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My Journal / Aug 2007
Summer Festivals 2007 |
 | |  | |  | | UENO JAZZ INN '07 | | COTE D'AZUR view from
the Palais Bulles | | Théoule flyer |
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In the beginning of August, I performed with the funky and lively Junko Moriya Orchestra at the UENO JAZZ INN '07 a jazz festival sponsored by the Taito Ku Art & Culture Foundation. Held at the Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park, the festival started early in the afternoon featuring many other jazz artists. It was exciting and refreshingly different to perform outdoors with a big band. Most of the big band members were musicians I have worked with before, as expected, they played my arrangements with great excellence.
The following day I flew to Paris, France. I then took another flight to Nice to take part in a jazz festival at Théoule-sur-Mer, only 10km from Cannes, and just over 40km from Nice. With amazing views towards the mountains, sea and across to Cannes, Iles de Lérins and Corsica, Theoule offers a range of activities on leisure and sports, cultural events, museums and numerous festivals.
The festival was held at Pierre Cardin's spectacular "Palais Bulles". Designed in 1968 by the Finnish architect Antti Lovag, this ingenious house, nestled in the beautiful red rock face, is built entirely with curved surfaces facing onto a sheer drop down to the sea. It is therefore little wonder that this amazing structure is host to a number of prestigious events and galas.
The spectacular views of from this site gave me a feeling like I was onboard a ship. With the Cote d'Azur as backdrop, singing here was such an exhilarating experience. I was the final feature of the 3-day festival that featured only vocals. I performed with trumpet player Alain Brunet's quartet, Alain Mayeras on piano, David Salesse on bass and Andy Barron on drums. The music was fabulous and the audience were just great!!
On to the next gig, I had the wonderful opportunity to join the trip by car, traveling from Nice into Provence, all the way to the southwest passing through many beautiful landscapes. I saw the vast city of Bordeaux from a distance on to La Rochelle, the most attractive and unspoiled seaside town in France, to Cognac, with green swathes of vineyard sweeping up to the walls and the graceful turrets of minor châteaux - properties of wealthy cognac-producers.
The festival where I performed was held at the Abbaye de Fontdouce, a Benedictine Abbey located at Saint-Bris-Des-Bois, Charente, a 20-minute drive from Cognac. This Romanesque heritage dates back to the 12th century was inhabited by monks until the French Revolution. The abbey was then bought by a family of farmers and still owns it today. From 1970, architectural work and restoration was undertaken, which is ongoing. The site was listed as a Historic Monument in 1986. A channel of water crosses the room, coming from the spring that gave the abbey its name: La Fontaine Douce (the sweet spring). Today, the property is geared towards cultural and religious activities and events as well as tourism.
This is where I had my first taste of homemade Pineau (Pineau des Charentes) an alcoholic aperitif drink, made from a blend of unfermented grape must and Cognac brandy. The pastoral scenery, the history, beautiful people and the music all blended wonderfully. It was a golden mellow experience.
My next stop was Rochefort, a small city and commercial harbor on the Charente River in western France. The town gained some fleeting fame with Jacques Demy's musical movie Les demoiselles de Rochefort in 1967 starring Catherine Deneueve and Gene Kelly. I was able to take a walk at the town square where the famous café is.
In Rochefort, I worked on my new materials with the band for our coming up projects. I want to thank each of them for their great patience and dedication especially on Alain Mayer as our pianist. He was able to lead us into the French classic combined with jazz direction. I thank all of my wonderful members!!!
The following morning I took a TGV to Paris and once again was able to enjoy the picturesque sights. I spent my last night with friends enjoying great French cuisine with the Eiffel Tower in the background shimmering like diamonds when they lighted it up with some 30,000 light bulbs. It was a spectacular sight! What a way to sum up my very first tour in France.
Upon my return to Tokyo, I immediately had to go to Hokkaido for the Muroran Jazz Cruise 2007. All groups including EQ, the Terumasa Hino quintet and ours took the same bus ride, which turned out like a happy reunion because we all knew each other and have played together one time or another. We could have easily swapped members!
The concert is held yearly in a huge warehouse located in the central quay of Muroran Port as a part of the city's promotional efforts. It has grown in scale that gets bigger each year with huge support from volunteers and has now become one of the major festivals in Hokkaido. Here is where I presented my newly formed group named Music Virus with Manabu Ohishi on piano, Yohsuke Inoue on bass, Rikiya Higashihara on drums and featuring Tetsuro Kawashima. Playing music together is so stimulating and highly energetic, with joy that's so contagious, thus the name.
The show was a great success with a great audience turnout. Hino's funky arrangement of Route 66 brought the house down. Lucky for us, it wasn't as hot as expected but the music was burning!
That wraps up my summer festival season, looking forward to cooler days and exciting gigs in autumn...
Charito
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 | | Rehearsals at the Palais Bulles stage |
 | | basking in this glorious setting |
 | | On stage with Alain Brunet Quartet |
 | | with Hide on drums |
 | | picnic lawns at Abbaye de FONTDOUCE |
 | | stage lawn set up |
 | | sound check |
 | | on stage with Alain |
 | | with Alain Mayeras |
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| dinner with the family |
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| COGNAC TOWN | | La Rochelle | | enjoying special pineau and cognac with the family of the Abbey's owner, Jean Pierre (far left) |
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at a market in Rochefort
(Pineau sale) | | Muroran Jazz Cruise with Music Virus | | At the finale |
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