Music! in the Month of February, 2016

Have been back a couple of days from my trip to Luang Prabang, Laos and there are lots more to write about that but for my record, taking a moment to review my music activities from last month.

noon at Motion Blue Yokohama

David Bowie Is, a documentary film of the artist’s exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum

Victor Rock Festival 2016 @ Makuhari Messe

Hit the Road, a soul bar in Asakusa I happened to stumble upon

A. J. Croce @ Cotton Club

Adam at in-store event at Tower Records Shibuya

Schroeder-Headz in-store event at Tower Records Shinjuku

Brian Setzer’s Rockabilly Riot! at the Tokyo Dome Hall

Around the World in 50 Concerts, a documentary about the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam

Wrecking Crew, a documentary about a group of LA studio musicians that played on tons of hit records by some of the biggest names in music

Sarah Maeda at Motion Blue Yokohama

Here is the trailer for the David Bowie film which does not really do justice to the film which I thought was more interesting than the trailer seems to suggest.

 

A Belated Post About Music, Sushi, Soft Serves and Nails in the Month of December, 2015

The musical activities.

One sushi night at my fave sushi joint.

A couple of soft serves to satisfy my addiction.

And nails for the holiday season.

 

Music! in the Month of November, 2015

A good variety of musical events throughout the month of November.

Hysteric Panic and Angry Frog Rebirth, both Japanese bands, playing at O-West

The good ol’ Glenn Miller Orchestra @ the Orchard Hall

Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin, the classic GRP line-up at Blue Note Tokyo

Blue Note red!

A music bar in Shinjuku that plays music in vinyls and “high-resolution” digital files

Mary’s Blood in-store event at Tower Records Shibuya

A Canadian music showcase at the Oscar Peterson Theatre at the Embassy of Canada

A Canadian music seminar where I was a presenter

Friends at a Danish record label celebrating its 20th anniversary had brought the celebratory wine to Tokyo

Attended an award ceremony at the Brazilian Ambassador’s official residence in honor of Sadao Watanabe, a Japanese saxophone player closely associated with Brazilian music

Rajaton, a Finnish a cappella group, at the Oji Hall

La Famille Bélier, a French film

Benny Sings, a Dutch singer-and-songwriter/producer at Billboard Live Tokyo

Chico & the Gypsies, a French “gypsy” group, at Blue Note Tokyo

The Crunchy Frog wine, Sauvignon Blanc produced and bottled by Charles Smith Wines in Washington, USA

So glad to have heard Rajaton perform live though I missed the first half of their concert due to other commitments.

Music! in the Month of October, 2015

Making a diversion from my Viet Nam posts for a summary of my musical activities for the month of October, 2015 including several music-themed films.

Boychoir, a film

Loud Park 15, a metal festival, over a two-day period @ Saitama Super Arena

Behomoth @ Club Quattro

Candy Dulfer with Hans Dulfter @ Blue Note Tokyo

David Sanborn @ Blue Note Tokyo

Pitch Perfect 2, a film

Peter Barakan’s Live Magic!, a music festival with lots of bluesy, folky rock and other adult music @ Ebisu Garden Hall

Risa Junna in-store event @ Tsutaya Tokyo Roppongi

Ex-colleagues’ birthday party @ Jazz Bird

Mary’s Blood, an all-female Japanese metal band @ Astro Hall

Straight Outta Compton, a film

Mary’s Blood in-store event @ Disk Union Shibuya

Went to see a screening of Straight Outta Compton coming to Japan in December. The biopic is about a hip-hop group N.W.A. that emerged out of Compton, California, in the ’80s.  Felt it was a bit long but the actors were great and behind-the-scenes story interesting.

Music! in the Month of August, 2015

A couple of major summer festivals plus the usual Blue Note/Billboard Live gigs.  And in-store events.  And a music movie.  All good.

Rock in Japan Festival 2015

Kaori Kobayashi @ Tower Records Shibuya

Love & Mercy, an excellent biopic on Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys

Love & Mercy trailer.

And an all-night event “Sonicmania” held as a pre-event of “Summer Sonic 2015“.  I went the night I came back from Bulgaria to see Marilyn Manson and the Prodigy.

Then Gilbert O’Sullivan at Billboard Live Tokyo.

A press conference announcing the release of a new solo violin album by esteemed violinist Narimichi Kawabata on which he performed a violin sonata written for him by composer Takashi Niigaki, a former “ghostwriter” for infamous Mamoru Samuragochi, followed by a Kawabata – Niigaki duo performance.

Shakatak @ Billboard Live Tokyo

Matt Bianco @ Blue Note Tokyo

Fire Horns @ Motion Blue Yokohama

The Man with Charlie Kosei in-store event @ Tower Records Shibuya

The Man with Charlie Kosei @ Billboard Live Tokyo