Where we were, Remember? that has passed 30 years now

I started from Helen Merrill, I mean jazz vocal. Then got into Cris Conner, and what was the other two who were called as the three daughters of that famous band leader?

My goodness, my memory is getting worse everyday. Sooner or later I might find difficult to remember own name.

Well, the thing is, when I heard Barbara Streisand first time, I was astounded by the high notes she went.

She wasn't my favorite anyway. For one thing is that her back band had always been full orchestra. Never a combo, or is there?



The way we were, remember Robert Redford? I was very much impressed with this song. Reason? yeah she had feeling. or rather, I'd put it that her voice has the expression.

I cannot recall what was with me though, I got tear comes down every time I hear this song with her. . .

It's nice. My mother died in 1973 at her age of 58, too young. I met a girl who is my present wife in 1974. My father died of cancer in 1978. It's been the best years of my life, yeah. And? I ws 30 years old then.

Jazz Messengers, remember?

Again, I'm not sure though, it could have been 1970 in NYC, village gate. I had a chance to listen to Mr. Blakey. I had no idea what had happened to him. He was bad player. Besides, there were no sidemen from this recording session, no Timmons, Gorden, nor Mr. Morgan the trumpet player.


We copied Messengers. The toughest was the Blues March. I had to keep hitting keyboard all the way for 10-15 minutes restless. Mr Timmons in this record represents the era of groove, don't you think? Wow, so nostalgic. The theme of this tune was everywhere in Tokyo during 60es, you cannot believe, yeah but that's the truth I remember. . . . .

The Japanese Pianist Plays aka Erroll Garner, Dreamy

Let me introduce some Japanese Jazz pianists. Those people learned jazz at US military camps in Japan after the WW2. Yes, they were the first generation. Their crest was during 1960es and some to early 70es. The first big band who played at jazz festival was Sharps and Flats in 1968 at Newport Jazz Festival. It could have been 67, I am not sure now. And the ting is that I was there,

They brought shakuhachi, a bamboo flute, that had been used exclusively for Japanese folk music. That was quite impressive. The band leader was one of them, I mean one of the graduates from US army camp.

Now, this person, Mr. Sera is another example. The MC, Ohashi has been popular figure up until 90es. He retired to Canada now. They are talking about the jazz scene of after the WW2. Then Ohashi asks Sera to play aka Garner and Sera did Dreamy.



After the play, Ohashi started to talk about Ray Brown, bassist with Oscar Peterson. One day Ray was talking with Ohashi and said that he wished to play with Garner. Ohashi replied to him that he should not make complaint playing with Peterson. Ray should be feeling utmost happiness doing it.

But Ray said that he wanted to ride along Garner's rhythm. The set up had realized, Ohashi says. Ray Brown looked ecstatic playing with Garner. Sera's play does imitate Graner nicely though, Garner is much more earthy than Sera and this play characterize Japanese jazz scene of later part of 20th century.