Goodbye, NB Lounge – It’s just like that

Almost 2 years and a half. Just like that.
My time to graduate from the lounge came anticipated with the lounge’s
long vacation (in other words, the closure.)
I believe there’s nothing permanent, and things are always moving forward.
This is a part of “that” stream.

I had so much fun at this place, and learned a lot.
I really want to thank everyone who came out and supported the music.
And of course, I must thank all the people who performed there with me,
especially, Toru, who went through many things with me.
I really appreciate your musical and mental support 🙂

Now, what’s on my plate?

My August now is dedicated to preparation of my recording scheduled in the end of September. Which will be a sort of comprehensive collection of Mamiko-Toru Duo’s work built in these years. I am very excited about this and hoping I can release it in Spring of 2012.

Also, my quartet will be back in Tomi Jazz in the 3rd week of September. It’s the same group as you’ve experienced back in June (Toru, Steve, and Tomo). That’s another fun thing awaits in this Fall.

Speaking of Fall, I will be in Japan in November, and the schedule is almost filled. I am so much looking forward to see people in Japan. In this year, I will feature Jun Furuya on piano (as of now, 3 gigs are with him). FYI, I didn’t forget to book a duo gig with Satoshi (how can I skip that!?) Say… the Party’s ON!

If you haven’t left your email at my mailing list, that’s the best way to find out where I am playing for the next. (You can’t show up at NB and ask me in person anymore!) Please drop your email address at mamiko.fanbridge.com

August/September Schedule

Maybe I am addicted to NY1. Being addicted may not be a perfect word… but for now, I will take it ‘cos it works. Keeping cable plan just to feed my NY1 urge is my big question on my monthly household budget. To be precise, just to keep myself available in the morning for Pat and Roger, I am paying easily $60 or more monthly – and checking the weather included. I guess it’s $2 per day if I converts it to daily. $2 a day. I can’t even judge if $2 a day is luxe or not (haha!). I guess again I am going to keep you, Pat and Roger for this month and accept myself being one of many NY1 addicts…

Speaking of weather, this Monday, the 8th has a sunny mark on the forecast. No rain on Monday is totally welcomed by NB Lounge! Despite we have still no piano at the lounge, we continue our music from 8PM – 11PM (I appreciate Toru’s effort for bringing his keyboard!) As usual, there’s no cover charge nor minimum. Please join us, grab your fav. drink, and chill.

Monday, August 8
at NB Lounge

    Mamiko Taira (vocal)
    Toru Dodo (keys)



NB Lounge at the Lombardy Hotel
from 8PM to 11PM

111 E56th Street
(bet. Park and Lex)
New York, NY 10022



Just a heads-up for September…

I will be back to Tomi Jazz on Wednesday, September 21 with the same band from the last June, Toru Dodo on piano, Steve Whipple on bass, and Tomoaki Kanno on drums. I have a really good feeling about performing in quartet, and want to seek more opportunities along with my other projects. Your support showing up at Tomi Jazz, for instance, means a lot to me. Please mark your calendar on 9/21, and continue your support not just for Mamiko 4 and “live jazz” in New York.

Never Let Me Go (2006) Mamiko in Duo

Never Let Me Go (2003) Mamiko in Duo < Click the link! Recorded and Mastered at Bennett Studios

古いデモを聞き返す、自分的流行は未だ廃れず、今日はNever Let Me Goを。
ライブであまり唄わないのに、録音にはなってるっていう、
ワタシのレパートリーの中では「不思議なもの」系。
実は、不思議でもなんでもなくて、どうも歌詞が飛びやすい(忘れやすい)ので
よっぽど気持が落ち着いてないとコールしない曲、っていうのが正しい。
(ワタシは歌詞の覚えが異常に悪い上、平気でその場で歌詞をでっち上げて、
良い代替歌詞wwwがスッと浮かばない時は、もちろん、スキャットで埋め、
何食わ~ぬ顔をして唄います。はい、そういうヤツです、タイラマミコは。笑)

話をタイトルトラックに戻しますが。

記憶に正しければ、この録音、ピアノのダンはこの曲に馴染みがあまりなく、
同じ日に録音したほかの曲に比べて、あまり乗り気では無かったというか、
あんまり彼的には出来に満足していないというか、
申し訳無さそうに、え、こんなんでいいの?みたいなことを言っていた。
合計で何回録音したか、ちょっと覚えていないが、
多分、2、3回録音して、結局、一番最初に録音したトラックを選んだ(このトラック)。

一番最初に録音したものが採用される確立って、
一般的に多いんじゃないだろうか。
録音の3割打者みたいな(笑)。

同じようなケースで思い出深いのは、ニューヨークに来てから
最初に録音したデモで、どどさんと録ったToo Late Now。
デュオで、一度しか録音しなかった。
なんか録音した後、録りなおす気が起きなくて、
何も根拠はないんだけれど、これでいい、って思えて。
結果、このトラックが後に、オンライン上で開かれた
ジャズのコンペでファイナルまで残った想い出の曲になったんだけれども。
むちゃくちゃ、未熟な時代の録音なんだが、
なんか、今より大人っぽい声で、発音の甘さはあるものの、
なーんか、確かにいい空気は流れているっていうか。
懐かしいなー。Too Late Nowも、そのうち、ここで公開しようと思ってるので、
気になる方は、ブログの更新を気長にチェックしていてくださいませ。

そして、月曜日のラウンジは、雨でも、嵐でも、めげずにやりますよ!
皆さん、雨宿りがてら、今度の月曜日はNB Loungeへ。
(え、だって、物凄い雨になるらしいですよ、、、
ワタシの晴れオンナぶり、発揮できますかね?どうでしょうね?)

    Monday, May 16
    @NB Lounge
    111 E56th Street
    (bet Park and Lexington)
    New York, NY 10022

    8PM to 11PM

    No Cover, No Minimum

April Schedule (and few lines of blah x3)

Before we close the third chapter of 2011,
I have one more date at NB Lounge.
How can I skip this and go on?

The very last Monday of March, on the 28th, NB Lounge will have
Art Hirahara on piano and yours truly, Mamiko on vocal.
My famous “Pray for Japan Tip Jar” continues throughout the month of March,
and the 28th isn’t the exception. All your tip jar proceeds will be donated to
Japan Disaster Relief Fund (The first 2 weeks’ donation was sent to
GlobalGiving – FYI).

    Monday, March 28
    at NB Lounge
    from 7:30 PM to 11:00 PM

    No Cover/No Minimum

    NB Lounge at the Lombardy Hotel
    111 E56th Street
    (bet Park and Lex)
    New York, NY 10022



OK. Now, let’s talk about my April schedule.

In the first weekend of April,
Saturday, April 2nd at At Central Park Naumburg Bandshell.
I will be performing with Toru as part of this Japan relief charity event,
Hand in Hand Project ~for Japan~.”
We are thinking of doing Japanese songs. (yay!)

Also, in the same event, our good friends,
Mari Koga and Chiemi Nakai will perform as well
(They will be billed as “Afronaughtica.”)
On one fine day, at one fine event in the park,
we gather together for a great cause.
Please join us at Central Park Naumburg Bandshell on
Saturday, the 2nd.

    Saturday, April 2
    Hand in Hand Project ~for Japan~
    @ At Central Park Naumburg Bandshell (Mid-Park from 66th to 72nd Streets)
    from 12 (noon) to 3PM

    Afronaughtica
    (Contemporary Afro-Cuban & Jazz Unit by Chiemi Nakai & Mari Koga)
    Kenichi Ebina
    (dancer)
    Mamiko Taira + Toru Dodo
    (Jazz Duo)



    Monday, April 4
    @ NB Lounge from 7:30 PM to 11PM
    with Yoshi Waki (bass)


    Wednesday, April 6
    @ G-Bar
    from 6 PM to 10 PM
    579 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451

    Bonz Satoh (sax),
    Akiko Tsuruga (organ),
    Luciana Padmore (drums),
    Mamiko Taira (vocal)



    Monday, April 11
    @ NB Lounge from 7:30 PM to 11PM
    with Art Hirahara (piano)


    Monday, April 18
    @ NB Lounge from 7:30 PM to 11PM
    with Toru Dodo (piano)


    Monday, April 25
    @ NB Lounge from 7:30 PM to 11PM
    with Toru Dodo (piano)




NB Lounge is located on
111 E56th Street
(between Park and Lexington Avenues)
New York, NY 10022
No Cover, No Minimum



Almost Spring,
almost April,
and almost weekend.
A vague line of “is” and “almost,”
its distance looks closer than we see
and farther than we feel.
This morning’s snow might be your sigh, Winter.
The sigh makes us feel guilty, and
remind us how much we tried to love you, but we couldn’t.
Don’t be sad, Winter.
You surely will come back and stay with us…


さよなら2月、こんにちわ3月(直近のスケジュール)

数日前にアップした英語のブログエントリーのBlack Coffeeに引き続き、
おまけ音源の第二弾、Cloese to Youです。

昨年の、秋深まる10月に六本木のAlfieで
親愛なる井上智さん(お兄様~!)とデュオで演奏する機会があったのは、
去年のワタシの歌の記憶の中では、とても大切なものの一つでした。
お店の方のご好意で、暫くの間YouTubeにもその夜の映像をアップしてくださり、
ライブに足を運べなかった方や、遠方にお住まいの方に
少しだけ、空気を味わって頂くことができました。

その映像、二人でClose to Youを演奏しているものなんですが、
先ごろ、お店のアカウントから下げられたようで、心あるサポーターの方から
「見られないよ」の連絡を聞き知りました。
やはり、あの晩の演奏の、あの音の感じは、ワタシ自身も大好きですが、
同じように共感してくださる方が、多くはないにせよいらっしゃるようですので、
映像ではございませんが、音源だけ、Mediaのセクションにアップしました。
そして、この今打っているブログにも入れてみました。

Close to you、どうぞお楽しみください。

Close to You (Click the title to play!)
Mamiko Taira with Satoshi Inoue (recorded at Alfie, Fall in 2010)



さて。ギターと言えば、今晩、2/28のラウンジは、高免信喜くんです。
高免くんとの出会いは、智さんと、つるりんこと、敦賀明子嬢の紹介でした。
(と、以前に書いたように記憶しています。)
演奏をする度に、どんどん良くなっていくというか、
学ぶことに終わりなどなく、成長しつづけていくことこそ、大切だよなーと
いつも感心させられ、自分も頑張らないとなーと思うのです。
そんな高免くんが先週に引き続きご一緒してくださり、NBの2月の終わりを飾ってくださいます。

    Monday, February 28
    from 7:30 to 11 PM
    at NB Lounge

    No Cover, No Minimum


    NB Lounge at the Lombardy Hotel
    111 E56th Street
    between Park and Lexington Avenues
    New York, NY 10022



さくっと3月のスケジュールも入れておきます。
3月のラウンジ、
未だ、百々さんがお休みですので、二人の素敵なピアノの方をお迎えしてお届けいたします!
3月7日、21日の月曜日はSenri Oeさん、
3月14日、28日の月曜日はArt Hiraharaさん、
どちらも実は(これまた)井上智さん繋がり。
全く違うスタイルのミュージシャン、スタイルですから、
かなり楽しくなるのではないかと思います。


    智さん繋がりなるもの。
    彼の去ったNYは、今も彼の精神が
    色々な形で根付き、息づいているのですね。

Monday, 2/27 and “Black Coffee” from 2009

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

    Mamiko Taira (vocal)
    Nobuki Takamen (guitar)

    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:

Black Coffee (click the title!)

Reminder: No MAMIKO Today at NB (2/14/2011)

This is just a friendly reminder to my supporters: I won’t be at NB Lounge tonight, 2/14.

I kept apologizing in the past few days (lol), but let me repeat…
I am so sorry! AND I truly appreciate your thoughtful messages
and the kindest remarks regarding this schedule change.
I cannot thank enough, and your support means so much to me.

I will be back in the lounge on Monday, February 21 with Nobuki on guitar.
Please come back and show your lovely face to us. I will sing my heart out!

My March schedule is now up. The March will rotate two different duos:
Art/Mamiko and Senri/Mamiko duo. It’ll be a good month 🙂

Lastly…

    What I do is what I love.
    I do it because I love it.
    I want to be honest musically as well as personally.

      MUSIC = LOVE = HONESTY

    These are key ingredients of who I am.

    Happy Valentine’s Day.



[SCHEDULE]

    Monday, February 21
    from 7:30 PM to 11PM
    @ NB Lounge

    Mamiko Taira (vocal)
    Nobuki Takamen (guitar)


    Monday, February 28
    from 7:30 PM to 11PM
    @ NB Lounge

    Mamiko Taira (vocal)
    Nobuki Takamen (guitar)


    Monday, March 7
    from 7:30 PM to 11PM
    @ NB Lounge

    Mamiko Taira (vocal)
    Senri Oe (piano)


    Monday, March 14
    from 7:30 PM to 11PM
    @ NB Lounge

    Mamiko Taira (vocal)
    Art Hirahara (piano)


    Monday, March 21
    from 7:30 PM to 11PM
    @ NB Lounge

    Mamiko Taira (vocal)
    Senri Oe (piano)


    Monday, March 28
    from 7:30 PM to 11PM
    @ NB Lounge

    Mamiko Taira (vocal)
    Art Hirahara (piano)



NB Lounge at the Lombardy Hotel
111 E56th Street
(bet Park and Lexington)
New York, NY 10022

No Cover, No Minimum




View Larger Map

If we are all worms…

How was your weekend?
Mine became a very relaxing one. (I think that I needed it to be relaxed.)

I went to see a movie in Sat night with SH (The King’s Speech was excellent),
and before the movie, she and I had a quick bite at a Chinese restaurant across the street.
Meal was alright (comforting enough to cheer my stomach up.)
Like any other Chinese restaurant, the wait staff brought us little refreshments.
Mint chocolates marbles and fortune cookies.
Fresh slices of orange would’ve been nicer,
but I needn’t to complain it because I like choco marbles and fortune cookies anyway!

    It’s a US made ritual (or precisely originated in San Francisco by Japanese).
    Even if you are not hungry and have no intention to eat,
    you will open the cookie.
    Yes, you do!
    You can’t resist to crack that little given fortune of yours open
    as you hope to see something good in it.



I have opened a little dainty bag that holds a precious cookie shell in
(or the one that hides a message from… somerewhere we have no idea!),
then, have taken out the cookie of my own.
I can smell the sugar and it tickles my nose.
I wanted to eat the cookie first, and then read the fortune while I eat,
but in some reason, I always feel that isn’t the right order.
It has to be “read” first, then, “eat” the shell.
For this time, again, I couldn’t reverse the order.

“If we are all worms, try to be a glow worm.”

WHAT?

I… uuuuuuuu…’nderstand each vocabulary
and probably understand what that means,
I guess? probably? (maybe not?)

    BTW, do you have any friend who writes this fortune as his/her occupation?
    If so, I beg you to take me to his/her work.
    I am too curious who writes and how s/he writes.


ANYHOW.

I shall sing My Shining Hour tonight to show my
“glow-worm sprit” promised in my fortune.


Monday, February 7
from 7:30 PM to 11PM

Mamiko Taira (vocal)
Toru Dodo (piano)

at NB Lounge
111 E56th Street
(bet Park and Lexington Avenues)
New York, NY 10022

明日、二月二日は富ジャズです。

昨晩のNBは、しっとりとした大人の夜となりました(明らかに平均年齢が高かった!)。
お越し下さった皆様、どうもありがとうございました。
来週の月曜日、7日は引き続き、百々・麻美子組です。
何度もブログやらFacebookやらでリピートしておりますが、
来週の月曜日を逃しますと、この百々・麻美子組のデュオは4月まで御預けですので、
是非、是非、「どどりーん、いってらっしゃーい!」の気分で、7日の月曜日は
NB Loungeへお越し下さいませ~。

さて、さて、ついにやって参りましたTomi Jazzのお届けする特別企画、
Nights of Senri Oe: Day 2、いよいよ明日です。
こうしてブログを打ってる今も、新曲の歌詞を覚えようと
必死で音源を聞いているっちゅう(笑)。
今日も、本来でしたらTomi JazzさんにいってDay 1のトリオの応援に行くべきなんでしょう。
でも、ワタシは家で練習する予定です。(うぅぅぅぅっ、ごめんなさーい。)

    ま、これには色々ありまして。
    歌詞カードをじっと見ながら歌詞を覚えるっていうのが
    結構苦手で、実際に何度も歌いながらメロディーもコードも歌詞も
    みんな一緒に体に叩き込まないと駄目なタイプなのです。



今思ったんですが、2月2日、2が二つ並んでますね。
デュオも2ですね。セット数も2です、ちなみに。
2が沢山ありますねー…って、(笑)


明日、お世話になりますTomi Jazzさんは、
ちょっと懐かしいような、居心地のよい空間、
東京、私鉄沿線にある、皆が気軽に立ち寄るような
敷居の低い、そんなイメージがあります。
お洒落すぎない、でも落ち着きすぎもしない。
実際、入り口も半地下で隠れ家の要素も持ち合わせていたりして。
メニューだって、日本のバー・メニューの王道を行っています。
これは、居酒屋さんや、所謂ジャパニーズ・レストランには真似ができません。

そして、ここで

ジャズ

なんです。
それも、レコードをかけるとか、CDをかけるとか、有線を流すとか、
そういうのではなくて、ちゃんと

ライブ・ジャズ

です。贅沢でしょう?
初めて富ジャズさんに遊びに行ったとき、思いましたもの、
うわ、日本だ、ジャズだ、これ、贅沢だ!って。

    手に届く贅沢。
    ワタシにも、貴方にも。



その富ジャズで、今回、senriさんとご一緒するわけですが、
senriさんとのデュオがどんなもんか、とワタシの視点から見ますと、、、
イディオムはジャズかもしれないけれども、
お互いに培ってきた音楽を素直に交えよう、
といった感覚でワタシは捉えています。
だから、自分の引き出しの中のものを
色々引っ張り出して、向き合って音楽やってるって感じです。

正直なところ、歌をうたう方の前で歌をうたうっていうのは
照れるんです(って、そういうこと、ないですかね?シンガーの皆様。)
でもって、ミュージシャン歴の長いsenriさん、大先輩の前でうたうってのは、
さーらーにっ照れるっ、照れるんですよ。
(そう見えませ~ん、って一斉に色々な方に言われそうですけど。)
でも、どうひっくり返っても、ワタシは私の音か出ないので、
開き直ってお手合わせ頂いてるというか(笑)。
ちょっとは想像、つきましたでしょうか?どんな感じか。
やはり、実際にお聞き頂くのがベストでしょう。

これから色々なことが出来そうな気がしますし、
どんどん変化していき、成長していくと思いますので、
その出発点みたいなところを、一緒に体験していただける、
そんな夜になると思います。

皆様、明日はTomi Jazzでお会いしましょう!


Wednesday, February 2
Tomi Jazz Presents
Nights of Senri Oe Part 2

    Shows: 9:30 PM & 10:45 PM
    Cover: $10
    Minimum: $10

    Senri Oe (piano)
    Mamiko Taira (vocal)

    Reservation is recommended!
    Call 646-497-1254

Tomi Jazz
239 East 53rd Street, Lower Level
(Bet 2nd & 3rd Avenues)
New York, NY 10022


Nights of Senri Oe

Thank YOU! and the next week *wink, wink*

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

No Cover, No Minimum

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…

週刊NY生活 平成23年1月29日号

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

    Nights of Senri Oe: Part 2
    $10 Cover, $10 Minimum

    Senri Oe (piano)
    Mamiko Taira (vocal)

For reservation:
646-497-1254
Nights of Senri Oe


P.S. 長くなったので、日本語のブログは改めて違う項で書くことに致します:)