2 New Releases, Europe and Fuji Rock

EUROPE

Greetings! I've just returned from a two-week European tour with Orquesta Libre, and it was a really fantastic time. The audiences in England, Denmark, Bavaria and Switzerland were brilliant and it was great catching up with family, old friends and making some new ones. And everyone was so kind to us, and the food was amazingly good! That's not how I remember Europe!!

 Good times in Passau

Mama Carola's incredible Tirolean cuisine!

A real high point was our stay in Passau, in Bayern on the Austrian border. We stayed with the wonderful Mama and Papa Carola and Heinz, who looked after us so well. Carola seemed to have a constant supply of delicious hearty Bavarian specialities flying out of her kitchen, while Heinz had a truly remarkable schnapps collection in which he indulged us with glee. And the concerts at the Cafe Museum at Passau were also fantastic, a very attentive audience who loved our versions of Kurt Weill.
It was a wonderful time, and we're all hoping that a European tour will become an annual tradition!

NEW RELEASES

While I was away, there have been two new releases. The first is a pop record. I play on two tracks on the new CD by singer/songwriter Angela Aki, "Blue".

I play on the title track-

And the track "Monster"-

You can buy it HERE

The other new release is the online release of a very special live set by Orquesta Libre-

Volume 3 of our "Live at Pit Inn" series features special guests pianist Suga Dairo, and tap dancers Uragami Yuji and Ron x II, playing a set of new arrangements of Duke Ellington, It truly was an amazing performance, and I strongly recommend picking this one up! It's available for download HERE

FUJI ROCK 2012

As I mentioned here a couple of weeks ago, this year is my first Fuji Rock, and I'll be playing twice, this Sunday, 29th July, with both Orquesta Libre (special guest Ohata Yuichi), and Shibusashirazu Orchestra. Both sets are taking place at Orange Court. Orquesta Libre start at 13:20, and Shibusashirazu start at 21:00. I hope to see you there! They say Fuji Rock is one for the wellies (like it's UK equivalent Glastonbury), but this year it looks like it will be an absolute scorcher! Boots and sunblock?

Summer 2012

Here's a little update on my comings and goings this summer.


Orquesta Libre have a busy time lined up. From June 20-22 we are in residence at Shinjuku Pit Inn, with three very different sets. On the 20th we are joined by singer and guitarist Yanagihara Yoichiro. On the 21st, we will perform with singer and guitarist Ohata Yuichi, and on the 22nd we will play a tribute to Duke Ellington, with pianist Suga Dairo and tap dancers Ron x II.
On July 4th, Orquesta Libre will release two debut albums! A 2 disc set named「うたのかたち」"The Song's Shape" featuring Messrs. Yanagihara and Ohata, and the instrumental album "Can't Help Falling In Love".


Orquesta Libre are:
芳垣安洋Yasuhiro Yoshigaki(ds,arr)
青木タイセイTaisei Aoki(tb,pianica,arr)
塩谷博之Hiroyuki Shiotani(ss,cl)
藤原大輔Daisuke Fujiwara(ts)
渡辺隆雄Takao Watanabe(tp)
ギデオン・ジュークスGideon Juckes(tuba)
高良久美子Kumiko Takara(vib.pianica)
鈴木正人Masato Suzuki(b,arr)
椎谷求Motomu Shiiya(g,steel-g)
岡部洋一Yoichi Okabe(perc)


Then in mid-July we're off on a whistle stop tour of Europe for two weeks. I'll be posting full details as soon as they emerge, but it's looking very exciting.


When we get back, I'll be playing at Fuji Rock on July 29th. It's my first time, and I'm performing in two different groups! Orquesta Libre and Shibusashirazu Orchestra. It's also funny that all the members of Nerima Tea Club will be there performing on that day, just in different bands!
Time Out Tokyo questioned wether this was the most boring Fuji Rock line-up yet, but taking a quick look at the lineup for the day I'm there, I see that Jack White, Radiohead and At The Drive In are playing, so I'd be prone to disagree!


Then in August Shibusa will be playing at Toyama Hotfield Festival. Looking forward to visiting that area for the first time, and checking out the excellent local food and drink.


That's how it's looking so far, I'll post any updates. Hope to see you there!
Keep takin' her easy!
Gid