My Journal Top
<< Jan 2006 | Jul-Sep 2005 >> |
My Journal / Oct-Dec 2005
Meets with Junko Ohnishi Kimiko Ito, and, 2005 Charity Concert |
The last months of 2005 brought on a whirlwind of activity for me but they're just too many to mention, so I would like to focus on just some of its' highlights, among them would be my recent involvement with big bands. Most singers would dream about being accompanied by gorgeous full band sound. I just love it because there's a lot of energy. It reaches out and just grabs you I feel very honored to have been invited by several groups this year as special guest. One of them was with the Big Band “Serendipity18” at JZ Brat in Shibuya. Led by Masashi Sugiyama, this group is inspired by composer Bob Florence who has written some of the most beautiful big band arrangements since Duke Ellington; they vividly recreate the mastery of orchestration and arranging, I performed pieces like We'll Be Together Again, Only You and Almost Like Being In Love, all great arrangements by Bob Florence.
 In November, I also sang with the Kenichi Tsunoda Big Band for Sometime's 30th Anniversary Special. An amazing group with such powerful playing, this nineteen piece ensemble produces a sound like a symphony orchestra. As a special treat for this occasion, I sang new arrangements of “Come Fly” and “Non- Stop to Brazil” from my Brazilian album, both written by Kenichi Tsunoda. They were simply great!
By the end of November, I performed again with the Jazz Lab Orchestra at the Nagoya Blue Note. The club was packed! We have done a lot of work together this year at several festivals and events. They truly work very hard on the charts and make the music come alive for me. I felt like a regular member, it's always a great pleasure working with them.
In early December, I was invited to sing with the Big Band of Rogues at the OMORI BELLPORT. This group of talented musicians come together to play great jazz sounds of the Big Band/Swing and Latin era. Its' members with diverse backgrounds include professional and semi-professional. It was a delicious treat for me to be singing beautiful arrangements of “Quizas, Quizas, Qiuzas” and the rhumba swing version of “That Old Black Magic”. It was such fun!
Then there was the annual Because We Care Foundation charity concert, “A Christmas Gift” held at the Franciscan Chapel Center in Roppongi. This is the time when the Christmas season officially starts for me. Now on its' 5th year, this is a project my students and myself help put together to benefit children's institutions in dire need of help. As always, it was a show of an unconditional labor of love. Both participants and audience understood and saw well meaning intentions put into action. The show was also a great music success with the help of different groups around our community. We sold 400 tickets this year, the total amount of which will help provide partial donation to buy help buy a mini-bus to transport kids and patients for an orphanage and a hospital in the Municipality of Guihulngan, Province of Oriental Negros, in the Philippines. We will also extend some form of donation to a volunteer group based here in Tokyo providing aid for children. (Please see the charity page for details.)
The Christmas Specials series offered fun, exciting moments for me as well as unpredictable happenings. I experienced for the first time flying over the country blanketed in snow from Toyohashi to Sapporo then back to Aichi.
 Nagoya had 23 centimeters of snow, the whole city looked like a ski resort. But this did not dampen the holiday spirit, surprisingly the club filled up and the music was alive and well. It was one of those nights when I wouldn't dare sing Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow! :) we had enough!
Now, about the great moments, one unforgettable gig took place at the Body and Soul when I performed with a pianist named Ms. X (as printed on the club's program). She is my good friend Junko Onishi, who has been away from the music scene for over five years now and had wanted to remain anonymous until the day of the gig. I encouraged her to do this with me to help ease her way back in. We had a great time exploring possibilities, it was a thrill to sing with such a brilliant pianist. This lady has tremendous talent and it would be truly a sin to allow it to just fade away. I look forward to doing more of these inspiring and creative gigs.
Another interesting event was at the “SUPER JAZZ VOCAL NIGHT” dinner show on Christmas eve was held at the Hotel Nikko Tokyo in Odaiba. This joint vocal session with Kimiko Itoh was a first for us and it certainly captured the interest of many. We enjoyed such camaraderie both on and off the stage, we hope to take this step to the next level.
For the most part I know that I have had a good year and I feel really blessed with many great experiences making music with truly wonderful musicians.
2006 has brought in much more promise....I will continue to grow and move ahead...
Charito
|
 |
