibauma that is taking place on 1/14 in Café Clair with maiko. Playing a duo with maiko means a lot to me because it is something that not anybody can do. We will do some challenges. We have prepared some songs that you wouldn’t think that you could play with just with the flute and violin. I think that you will be able to enjoy a new would that you can not recognize in a large ensemble. The photo is a strap that maiko gave me.
I really hope that you will come and see the healthy shibauma.
A new year gig in Nagoya Star eyes. The members are the same as last time Mr.Yuichi Hayashi on piano, Mr.Yoshitaka Yamashita on drums Ms.Akane Nakagaki on vocal are all from Nagoya and Mr.Takuya Sakazaki came from Osaka. Although we can not play tougher often we can see each other’s progress and it is very inspiring
Stareyes’s manager’s wife lent me her Furisode a Japanese traditional kimono for the second day. I had not wore any kimono since I was 7 year’s old so it was a great experience. I really would like to wear it again.
One of the members we went with said that it felt special although every day the same thing is happening. I thought that I must live every day thinking that every is special.
