Music Apr 23, 2020

Not even a global pandemic can keep jazz musician Haruka Kikuchi from her trombone

Japanese jazz trombonist Haruka Kikuchi is coping with COVID-19 restrictions by streaming live performances from her home in New Orleans.

Music Mar 26, 2020

Ron Carter: A record-breaking jazz legend returns to Tokyo

"I think people still want to hear the old man playing on an antique,” says Ron Carter. “And as long as they want that idea, I’m kind of available.” Carter, 82, is one of jazz’s most prolific figures. In addition to recording dozens of albums ...

Music | Sound Off Feb 14, 2020

SXSW ramps up its Japan game

A slew of Japanese artists are set to appear at the South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas, between March 16 and 22.

Music Aug 20, 2019

The spirit of Satchmo survives in Tokyo

Yoshio Toyama and his wife, Keiko, have spent most of their lives as unofficial musical ambassadors between Japan and the American city of New Orleans. In New Orleans, Toyama, a trumpeter and singer, is known as the "Satchmo of Japan" for his skillful ability to ...

Music Jul 16, 2019

George Porter Jr.: The man bringing the funk to Fuji Rock

If the Beatles are Liverpool's fab four, The Meters are New Orleans' funky four. During the 1960s and '70s, bassist George Porter Jr., drummer Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste, keyboardist Arthur "Art" Neville, and guitarist Leo Nocentelli created music that is still recognized globally as some of ...

Music Jul 10, 2019

The Let's Go's: Guitar, bass, drums, vocals and plenty of beer

The Let's Go's are a celebration of pure rock 'n' roll energy. Dressed in matching, vivid, cherry-red outfits, the Tokyo trio delivers upbeat tunes with infectious enthusiasm. Fresh from a recent trip to the United States, The Let's Go's released their new album, "Heibon Cherry," on ...

Music May 30, 2019

Peelander-Yellow makes a triumphant homecoming from outer space

Kengo Hioki could well be described as eccentric. With his hair and beard both dyed neon yellow, Hioki has taken his stage name, "Peelander-Yellow," to heart. The musician and artist rarely dresses in anything other than his signature color. "I look like a weird guy because ...

Music Apr 23, 2019

George Clinton: The godfather of P-Funk's final visit to Japan

George Clinton has packed a lot of funk into his six-decade career. In the 1970s, the American singer rose to fame with Parliament and Funkadelic, sister groups that established a musical dynasty known globally as P-Funk. After numerous trips around the world, Clinton is now preparing ...

Music Mar 28, 2019

Chai, Otoboke Beaver and Yahyel: The Japanese musicians representing at SXSW 2019

Every year, more than 2,000 bands flock to Austin, Texas, for the South By Southwest Music Conference and Festival (SXSW). The internationally recognized event has recently leaned heavy on tech, but music still plays a big part. During this year's mid-March music showcase, Japan ...

Music Feb 14, 2019

Eyehategod spreads the sludge metal gospel

Eyehategod shouldn't have lasted three decades. "I was there when we started the band and if you had told me back then that we were going to be still going on 30 years later ... to say that this band would've been the one that ...