Sunday, November 30, 2008

Check Out: Aurora in Ginza, 10th December


(photo courtesy: Tetsuya Nakagaki)
The real dedicated AURORA (Northern Lights) "evangelist," Tetsuya Nakagaki is making his appearance in Ginza on Wednesday, 10th December.
Born in Sapporo, he was into celestial photography since his childhood. In 2001 he was first knocked out by the extraordinary beauty of the aurora in New Zealand and ever since he has spent hundreds of days and nights on his own in the far north regions in Canada and Alaska in pursuit of the incredibly diverse and ephemeral views of the heavenly lights.
Since I have supported him by performing music in and organizing his slideshows in my area in several occasions, I bet you will be struck by the hundreds of pictures he is showing. Please note up to only ten people can be admitted for each show. For details (Japanese only)
12月10日(水)、オーロラの「伝道師」として身を捧げる中垣哲也氏が銀座で公演します。
札幌に生まれ、子供のころから天体写真に目醒め、2001年に訪ねたニュージーランドで遭遇したオーロラのあまりの美しさの虜となる。それからは二度と同じ姿を見せることのない多様な北極光の美しさを捕らえるために、カナダ、アラスカの極北地域を何百日も一人で旅して歩く。
十勝地域での中垣氏のスライドショー公演の際に音楽演奏やイベント手配を数度お手伝いをさせていただいた経験から、間違いなく強烈な感動をすることをお約束しますよ。1回につき最大10名様までなので要注意です。
詳しくはこちら

where?

Thanks Again, Jackson!


It was a rainy holiday evening in Shinjuku when Jackson Browne, whom I have long admired as the greatest singer-songwriter and conscientious activist in America, proved he's still alive! on his first tour in Japan since he last performed solo here in April 2004.

The core of the band includes Mark Goldenberg on guitar, Kevin McCormick on bass and Jeff Young on keyboard, who have all been his musical compatriots quite long time by now, with the new addition of the young and soulful female background vocalists. I made sure that the combination of the piano, Hammond B-3 (organ) on the thick and solid bass lines is my ultimate chill factor.

I wasn't able to hold my tears when he sang the line "...and we remember why we came..." in "The Load-Out - Stay" from his album "Running On Empty (1977)" as encore. It was not just the nostalgia but simply because it reminded me that, had it not been for him singing this, I wouldn't have decided to be a musician.

I had to admit a majority of the audiences were more excited when he sang his classics, but even in his latest album "Time The Conqueror" he still drives on his lane to express what is wrong is wrong about his country along with other songs about love and faith.

As he has done so many times before, he closed the show with:
"And I ain't no democrat
And I ain't no republican
I only know one party
And it is freedom"
("I Am A Patriot" lyrics courtesy: Little Steven)

I do hope we will see a big "change" soon.

雨降る休日の新宿で4年ぶりの日本公演、長い間私が最高のシンガーソングライターそして良心の活動家として崇めてきたジャクソン・ブラウンは、まだどっこい生きているぜと証明してみせた。
ギターのマーク・ゴールデンバーグ、ベースのケヴィン・マコーミック、キーボードのジェフ・ヤングほか、そろそろ長い付き合いになる同志たちに加え、今回はソウルフルな女性バックコーラスも加わる。やはりピアノとハモンドB-3、そして太くてソリッドなベースラインの組み合わせは最高にゾクゾクさせる。
アンコールの"The Load-Out - Stay"(アルバム"Running On Empty (1978)"から)の"...and we remember why we came...(そしてなぜ私たちがここに来たかを思い出す)"という下りで思わず涙が出てくる。懐かしさだけではない。こう歌う彼の姿がなければ、私はミュージシャンになろうと決心しなかっただろうから。
ほとんどの観客たちは古い歌を歌う彼で盛り上がっていたが、ニューアルバムの"Time The Conqueror(時の征者)"でも彼は、愛や信念の歌に加えて自国の誤ったこともはっきりと描くことを相変わらず貫いている。
以前のライブでもよくあったように、「おれは民主党支持者でも、共和党支持者でもない。1党だけしか知らない。それは「自由」だけ(アイ・アム・ア・パトリオット by Little Steven)」を歌って終了した。
早く大きなCHANGEが訪れることを願う。

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Rehearsing with Amazing Voice

If there is anything like "heavenly voice," Daichi Yoshino's must be the one.  As soon as I heard the sound of his voice on his album "Voice from the Sky," I was convinced why my friend introduced me to him to get together to rehearse.
It was pretty slow and relaxing today and we played 3 songs from his album and one set of improvisation, etc. I don't know how to express how his voice was swirling and hovering all over on my piano in the studio. Incredible!
As I expected, there's nothing greater than experiencing every single moment when accompanying him singing the song "Tobira" which was originally written by Wong Wing Tsan.
Thank you Daichi, Sammy and Kao for giving me this opportunity and I am looking forward to performing together again for a lot more people in near future.
「へヴンリー・ヴォイス」というものがあるとしたら、吉野大地さんの声がそうであるに違いない。彼のアルバム「空へ〜Voice from the Sky」の声を聴くやいなや、なぜ友人がリハーサルをするために紹介してくれたのかを納得。
リラックスしてスローなスタジオ時間中、そのアルバムから3曲、即興で1曲、その他を合わせてみた。私の弾くピアノの上で渦巻くように浮かぶ彼の声は例えようもない。すごい。
予想通り、アルバム収録の名曲「とびら」(ウォン・ウィン・ツァン氏作曲)を歌う彼に伴奏する一瞬一瞬は、なんとも言えずすばらしかった。
大地さん、Sammy、Kao、こんなにすばらしい機会をありがとう。近いうちに多くの人たちに聴いてもらえるのを楽しみにしています。

Monday, November 17, 2008

Obihiro Symphony Orchestra: Pretty Good!

It was my second time to enjoy this orchestra's performance this year. Such an excellent local orchestra which can hold concerts several times a year should be appreciated more.  Especially the rich tone of the strings section is superb.
Featured today were a young conductor H. Matsumoto and an Obihiro-born pianist Yuriko Ito who played Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, as if she had been opening a jewel box on the stage. The orchestra also performed Tchaikovski's Symphony No. 5 in E minor, another Russian standard.
The ticket prices are 1,000 and 2,000 yen. How could you complain?
今年2回目の帯広交響楽団のコンサート。年に数回コンサートを開催できる優秀な地方オーケストラはもっと注目されてもいい。特に弦楽器群のリッチな響きはすばらしい。
今日の曲目は、ラフマニノフのピアノ協奏曲2番、指揮は松本宏康に帯広生まれのピアニスト伊藤夢里子の宝石箱を広げたような表情豊かな演奏。そしてもう一つ、ロシア音楽定番チャイコフスキーの交響曲第5番。
チケットのお値段は1,000円と2,000円。大満足。
(Sorry about the poor quality of my Keitai photo.)

Friday, November 14, 2008

Autumn Sky Over Lake Shinonome

About a month ago, I hiked to the beautiful Lake Shinonome after climbing Mt. Hakuun near Lake Shikaribetsu.
The quiet lake is often rated as one of  "Hokkaido's 3 Best Hiko (Secluded Lakes)" and is surrounded by the abundant and dense bamboo fields.
The deep blue skies and the fast breeze running over the lake that hisses the bamboo leaves on the other side of the lake seemed like the last call of Autumn. The winter was around the corner.
然別湖の対岸にそびえる白雲山に登頂したついでに、東雲湖にハイキング。北海道三大秘湖に数えられる、ほぼ全周笹原に取り囲まれた静かな湖。
深い青空と湖面を走り抜けて対岸の笹の葉をサラサラと擦る駆け足の風は、去り行く秋の記憶。冬はもうすぐ...。

Four Days in Tokachigawa Onsen

I went to Tokachigawa Onsen (Hot Springs) Tourist Information Center earlier this week to provide a 4-day hospitality business English workshop to the hotel staff in the area. It was an unprecedented trial by the hotel association to raise their levels of the quality in accommodating their increasing English speaking guests/customers. All the students attended the session completely. Their enthusiasm impressed me with their imminent demands for such training. I would like to thank all the people who put together this opportunity and my students as well.
今週は、十勝川温泉観光協会で現地のホテルスタッフ対象の4日間「接客英語セミナー」の講師を務めました。増え続ける外国からのお客さん対応のレベル向上を目的とする初めての試みとのこと。出席率100%の真剣さは、そんな講習の重要さを物語っていました。このセミナーの開催に努力された方々、そして生徒たちに感謝します。
(photo courtesy: Tokachigawa Onsen Hotel Co-op)

Monday, November 3, 2008

The "Funkiest" Neville Brothers



The most fabulous "Funk Masters" from New Orleans still funk powerfully in their blues-soaked deep pocket grooves in spite of their ages (The oldest Art is 70 years old!). It has been 12 years since they last had a gig in Tokyo. They were just passionate, soulful and groovy like no other bands anywhere in the world just as I saw them then. I was really carried away by the encore, Aaron's solo "Amazing Grace" - it's just more than you can imagine, which was followed by "One Love/People Get Ready" joined by all the other members. (29 October at JCB Hall near Tokyo Dome)
秋風も涼しい東京JCBホール、ご高齢(最年長のArtは70才!)にもかかわらず、ディープなノリで圧倒するニューオリンズ産、史上最高の「ファンク・マスター」が12年ぶりに再来日ライブ。熱くソウルフルでグルービーなところは誰にもまねできないのはその頃と変わらず。アンコールはAaronのソロでAmazing Grace(想像以上)、そして全員でB. Marleyの"One Love"とC. Mayfieldの"People Get Ready"でぶっ飛びました。

The Neville Brothers official website

"COGGEY" Lalaport Yokohama


This nice little bike shop is located in the patio of a huge shopping mall "Lalaport Yokohama" which recently appeared on one block where there was a big NEC plant I used to pass by on my way to work. Its spacious atmosphere and friendly clerks as well as their selection of items will surely make you feel the fun of biking.
時々通勤路に使っていた緑産業道路のNEC工場跡にいつの間にか登場した、最近よくある巨大ショッピング施設「ららぽーと横浜」。その中庭にあるおしゃれな自転車屋さん。三方ガラス張りの明るい店内の自転車とアイテムの品揃えもなかなか遊び心があり、店員さんも親しみやすく好感あり。お近くの方はどうぞ。

COGGEY website

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Sunday, November 2, 2008

Down in Yokohama


I biked around downtown Yokohama last week to shoot some pictures of those historic buildings.
I hope I will have many pictures like this in my future exhibition.
横浜の中心街を自転車で走り回り、歴史的建造物の写真をいくつか撮って回った。そのうち展示会でこんな作品も含めて紹介できるといい。

where?