If it ain't got that swing, it's still jazz
Looking back on 2013, I think some of the strongest jazz releases I heard were from young people in the industry. I know, it's a bit too far into the new year to be retrospective, but it has led me to consider the possibility ...
Ai Kuwabara tops favorites list for year in jazz
For the final Jazz Notes column of the year I met up with writer, blogger and presenter of InterFM's "OK Jazz" show James Catchpole to talk about the year in jazz at Eddie's Lounge in Tokyo's Arakawa Ward. It's run by our mutual friend, ...
Pianist Ai Kuwabara to live out her dream on stage at Tokyo Jazz Festival
Pianist Ai Kuwabara is waxing nostalgic at the offices of her record label, East Works Entertainment, in Tokyo's Minato Ward. "I first went to Tokyo Jazz Festival at the International Forum when I was in the fifth or sixth grade of elementary school, and I'll ...
Female jazz acts are the real Cool Japan
One of the highlights of my Golden Week this year was a concert by the Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Jazz Orchestra at Blue Note in Tokyo. Reuniting her big band for the first time in a decade, Akiyoshi rolled back the clock with a superb ...
