The Tokyo Jazz this year will be held with the concept, "To communicate the current jazz scene made in Tokyo," "for all generations," and "across borders." The program of 4 performances will be organized with broader viewpoints each having its own feature.
To that gisland of music.h
Cross-border collaboration
The first program will be a cross-border collaboration symbolizing the transfer of the Tokyo Jazz to Marunouchi. In this program, the JAPAN AUSTRALIA JAZZ ORCHESTRA (JAJO) will appear. As an artist to symbolize the concept of the Tokyo Jazz, Ms. Naoko Terai will also perform as one of the members.
In addition, a Cuban salsa band, Los Van Van will also appear. Cuban salsa and jazz have affected each other. Juan- Formell, the band director and a bassist is a wonderful performer who so impressed and influenced the late Mr. Chosuke Ikariya of The Drifters that he started playing the bass. I hope salsa fans also come to like jazz because of the Tokyo Jazz.
Cross-age Piano Night
The second program will focus on the piano performances. Jazz legend, Chick Corea, one of the top pianists, and an actively working 88-year old artist, Hank Jones, who are respected by many musicians of all generations, will perform. As a special trio for the Tokyo Jazz this year, The Great Jazz Trio by Hank Jones collaborating with Omar Hakim and John Patitucci will appear. I'm looking forward to a new collaboration being generated.
From Japan, Ms. Hiromi Uehara, who was awarded in 3 categories of the 56th Japan Jazz Man Popularity Vote by Readers of Swing Journal; "JAZZ MAN OF THE YEAR," "ALBUM OF THE YEAR," and "PIANO," will appear. A surprising new artist, Austin Peralta, who is gaining attention, will appear. Please look forward to his youthful touch and dignified imaginative performance, unlike that of a 15-year old boy. Don't miss the Piano Night when cross-age and cross-border pianists from the age of 15 to 88 will get together. Chick Corea is planning to play together with the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, which will be the first time ever in Japan. This is an orchestra from Trondheim, an old city of Norway, and the esprit of North European jazz and beautiful sound of the piano will be collaborated beyond borders.
Collaboration with the Blue Note Tokyo
The theme of the third program is "Blue Note Tokyo meets the Tokyo Jazz." At the Tokyo Jazz, we would like as many people as possible to enjoy jazz music and to expand the market by collaborating with jazz clubs and live houses, such as Blue Note Tokyo, which are supporting the jazz scenes of Tokyo. For this purpose, we will organize a collaboration program with Blue Note Tokyo in the Toyo Jazz this year, and at the same time, "Root Music Festival" to be held in Blue Note Tokyo will be positioned as a pre-event of the Tokyo Jazz. The performances by big artists such as Larry Carlton and Robben Ford are being decided on.
A once in a lifetime meeting will be realized.
The theme of the last, fourth program is "Meeting" and Chick Corea and Hiromi Uehara will appear. A dreamy collaboration which can only be seen in the Tokyo Jazz will be realized. Hank Jones will also appear in this special stage, and they will close out the gorgeous night of the Tokyo International Forum.
There may be many types of people and each has his/her own motive to come to the Tokyo Jazz; people who don't know about jazz but who want to listen to the world pianists' performances as piano lovers, people who want to listen to various music of the world, people who heard a rumor about the Tokyo Jazz at a jazz club. We are now working out programs so that many visitors can enjoy jazz music in a more interesting way.
Marunouchi will be full of jazz.
Every corner of Marunouchi will deploy jazz events from the beginning of August, and we are planning to foster the event in the entire area. If you are interested in the Tokyo Jazz in this area, please feel free to drop in and join us.
We would like people to listen to the jazz with their whole body. It will be good if people could enjoy jazz without any need for convincing, could be excited listening to jazz and could happily go home.
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