Michael Pronko - The Japan Times

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Michael Pronko

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Michael Pronko

Michael Pronko writes essays for ST Shukan. He also writes for his own website Jazz in Japan, as well as for Newsweek Japan and Artscape Japan. He has published three books of essays about Tokyo and teaches American literature, culture and film at Meiji Gakuin University.

For Michael Pronko's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Sep 30, 2005

Growl heard loud from New Orleans

Dr. John has been a central icon of New Orleans music for the past four decades. Though famed for his keyboard playing, he started out on guitar in his teens as a studio musician in 1950s New Orleans. He later switched to keyboards and put together his own special flavor of traditional-meets-funk music captured first on his 1968 release, "Gris-Gris." Over time, he became a seminal influence with his nimble keyboard style and distinctive growling-from-the gut vocals.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Sep 30, 2005

The Yokohama Jazz Promenade

The Yokohama Jazz Promenade is the best weekend of the year for jazz lovers, and shows you just what a city arts foundation can do if they put their music-loving minds to it. On Oct. 8 and 9, nearly a hundred groups will perform at 10 halls and 20-some jazz clubs sprinkled around the city -- and that's not counting the station platforms, street corners and open squares where you can hear amateur and student groups jamming away.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Sep 23, 2005

Kirk Joseph's Backyard Groove: "Sousafunk Ave" (Audible Vision)

At the tender age of 13, Kirk Joseph was already on the march. When his older brothers' marching band was short a tuba player, Joseph filled in, knowing the tunes from hearing his father, brothers and New Orleans neighbors play them.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music / JAZZNICITY

Sep 23, 2005

Keeping the Hot Club flame lit in Tokyo

One of Europe's biggest contributions to jazz, Gypsy swing jazz -- now more correctly called "jazz manouche" -- comes down to one man, famed Belgian guitarist Django Reinhardt. Together with violinist Stephane Grappelli and a rotating ensemble of musicians, Django's Quintette du Hot Club de France shot to fame in 1930s Paris, playing a new energetic Gypsy mix of flamenco, Balkan music, folk and jazz.

CULTURE / Music

Sep 16, 2005

Fanfare Ciocarlia

Four of Europe's best Gypsy bands descend on Japan for a special "Time of the Gypsies" festival this October. With influences as diverse as flamenco, Indian music, jazz and Balkan and European folk music, the four acts -- two Gypsy brass bands, one Gypsy swing jazz group and one DJ-inspired fusion duo -- will bring their joyously fast and wildly uninhibited music to Tokyo for a series of concerts.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Sep 11, 2005

Lew Tabackin International Trio

A jazzman for those in the know, Lew Tabackin helped redefine the big band solo, contributed to classic sessions and has toured worldwide continuously, giving workshops and playing venues large and small. His work collaborating, writing and arranging with his wife, Toshiko Akiyoshi, created one of the most riveting bands in jazz history and helped bring his sense of jazz to full maturity. He brings his "International Trio" to Japan for a tour this month.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Sep 4, 2005

Ronnie Earl and Duke Robillard: "The Duke Meets the Earl"

Pairing two guitarists' guitarists, Ronnie Earl and Duke Robillard, "The Duke Meets the Earl" is a powerhouse blues recording. In the 1970s and '80s, Duke and Earl led, successively, the heavy-touring band Roomful of Blues. Duke later recorded with jazz greats and kept touring, while Earl formed The Broadcasters to carry on Roomful's big, bold style in his own way, eventually retiring from playing live. Earl has probably gotten more attention fan-wise, and Duke critic-wise, but here they meet on common ground.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Aug 28, 2005

T he acoustic jazz trio The Bad Plus have cultivated a bad-boy image. And guess what, attitude works. They have garnered critical attention and loads of rock and alternative music fans. Past the hype, though, The Bad Plus' inspired jazz shakes up the expectations of what an acoustic jazz trio can sound like. Like their electrified (but different-sounding) predecessors, Martin, Medeski and Wood, they have their own voice -- an authentic and youthful one.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Aug 21, 2005

Jazz singer Nicole Henry connects to a crowd, or perhaps it's better to say she holds an audience in the palm of her hand. Cliche it may be, but Henry is just the kind of vocalist who restores a cliche to it's original beauty, as she does with her repertoire of jazz standards.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Aug 17, 2005

The Joe Locke/Geoffrey Keezer Quartet

The New Sound Quartet, also known as the Joe Locke/Geoffrey Keezer Quartet, is a powerhouse of a group. Since both musicians had independent, well-established careers before teaming up, their names vie for top billing. But this quartet, by any name, is still one of the finest exponents of hard- and post-bop jazz currently playing. And they are in Japan for a week-long tour this week.

CULTURE / Music

Aug 7, 2005

Fusing a variety of Latin rhythms into a potent, down-to-earth style, Los Van Van has been packing dance floors for over 30 years and shows no sign of slowing down. A Cuban institution, this wild, 15 member band is not only the most successful Latin group to arrive on the world stage from Cuba (at least, before Buena Vista Social Club came along), Los Van Van is undeniably the most danceable. They bring their infectious beats and spicy Spanish lyrics to Japan for a two-week tour starting Wednesday.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jul 24, 2005

Ryan Kisor Quartet

The "young lions" was a phrase used (in fact, overused) to describe the resurgence of young jazz musicians in New York that started in the 1980s. More marketing tool than stylistic category, young lions still felt like a term of respect, all things considered. One of the best, and youngest, of this generation of well-schooled, market-savvy musicians was trumpeter Ryan Kisor, who brings his band to Japan this week.

CULTURE / Music

Jul 17, 2005

Eddie Palmieri's Latin All-Stars

After years of playing hot, percussive piano in other people's Latin bands, Eddie Palmieri formed his own group in 1961. In battles of the bands in dance clubs like New York's famed Palladium, Palmieri's always came out on top. He called his band La Perfecta for one reason: It was perfect.

CULTURE / Music

Jul 10, 2005

Cedar Walton: "Midnight Waltz"

Ever since playing on John Coltrane's "Giant Steps" in 1959, Cedar Walton has been one of the hard-bop pianists of choice. Though he famously declined to solo over the knotty chord changes of that classic (there were too many, too fast), he has written many an intricate tune of his own over the years. On his newest release, "Midnight Waltz," he at last gets to play, and solo over, 10 of his originals that have been covered more often by others than by himself.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jul 3, 2005

The emotion-filled voice and calmly pulsing guitar of Brazilian diva Joyce appeals to a broad spectrum of listeners. Unlike some performers with a strong international following, though, she draws fans by upholding authentic values. This week she brings her distinctive Brazilian music to Tokyo and Yokohama this week.

CULTURE / Music

Jun 26, 2005

Full House: "Champagne Taste"

The title of Full House's first release, "Champagne Taste," has a touch of irony to it. The group, led by trumpeter Jim Rotondi and keyboardist David Hazeltine, does have a sleek, bubbly feel, however, it's one mixed with funky grooves and a potent electric sound. Instead of snobbery, their style of jazz is earthy and gratifying.

CULTURE / Music / JAZZNICITY

Jun 19, 2005

Only one way to get that big band sound

Forming a jazz big band in this day and age is a somewhat insane undertaking. Scheduling the right musicians, writing elaborate arrangements and hiring a studio with the right equipment to record 16 players at once are headaches big enough to hold back even the most inspired leader. The bottom line for many jazz musicians in Tokyo's competitive jazz world is that it's easier to find regular gigs playing standards and feel content just to survive.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jun 19, 2005

Tim Ries' the Rolling Stones Project

Though rock musicians from Sting to Joni Mitchell to the Grateful Dead have always brought jazz elements into their music, often hiring jazz mercenaries to do it, jazz has rarely used rock as a source of much more than electricity. Tim Ries has set out to reclaim some of the listeners lost to rock decades ago by using the compositions of the Rolling Stones as his main inspiration. As Mick Jagger might have sang, "Jazz, people, it's just a solo away!"

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jun 12, 2005

Music of Thad Jones: "One More"

For 40 years, every Monday, New York's Village Vanguard has featured one of the most stylish mid-size bands in jazz. Started as the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, 1965-1979, trumpeter and composer Jones was the brains behind it and drummer Lewis provided the fire in front. After Jones passed away in the late 1980s, Lewis kept the band going, on the strength of Jones' compositions and a roster of great talent. Morphing into the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra in the '90s, this Monday-night band still plays.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jun 5, 2005

The New Mastersounds: "This is What We Do"

Though Leeds isn't particularly associated with funk, The New Mastersounds may change that. James Brown and Sly Stone can be heard stomping through their hard-hitting "deep funk" sound of this 4-year-old band, and their new release, "This Is What We Do," is a funk-jazz workout that is proudly retro and vibrantly alive.

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.

[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.

Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree

By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Live like a lord or lady for a night at Ozu Castle

Live like a lord or lady for a night at Ozu Castle

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