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.

Three singers from Sixties, Anita, Carmen and Nina

In alphabetical order, that is.

I didn't realize that Carmen was this beauty. I am wondering if she is the person who I saw and listened to playing piano with her own trio at 1967 Newport Jazz Fes. That was much too earthy.

I didn't have a chance to hear her live while living in Ft. Lee, NJ. But I had a chance to listen to this lady, Anita O'day at Five Spot. I think it was there. But this is kind of surprise Anita singing a part of saxophone of Woody Herman. Besides, it's nice to see Carmen making a comment on Anita.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdHMAzN2Hxk

I cannot bring in this video. So I recommend you to check it clicking on URL.

"Anita O'day Three Sound" was the first record I bought on her. It is nostalgic just looking at Verve mark, doesn't it.



Now I've found the lady I saw at the Newport Jazz Festival. It was Nina Simone. She sounds earthy though not that much as I remember. But I must correct my impression because of this video. She must come from wealthy family. She knows how Bach was. So. . . .?

Ella with trio. She is vivid.

Ella Fitzgerald, she doesn't look like how she sound. Tha was my first impression seeing her. That was at Macormick Place, Chicago in 1967. She was backed by Oscar Perterson Trio. So, I remember. But not sure now. Tha was piano trio anyway. That is sure thing.

Till then I have heard her with big bands. That was rather noise to me and I was not the eagar listner of her. But this session gave me the quite different sound that I like. One is that her scat sound much more vivid that that with big band.

Listen to this one. She is beautiful. I won't send his kind of high notes to Ella for sure or rather I'd be quiet and let base to the work. That should have been much nicer.