“One thing I like about jazz, kid, is that I don’t know what’s going to happen next. Do you?”
-Bix Beiderbecke-
Have you been to a jazz gig and had that same feeling of anticipation Bix mentioned?Well I have and each and everytime it is an awesome and fresh experience.
Just a couple of weeks ago I had the chance to feel that exact same feeling again.It has been awhile since I had been to a jazz gig and it was refreshing.That old feeling felt so new.
I was fortunate enough to be invited to the launch of Tokyo Blue’s debut album The Naked Soul.Groove Junction in Hartamas was the bands venue of choice to not only launch their amazing album but also to give the audience a heart pumping 2 set performance.
Tokyo Blue consists of 3 superbly talented and massively down to earth musicians Hiroaki Maekawa on Bass, Ywenna Carollin on Keys and Joshua Maran on Drums.They formed Tokyo Blue to compose and perform their original instrumental music.In my opinion their decision was a wise one because without them we wouldn’t be listening to Class A music like theirs.
Though the band is prominently leaning towards the jazzier side of music, they sound different especially through one very obvious element of their music which is the drumming.Joshua is heavily influenced by rock.He loves his Nu Metal and Hard Rock stuff and that is why funky, blood pumping, solid drum beats can be heard throughout this album.The main reason I love this band is because they don’t play your usual jazz but they play what I like to call Rock Jazz.A new genre perhaps?Well anything is possible.They have awesome riffs coming from the keyboard, great drum variations and instead of an electric guitar the bass has got all the solo’s covered.
To give you and idea of how tight this trio is, they actually recorded the whole album live as oppose to doing it track by track.They played each song again and again and then chose the recording that sounded the best.It took them 4 to 5 months to get the album recorded and it was produced by their good friend Alex Tan, of StarMount Records.
The songs were inspired mostly by things the band encountered in their lives but ultimately it is up to your imagination and interpretation.”That is the most enjoyable thing about instrumentals”, said the band.This guys definitely bring their soul and passion into their music hence the superior quality and ability for the songs to make an impact on listeners.The band hopes to get more listeners and play in more venues that they have not played in before and hopefully someday be given the opportunity to perform at the Montreal Jazz Fest.
In my books, this guys deserve an ‘A’ and for them to achieve their dream as a band is only going to happen with our support for our local acts.
To know more about the band or to get updated on their coming shows as well as to purchase their album you can add them on Facebook and Myspace .
Homegrown wishes Tokyo Blue all the best!
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