Too much notes, Mccoy Tyner

Right, I've never wrote about him, McCoy Tyner. I had a chance to watch his live session sometime in 1970 or 71, and the show was in Village. I cannot recall the name of the place. I remember that my friend told me that we should leave there sooner for its location wasn't safe.

Yes, he was playing trio. I was amazed how fast he could play. I had realized that those players known as recording artists had played much more notes than he had done at the recording session by then.

Boy, he was exceeding my expectation. It was too much.



This is a tune Thelonious Monk had composed. Not many player record this tune. It may be too much Monk. Bu it sounds unbelievably Tyner, don't you think? The sound reminds me of the great John Coltrane. The Coltrane sound had been a challenge for a foreigner wishing to play jazz or let's say the music that sound jazzy. I was able to stand his power for I was mere 18, 19 years old at the first encounter.

Do I listen to him lately? No, no way. he is too heavy for a guy aged so old. It could be said to Tyner as well. He is powerful, but I love John Lewis, Tommy Flanagan and Hank Jones far more in these days. How about you?

Do you know a Japanese pop played by Pink Martini?

This is my favorite Saori, the lady singer who recorded pure Japanese song with Pink Martini lately. It's been a while since I heard this song last time. I got tear comes out pretty hard. I can't guess teh reason.



This arrangement itself is rather new. I remember that the original had been played slower. I'm not sure now, it's been long time ago, some 40 years back, you know. 40 years has been a long but short while. That was when I got married with my first wife. The life was full of hope and joy and expectation from others. Well, I should settle myself for having those days.

She has exceptionally beautiful voice, don't you think? And her face does represent the beauty of ancient Japan. No, don't take me wrong. The face of 6th to 10th century Japan. Her face represents a typical impression of Japanese women with slit eyes on oval and smooth blank face for the foreigners, right?

Is she a beauty? No, not in the modern sense but she sure is an adult lady worth earning respect.

Americans, how do you think foreignes playing jazz?

Ever listened to jazz music played by foreigners, you Americans? Being a foreigner I have been wondering for long time what it could be like.

We, had encountered a debut of foreigner as the "Enka" signer in 2008. It finally made me understand what it was like. The beautiful music is the music and nothing but the music, that what I've found.

There is this Japanese specific category of music called "Enka", It is like American country music, I assume. A foreigner has made his debut as the "Enka" singer in 2008. He was born in Pittsburgh, PA, 26 years old, a quarter of Japanese and American and named "Jero".
When I heard him the first time, I had been bewildered a bit. He has a face of foreigner yet sings beautiful Enka. Most of us, Japanese welcome his debut and he is active singing here.

The melody line is written in minor scale and sounds like there is the fixed grammar for the composition. Yes, I've meant to say that they sound pretty much same.

What you listen to is the verse.

I reckon in these days that I had been too easy to get into tear by listening to Enka and that could be the reason why I started to play piano jazz myself. Since "Enka" has nothing without its verse. On the other hand jazz sounds beatiful without any verse at all. Right! you can filter through your nerve touching particles out from the music and can enjoy the rhythm, melody and technicality of the players along with their personality.



Ever heard this? merci beaucoup! Michel Petrucciani, piano player. He is a foreigner, a French. He has his style and we can enjoy if we don't know the French language, right?