Let the activities begin! Today 08/17/01 I adjudicated for an exciting
musical event...
JAJE (Japanese Association of Jazz Educators) Japan student 17 jazz festival
in Kobe. Along with Larry Monroe, Scott DeOgburn, Jim Kelley Winston McCow.
Here are a few notes from today's event:
Edubkobe2001
Koyo Conservatory
5-4-1 Shinohara Minami-machi, Nada-ku, Kobe
078 4288-3394
This is fun: I'm adjudicating the Japan student Jazz Festival 2001 JAJE.
This "Battle of the "Bands" is produced like a music concert. It has a nice
entertaining and professional tone to it. Hi Scott how are you, can you read
what I'm saying? u de man!
lol the Berklee faculty member next to me , Scott Deogburn, can read these
comments.
Song: Ocean View
percussion included on this one
cha-cha. This band looks more formal with everyone wearing maroon ties.
This adjudication process consists of making honest straight forward
judgements about technical aspects of the performance of each band. We noted
things like intonation, relative balance of one section to the other. How
hard the band "swings" or doesn't "swing", How clear the articulation is. We made notes on the fullness of "sound" of
the instrumentalists. Naturally we counted dynamics as important in their
presentation.
Sometimes we added for quality of arrangement or the apropos nature of the
choice of material. :-)
Mention was also made of choreography.
Also I have in my notes other things I enjoyed about the overall
performances. For example I wrote: "The trombonist played with a nice energy.
Excellent. The band supported the groove with a relaxed clapping. The
clarinetist was timid, but exhibited a good use of phrasing.
Interesting there is an MC and she is conducting interviews with the young
students :-) fun. I can't understand a word of it, but the students appear
motivated and earnest in their quest for excellence.
Ah these young musicians from a certain technical school are talented. Bass
player seems to have a concept of rhythm and blues. The young gentleman
speaking on mic seems overly serious. The band exhibits a nice instrumental
blend arrangement, uses space to good effect. Muted trumpets effect is not
apparent. Too bad the effect is lost. Additionally there is some rushing
going on. Interesting how a little rushing cango along way towards hurting
the groove. Sforzando was ok but not deeply effective.
The alto player has a big sound- dynamics are cool . Inventive. This group
is more informal in terms of attire each person has on something different.
7 four time interlude excellent.
Nice material. This group elected to play "Some Skunk Funk" by the Brecker
Brothers ... the interlude was effective.
We took a 15 minute half hour break! The water in the commode goes
counterclockwise
Wow! This was an unusual experience hearing a fast salsa tune which changed
rhythmic orientation from time to time. There was a group of jhs girls
clapping a 2/3 clave like mad... It was surreal. It was interesting to hear
the clave emerge like a phoenix after an occasional near train wreck onstage.
Nice.
After all the bands played, there was an exciting ceremony. First all the
adjudicators got together and decided who was the best band and the best
instrumentalists. It was a quick and somewhat democratic but organized
decision making process. 6 out of 10 of the 26 bands which were chosen were
on my list of best bands. There was plenty of agreement and plenty of input
from each adjudicator.
Then there was a ceremony for handing out the awards and prizes. The High
School and elementary school kids who were chosen were all so very
enthusiastic. When people were chosen, they had to go through some kind of
human tunnel of their friends and peers. One guy went through the tunnel on
his way up to accept his award, and in the process of passing through the
tunnel, his friends took his shirt completely off.
lol ...He wound up frantically dashing onstage and slipping and falling and
retrieving his balance before accepting the award. After the award was given
he still did a crazy dance... this young gentleman was happy! :-) A few
girls accepted their awards in tears. What a beautiful ceremony. :-)
One gentleman experienced his peers running up on stage and taking his award
away from him and throwing him up in the air several times before they
disappeared back into the audience.
The cheering definitely reminded me of exciting heartfelt sports activities
from the early 80's. These bands were like sports teams .They were their own
cheerleaders. :-) There were special chants and calls for each high school or
Junior High School. It was great.
The Berklee student band was fantastic. I was proud of Akira Nakamua
and Oliver Rockberger and Jacob Forslund especially for their participation.
I'm not sure the house sound engineer had Jacob up loud enough.
Oliver was soulful and sensitive Akira was intense. But all three were
grooving and musical and very exciting! :-)
All in all it was a wonderful night with Koyo Conservatory and the JAJE!
I THINK THIS EVEN WAS A JUST ADVANCE :-)
Peace! :-)
08/25/01
TODAY was the climactic gala concert featuring the Berklee Faculty
Ensemble and Makoto Ozone and Kazumi Watanabe.
Yaay KAZUMI yaaay Makoto. When Kazumi got offstage, I ambushed him and lifted
him off his feet with his guitar still in hand. Kazumi is one of my all time
favorites on his instrument. To coin a Larry Monroe phrase, I think he is one
of the "best guitarists anywhere".
He performed a classical style piece of substantial length which explored the
instrument thoroughly in terms of range and harmonics and thythmic
inventiveness and diverse harmonies and voicings. His level of virtuosity
reminds me of another of my favorites John McLaughlin.
Makoto was smooth with his trio consisting of Clarence Penn and James Genus.
Very original. The group had a high energy combined with a beautiful subtlety
owing in part to the drummers composing skills. ;-)
I had the benefit of performing with Hatsumi, Randy, Kiyoshi and Giele in a
jazz quartet featuring the vocalist Giele. We did two originals one singing
medium tempo blues and one beautiful jazz- bossa.
We then launched into a funky version of Love for Sale and a beautiful and
soulful rendition of Angel Eyes. All in all a gratifying experience. I
enjoyed the surprise of Hatsumi exhibiting so much technique on the upright
after swinging sooooo hard for so many hours.
Then it was time for the Berklee faculty ensemble. We did Waynes whirl
Zak's place John Lee.
One bad Apple alias LYDH...You'd b so nice to come home to flower is a
lovesome thing Just your smile kobe blues.
A solid show well rehearsed prepared and performed. I was gratified with the
level of professionalism and musicality. It even swung! Donna McElroy was
literally doing a fox trot onstage... I've learned that when people are
dancin to jazz it's a great sign. I usually take that opportunity to nurture
the dancing groove much like one would rock a baby.
Nice mention goes to Larry Monroe for a stand out alto solo which reminded me
of Bird but had a healthy dose of Larry in it.
Winnie Macow and I had a fun duet during One Bad Apple by Jim Kelley.
Scott Deogburn swung nice on the piano and hopped up and blew his trumpet
with ease. He is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist.
Well the evening was incredible. One gentleman whom I recently met who was
active in relief efforts during the 1995 earthquake in Kobe came backstage
with friends. As soon as I get the wonderful photos I'll put them up on the
site. Young musicians came back stage and my dream of creating a just and
constructive beautiful atmosphere backstage was in full force that night. One
woman was particularly animated having a bit of a spiritual experience of
sorts. Her grandson was a fan of mine and convinced her to attend the
concert...
Well groovegoverners... see you later! :-) yaaay Kobe 2001! See you guys and
girls back on the "home front"...
Peace! :-)
