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My Journal / Jan-Apr 2003
“They Say It's Wonderful” CD Launch Tour, Shanghai Jazz |
 2003 started as a swinging year for me, owing to the many wonderful gigs I did these past few months.The highlight of which was in February which was marked by the release of my latest CD “ They Say It's Wonderful”.The first of the new CD launch live series was held at Body and Soul in Aoyama. My band consisted of Manabu Ohishi, who led the group on piano, included Gregg Lee on bass and Cecil Monroe on drums. Issei Igarashi on trumpet joined us at the second half of the show. The band was wonderful as they played through the new arrangements of familiar standards and popular tunes as well. Ohishi played with great feeling and sensitivity, in particular on some of the ballads, and then wowed us with his technique on the up tempo pieces and his seemingly endless musical ideas. He really is such a musical giant and has been so generous in sharing so much with me. I feel lucky to have him right here in Tokyo! There was free playing as well as clearly structured written out sections for the quartet and throughout there was dynamic contrast. We had an incredible time performing that night and it seems the audience really enjoyed themselves as well.
We took the show to Koln, in Fuji City. Koln has gained a well-deserved reputation as a jazz club, drawing celebrities from around the globe. It is truly a venue for those who want to be entertained by the artists, and the performers you see make it well worth to come all the way for, ranging from accomplished local talents to the more famous ones or overseas musicians. The new CD sold out well!
At JZ Brat Shibuya, our show was so well received. Many friends came to congratulate me on the new album. The show was quite a success, thanks to all of you who were able to attend and thank you for listening so intently!
 The middle of March was when the fun really began for me, our group toured the Tohoku area. The first stop was in Aomori at a place called Jazz in Nango, a trendy jazz club that boasts of it's great acoustics, very much a club for jazz enthusiasts to concentrate on listening.
 The next stop was at beautifully located Makado Spa Fujiya Hotel also in Aomori, right next to Mutsu Bay. I had the luck to find the time to sneak away and check the nearby skiing slopes, where from the mountain top I was able to enjoy the majestic view of this town by the bay. In Akita, we played at The Cat Walk, a very cozy jazz club with many devoted jazz followers. I also felt much enthusiasm from some of the local artists. It was a pleasure to perform for you.
 Our last stop was at Spain Club in Morioka, a club with long history completely dedicated to music. The band and I had a great time and we really enjoyed each other's company both off and on stage. All of the musicians are strong improvisers and had lots of room to express and create something inspired. It's not all fun and games though, because the musicianship of all the members is outstanding, it's just that we all had such a blast together that there is a feeling of joviality during the whole concert tour.
Late in March at Corcovado in Takadanobaba, I played with two brilliant guitarists, Kazuhiko Obata and Koshiro Iwatani.This was something I have not done before. We played bossanova and some jazz standards. There were passages where these two of the musicians would be improvising together or just one soloing instrument. Singing with less instruments gave me much space yet clearly defined emotion to the music. It really makes for a different kind of excitement to be able to fade into a whisper when a tune calls for it. It was quite a thrill!
In the beginning of April, I had the chance to visit again the city of Shanghai, the largest in China, it attracts people at home and abroad like a magnet. People come here for its culture, its history, its people and all the vigor and vitality it shows in its rush to international metropolis status. I was endlessly awed by it's growing magnitude and bustling energy, so much has changed since my last visit in 1998. It is the showcase of China's fast growth and a bonanza of tourist attractions, business opportunities and cultural activities.
 Jazz is also now beginning to pick up real fast and there's a growing presence of many foreign bands on short term engagement. I was able to sing and jam in with the local musicians at the Blues and Jazz Bar, owned by Lin Dong Fu, a good old friend of mine, who was one of the organizers at the Beijing Jazz Festival. Other clubs strong on the Shanghai blues and jazz scene now are CJW and Cotton Club. Still in need of development, there is a great promise ahead, I could certainly use a good dose of this overflowing potential energy.
Back in Tokyo, at Sometime Kichijoji, I played with Junji Hirose on drums, Shinichi Satoh on bass, Masahiro Fujioka on saxophone and Manabu Oishi on piano. This group was an exciting combination! We played several tunes from my new CD. The spontaneous improvisations on the arrangements were really well thought out and remained interesting at every turn.
We have received very favorable reviews and comments from friends and those who came to hear us live for the first time during the tour, thank you so very much for your continued support. I'll see you again soon....
Charito
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