AprilCadence2013

MACK
Short Takes Japan: Kansai GOLDSBURY
spot) with the excellent straight-ahead guitarist, Hiroshi Hata. Another Act III
date on 2/25 featured the dynamic husband and wife team of Yutaka (g) and
Atsuko (org) Hashimoto, along with drummer Fukushi Tainaka. Based in New
York City for many years, Tainaka has worked extensively with Lou Donaldson.
The kansai venue known for the biggest Japanese and overseas acts is Billboard
Live in downtown Osaka. On 2/1 Keiko Lee (vo) performed with her trio
featuring Soichi Noriki (p), Akira Okazawa (b) and Yuichi Togashiki. On 2/4
Maceo Parker, the ex-James Brown stalwart, blew jazz and funk on his tenor with
his high-energy ensemble. Manhattan Transfer sang on 2/26, and scheduled for
3/2 is the Chihiro Yamanaka (p) trio with Hikaru Toho (b) and Keita Okada (d).
On 3/6 it’s a very special unit indeed with Larry Coryell (g), Wallace Roney (t),
Rick Margitza (ts), Joey DeFrancesco (org), Darryl Jones (b), and Omar Hakim
(d). Up for 3/7 is Masato Honda (sax) playing jazz and fusion, and the following
night (3/8), legendary reggae master Jimmy Cliff with a 9-piece supporting
band. On 3/28 Kaoru Kobayashi (sax) plays jazz and fusion, and on 4/20, vibes
master and vocalist Roy Ayers appears with special guest Lonnie Liston Smith.
Osaka’s tireless Hammond events producer, Osamu Yamamoto, continues to
keep kansai organ freaks well sated. On 2/24 Midori Ono (org) performed “Jazz
Organ for kids” with Yutaka Hashimoto (g) and Tadatsugu Mune (d) in Sakai
City (near Osaka). Midori specializes in the blues with plenty of greasy chops.
Yamamoto-sponsored events extend to kobe as well where Yuki (B3) performs at
the kitano club Oldies on 3/24 with Ryuzo Kaminaga (g) and Tadatsugu Mune
(d). The astonishing 12-year-old organ whiz Neo Yamada has several events
coming up. They include an appearance at Mother Moon Café (between kobe
and Osaka) on 3/31 with James Barrett (t) and Jin Mitsuda (d): and an organ
battle at Le Club Jazz in Kyoto on 4/1 with the afore-mentioned Ono and Mune.
Mr. kelly’s in downtown Osaka (Umeda) regularly features jazz and
occasionally other styles of music as well. On 4/15 singer Pinky Winters
performs there with a trio featuring Hiroshi Hata (g). Ms. Winters made a
bit of a splash on the L.A. scene in the 50’s when she recorded a couple LP’s,
one of which featured Zoot Sims. Her decision to drop out of music to raise
a family took her off the scene for many years. She’s back now and makes
occasional trips to Japan where she has garnered a following. Yet another
inviting Osaka jazz spot is St. James, located in the downtown Dotonbori
district. One of the main attractions there is the excellent house pianist
Takehisa Tanaka who has for years performed Friday nights with his trio.
Randy Smith
54 | CadenCe Magazine | april May June 2013