This Monday, the 27th, I will be at NB Lounge from 7:30 to 11. 2 weeks in a row, I will have Nobuki on guitar. If you haven’t heard of his playing or haven’t play together yet (for my fellow singer friends), I urge you to check his playing. That’s all I want to say, and that’s all I need to say. Swing with us 🙂
Monday, February 27
from 7:30 PM to 11PM
@ NB Lounge
No Cover, No Minimum
(yes! Monday is still enforcing No Cover/Minimum policy!)
NB Lounge at the Lombardy Hotel
111 E56th St
between Park and Lexington Avenues
New York, NY 10022
Love and hate relationship of seeing myself on any sort of media including videos and photos and all those “mirror-ish” act is always right “THERE” in my face as long as I engage in performing arts. It is totally unavoidable. Sometimes, I accept them OK. Sometimes, I can’t stand what I do in these things how stupid I sound or look and regretted for the fact I was in it – then, I hear the echoing, haunting melody of Carol King… “baby, it’s too…”
This sound clip is ripped from the video recorded on one of the gig in Japan. The video isn’t too bad, but I wasn’t sure if it’s worth showing (haha!). However, what I sang wasn’t superb or spectacular, but… what can I say… wasn’t too bad. I admit I enjoyed listening to it even today (this was from 2009? Yes? Maybe). I particularly surprised by the attitude I was able to present or capture (the attitude – the secret ingredient to make things happen if you can use it right. AND that is probably the biggest thing I have learned in the college from D.J.)
Will you share the moment with me? Here’s black coffee:
Thank you so much for the last Monday.
It became a wonderful birthday.
I was so, so touched by (YOU!) your presence.
I also received many messages through facebook, mixi, text, phone, etc.
Thank you very, very much.
You guys are the best of the best!
So. How are you all doing in these days,
particularly those who live in NYC dealing with
slashy snow-flooded streets?
I am doing terrible walking around block to block
(picture my
“wonder-how-can-I-cross-the-street- without-wetting-my-feet” look.)
I think at least I pretty much ruined 2 pairs of boots.
(now that can be a good excuse to buy a new pair in next winter!)
Besides that…
I was given some homework from my brother the other day
(lemme call that way for now),
and I am learning a couple of new tunes.
I don’t think I haven’t learn new material for a while.
(When I say “learn”, I really mean “learning” with a serious effort
– can’t forget to add the JOY onto it. Yep, I am enjoying it.)
Anyhow, I was checking out several recordings of the tune
on iTune, YouTube, you name it – whatever I can put my hands on.
I think I have downloaded about…
6 tracks out of 3 dozen of available tracks.
I like some of them, but some are OK (just as the reference, I say.)
Then, I started to check YouTube, and found
Ray Anderson’s recording from 1991.
It sounded really good, and saw the credit of performers.
THEN, I was stunned when I saw the pianist’s name.
It said Fumio Itabashi. Gosh, that’s my teacher!
Very Natsukashii feeling ne…
I liked the recording, so I started to search on the net
if I can still get the CD copy.
Luckily I found it on Amazon in used,
and the price was less than $1 and about $4 in total with the shipping.
WOW
in many ways.
SIGH
in many ways.
I don’t know if Itabashi-sensei remembers me or not, but
he is the one who consciously or perhaps sub-consciously
directed me to pursuit in field of singing (odd? perhaps).
I was taking his jazz piano classes without any previous knowledge
nor experience. I didn’t even now who he was in jazz field.
(needless to say… people in the class was all grown ups who know who he is, and who is pursuing the music career seeeeeeeeriously.)
He basically gave me the first taste of jazz like…
a bad (or can be cool) parent gives a kid the first taste of
coffee or beer or something kids won’t drink.
(is this PG13 expression? or worse? lol)
Anyhow…
The year 1991 was when I was in college in Philly.
It is about 20 years ago.
So… this recording might be when he was in his late 30’s or early 40’s?
I don’t know his age, but it shouldn’t be so off.
I can’t wait to hear entire album.
Being here in New York, I can’t have a chance to experience him playing as a sideman… doing sort of straight ahead stuff with his usual gracious, decisive, fearless and dynamic play 🙂
This is the year 1984…
so, this is the year I just started to study with him.
(… that tells a lot in terms of my age. hahaha.)
Kakko iine, Itabashi-san.
Now, before I go offline…
Here is my schedule for the next week.
Monday, January 31
NB Lounge
7:30 PM to 11PM
111 E56th St (at the Lombardy Hotel)
New York, NY 10022
If you have missed us the last Monday,
I urge you to come and join us for this one on 1/31
and/or one on 2/7.
There are 2 more gigs left before Toru goes off to his Japan tour.
Let me repeat: 2 more gigs! 2 more gigs!!
I have one more gig in this coming week.
This is one of the nurturing projects that I’ve been involved with,
and it’s getting interesting.
Of course, I really enjoy working on/with/for.
(FYI, I said “one of.” Which hopefully gives you the sense of
“more” to come. Lemme give you a super *cheeky smile,* my friend!)
Quoting the words Senri from here…
it will be in “minimal” setting with the “thrill.”
Indeed.
That’s what “duo” is for.
Don’t you agree?
I hope you can join our musical journey…
Wednesday, February 2
Tomi Jazz
9:30 PM to 11:30 PM-ish
239 East 53rd Street, Lower Level
New York, NY 10022
Monday Jazz at NB Lounge goes on entire month of December…
Monday, December 6
Mamiko Taira (vocal)
Toru Dodo (piano)
Monday, December 13
Mamiko Taira (vocal)
Nobuki Takamen (guitar)
Monday, December 20
Mamiko Taira (vocal)
Toru Dodo (piano)
Monday, December 27
Mamiko Taira (vocal)
Nobuki Takamen (guitar)
START: 7:30 PM
COVER: none
MINIMUM: none
SETS: 3
LOCATION: 111 E56th St (bet Park and Lex) at the Lombardy Hotel
MAP: click here!
or cut and paste this address to your browser…
http://tinyurl.com/nblounge-at-the-lombardy
I am not a fast, quick writer. Writing takes certain amount of minutes to finish.
If the speed of writing and the tempo of each topic comes up in my heard
and sync well, I don’t see any challenge in here.
However, the reality is…
the topics come up way faster than my writing and editing speed!
Said all in above…
I want to bring back my little, lovely memory on one fine day in the last October.
I had a chance to work in a beautiful wedding reception with a very professional wedding planning team here in New York. They specialize in wedding planning and coordination for Japanese couples, but that’s not just what they do. Their area of expertise is wide and impressive.
I honestly had a great time at the reception. The reception was filled with lots of love from each one of attendees and staff in the room. It made me feel that I was truly a part of wedding in a wonderful, bonding way although I was technically with them in the post ceremony stage only.
If you ever need a good wedding planning team, I highly recommend to give a shot to contact Etsuko-san at Etsuko Planning. Oh! Don’t forget to mention that you want me on your wedding for entertainment. I will sing my heart out for your glorious day 😉
You read it right.
NB keeps Jazz on Mondays as it has been started in April of 2009.
However, Thursdays is in shift at moment.
Really?
Yes, Really.
How come?
Here is how it came to be…
Apparently, the hotel (the Lombardy) wants to have the booking ability on Thursdays,
and the owner of the lounge (NB Lounge) decided to accommodate the hotel’s demand.
As a musician, I don’t want to be involved in this “situation” deeply,
I decided to leave Thursdays alone and keep Mondays.
To me this is for now the best choice over fussing about Thursdays
or even switching the dates (ex. Fridays, etc.).
One interesting thing came out of this “situation” is that
I may have some dates to do solo act when the hotel’s not doing anything (on Thursday.)
In any case, that will be a last minute call; therefore, stay tuned with me via
facebook or twitter.
If you are lucky, you may hear me sing and play a little piano…
which I haven’t done it in a long time.
Speaking of Thursday, as of 2:30PM in EST on November 11,
there is no Jazz scheduled.
I will let you know if the music is on…
I will be visiting Japan from October 18th through 31st, approx. 2 weeks. If you happen to be in Tokyo vicinity during these weeks or Nagoya on Saturday, October 30th, please join me and let’s make each night, every moment memorable. If you won’t be in Japan at that time, but you do have frinds and family in Japan… Oh, please, I beg you to FWD my info to them!!!
