Jonathan Katz's Blog
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The Music of Billy Strayhorn
The Music of Billy Strayhorn
Two sets starting at 7:30pm
Neil Stalnaker (trumpet), Dairo Miyamoto (sax), Mark Tourian (bass), Mike Resnikoff (drums), Jonathan Katz (piano)
AT Sakuranbo (in front of the South Exit of Shibasaki Station on the Keio Line)
Tel&Fax 042-488-0626、http://www.jck.net/sakuranbo/
Charge 3,500円
TUNES Johnny Come Lately, UMMG, Raincheck,Satin Doll, Take The "A" Train,
Lush Life, Lotus Blossom, A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing, Isfahan, Chelsea Bridge
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Vivaldi, JMW, Cats & Wolves, Strayhorn, TBB
Current mood:
Too much stuff going on these days. Sorry, but this time it's just a "newsletter" type entry. I'll hopefully have the time to wax thoughtfully on this blog at some point.......
blessed
* I am putting the finishing touches on a jazz arrangement for violin and piano of “Spring” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. There’s a little something for everyone in the piece—classical, funk, jazz waltz and other beats, and judicious quoting of other works. The arrangement was commissioned by violinist and Victor Japan recording artist Narimichi Kawabata, who will perform the premiere on his recital January 30th, 2010 at Tokyo Opera City.
* I’m very happy to be a part of the first Japan Music Week. It is quite a large event with lots going on. Check out the website at: http://www.japanmusicweek.com/ I will be appearing two nights. First, Bruce Huebner (shakuhachi) and I will play on the World Music Festival on Nov. 10th and then I will join the Jazz Showcase Stage at the Jinnan Jazz Festival with Tsuyoshi Niwa’s quartet on Friday, November 13th. Both performances will be at Tokyo Main Dining in Shibuya.
* The 20-piece TOKYO BIG BAND will play at our home away from home, the Akasaka B Flat on Friday, November 27th. This date just happens to be the birthday of Maria Schneider, one of the foremost big band arrangers and leaders in the world today. In honor of the occasion, we will perform two of her most interesting early compositions.
We also welcome two new faces to the band—Brent Nussey on the bass and Wataru Hamasaki on the tenor saxophone. Here’s a little about each:
Canadian-born Brent Nussey is known for his strong & steady hard-swinging beat. He lived in New York for five years after graduating the Berklee College of Music, and played with Diana Krall, James Williams, Javon Jackson, Eddie Henderson, and others. Brent now lives in the Tokyo area, and plays with Yoichi Kobayashi, Yoshihiro Arita, Hideaki Yoshioka and other top musicians in Japan, as well as many visiting musicians such as Lew Tabackin, Benny Powell, Angela Stribling and Nicole Henry.
Wataru Hamasaki is one of the top young reedmen on the scene in Japan today. He is also a Berklee alum who has played all over Japan with such prominent musicians as Daiki Yasukagawa, Masahiko Osaka, and Masahiro Sayama, and has worked the east and west coasts of the US, performing and recording with the likes of Jay Thomas, Frank Wess, and Geoff Keezer.
As usual, we will have a (mystery) guest come up and join us for the first time. And who knows who else will show up? The band lineup and other details are listed below.
* In case you missed the nice write-up in the American Airlines in-flight magazine, it’s still on-line here: http://www.americanwaymag.com/tokyo-japan-louis-armstrong-band-leader-someday
* OTHER PHUN STUFF:
Katz & Wulf: With Andy Wulf (tenor and soprano saxes), Juasa Kanoh (drums) & Kunpei Nakabayashi (bass) (11.19 @ Okubo BOOZY MUSE)
Billy Strayhorn Session: Neil Stalnaker (trumpet), Dairo Miyamoto (sax), Mike Reznikoff (drums) & Mark Tourian (bass) (11.21 @ Sakuranbo)
* November trip: To Kyushu! (Isa, Kagoshima, Kumamoto)
For more details and other performances, see the complete listings at www.jkatz.net.
Be well. I hope to see you soon.
Jonathan
2009.11.27 Fri TOKYO BIG BAND LIVE !!!!! B Flat (Akasaka)
Jonathan Katz TOKYO BIG BAND
2 Shows @ 7:30pm & 9:00pm
Cover: 3,500 reservation / 4,000 door / Students: 500 yen off
THE BAND
Reeds: Steve Sacks (as/ss/fl), Kei Suzuki (as/ss/fl), Wataru Hamasaki (ts/cl), James Mahone (ts), Dairo Miyamoto (bs/bcl)
Trombones: Fred Simmons, Pat Hallaran, Tomoki Mitsuka, Masaski Domoto
Trumpets: Luis Valle, Neil Stalnaker, Keisuke Nakamura, Ryuichi Takase, Mike Zachernuk
French horns: Gizzy Fruta, Chiye Ikawa
Rhythm: Shigeo Hirayama (d), Brent Nussey (b), Tomoya Hara (gt), Jonathan Katz (p, leader)
THE TUNES
Dad & Uncle B – by J. Katz
Sunayama – Shinpei Nakayama – arr. by J. Katz
Momiji – Teichi Okano – arr. by J. Katz
One Bass Hit– Dizzy Gillespie
Wyrgly – Maria Schneider
Dance, You Monster To My Soft Song – Maria Schneider
& much more
THE VENUE
B Flat (Akasaka,03-5563-2563) http://www.bflat.jp/ Address: Akasaka Sakae Bldg B1, 6-6-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052
3-minute walk from Exit 5a of Akasaka Station on the Chiyoda subway line * 6-minute walk from Exit 12 of Tameike Sanno on the Ginza and Namboku subway lines * 10-minute walk from Akasaka Mitsuke on the Marunouchi subway line
E-mail inquiries/reservations: jazz_bflat@yahoo.co.jp
1st Show: 7:30, 2nd Show: 9:15 (set times are flexible.....)
Cover (One cover charge is good for both shows): Advance reservation: 3,500 yen, Door 4,000 yen Students: 500 yen off
Jonathan Katz
(For the full schedule, see www.jkatz.net. For other info, pics, & sounds, see MY SPACE: http://www.myspace.com/jonathankatzmusic)
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August 27th Neil Stalnaker Quintet & Special Guest Arun Luthra
Current mood:
Neil Stalnaker Quintet & special guest from NYC: Arun Luthra (tenor sax)------The Music Of Horace Silver
aroused
Neil Stalnaker-tp, Pat Hallaran-tb, Jonathan Katz-p, Jeff Curry-b
Mike Reznikoff-dr
Kenny's Bar 〒171 東京都豊島区池袋2-63-6パレスガーデンミラノ1F
TEL 03-5391-1073
Shows at 8pm & 9:30pm
http://www.neilstalnaker.com http://www.arunluthra.net/
http://www.jkatz.net http://www.jeffcurry.com/
Horace Silver's masterpieces played by a six-piece band of buddies in an intimate Ikebukuro Jazz Spot. It don't get better than this!
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Orquesta de la Luz gig
Had a draining but exhilarating first gig with Orquesta de la Luz on Monday August 10th. Somehow I go the call to sub for their regular pianist Takaya Saito. They sent me the music a few weeks in advance and I practiced. I had played montunos before and some Afro-Cuban music with CANDELA, but this was the first time I played a complete salsa gig.
This band just celebrated their 25th anniversary. Any band that can stay together that long is extra extra special, and they certainly are.