ValerieB

count me in with the group who didn't even know she was still alive. amazing!

very funny freudian slip!!

i, too, have been fortunate to hear phil play quite a few times in recent months. and to echo others, he looks and sounds great. he's a lucky guy but has been through some tough times, for sure.

this wonderful person/talent is breaking out!!!! MONDAY MICHIRU NEWSLETTER Almost Halloween, 2006 The leaves are beginning to turn by our house and I have been enjoying picking apples with my son for my yummy tart tartin, making pumpkin soup and fig tarts, and slowly pulling out my sweaters for the cooler weather. A lot has been going on, so let me update you! November 3 -- THE MAT'S Opening Ishikawa Event -- In just a couple weeks I'll be in Japan again JUST for this one event put together by saxophonist Kayoko Kimura (who was my band regular, played in and also arranged some horn section parts, while I lived in Japan in the late 90s) in her hometown. Featuring a 3 part series of performances, the first is with myself and guitarist Naohiko Higuchi in a duet setting with Kimura-san and several others sitting in, as well as former YMO manipulator Hideki Matsutake in a talk session about "jizake," or local sake, and the other 2 parts with Kimura-san and her session, and Jazztronik in a DJ session. We're on first at 3:00 p.m. The MAT's Opening Event 13-18 Doihara-Machi, Komatsu, Ishikawa-ken http://tickets.yahoo.co.jp/category_detail? id=d987239a2fa0165370784c93c472d196&pc=241661&no=157668&dt=20061103&a=05 &dg=01&sg=10201&do=aHR0cDovL3RpY2tldHMueWFob28uY28uanAvY2F0ZWdvcnlfbGlzd D9hPTA1JmRnPTAxJnNnPTEwMjAx November 24 & 25 JakJazz Festival -- The air tickets are bought, and it looks like it's happening! We're going to be in Jakarta for the JakJazz Festival which I am very excited about! The festival itself is from November 24-26. For more information, check: www.jakjazz.com December 1-13 in Japan -- The tour is coming together, and while there are some dates that are for private parties, most are public and I hope to see you there! Please check my events schedule for further information on dates, etc. I'll do another blast before we go on the road. RECORDINGS -- I am overwhelmed and excited about several collaboration recordings I'm involved with: Single with my mother, Toshiko Akiyoshi, of "Hope" -- For those of you who are fans of my mother, you might know her tune "Hope" which is part of the bigger composition written by her and commissioned by the town of Hiroshima entitled "Peace." I was asked to sing this tune in Japanese, the lyrics written by a famous Japanese lyricist, for her upcoming reunion big band concert in Suntory Hall on December 4th. Since then, Crown Records, the company she has been recording with for many years now, decided they would like to commemorate the concert with a single of this tune, and my mother asked me to write the English lyrics. She makes a good point in that lyrics take away the abstract feeling that only instrumentals can express, and it felt a little blasphemous writing lyrics to one of her compositions that will be left behind in a recording. She felt that a direct translation of the Japanese lyrics might be impossible; however, I felt that the Japanese lyrics were so beautiful and pure, and decided to challenge myself in doing a translation, or an adaptation if you will, into English, and I believe I came up with something that is pretty close in line with the Japanese lyrics. We will be recording this coming Saturday, October 21, in both Japanese and English versions. The single will be released the same day at the Suntory Hall concert, December 4, 2006. Jazzida Grande -- I'm not familiar with them personally, but apparently they are a Japanese indies group who have done quite well in sales and have a nice following, I would say in the nu-acid jazz movement that seems to continue in Japan. They wrote the tune, melody and very elaborate arrangement included (Dave Darlington commented on the Kenny "Dope"-esque hi-hats!), and I contributed lyrics and the vocals with my usual vocal arrangement embellishments -- entitled "Release Your Light." To be released in February or March of 2007, possibly in a collaboration before the end of the year. Yellowtail and Part Time Heroes collaborations -- Some of you know of my love for myspace.com even though it gets knocked by the media a lot. At 118 million plus members (and growing!), you're gonna get weirdos, true, but it also has a healthy number of fellow artists who have formed a community on the site, and I've been fortunate to be in touch with some who have done collaborations on my project, and I on theirs. Two of those collaborations are with Yellowtail, a very talented Japanese fellow based in Brooklyn who does some real dope tracks that is part Brooklyn, part ear-on-the-ground broken beats with his own flavors, and the other with the Part Time Heroes based in London, who are, as Gilles Peterson himself says, a jazzier Zero 7 -- VERY talented guys with great musical vision and grooves. Both have done remixes for me, which I will be releasing in the near future (more on that later), and I have in turn offered my writing and vocal skills to their tracks, which have come out REALLY cool! More information on releases as they transpire. Jazztronik "Tiger Eyes" English Version -- Well, this one came as a surprise! I'm an admirer of this talented unit, and had indirectly been involved in projects with them (they remixed "Talk" and Nozaki-san was co-writer for Mondo Grosso's "Star Suite"), but this is the first time I'll be doing something directly with them. They first approached me to write a translation/adaptation of the lyrics to their track "Tiger Eyes," the Japanese version sang by Fukko of Core of Soul. I guess they went into the studio and it was a little difficult to match the melody to the lyrics, always tricky when you're dealing in a language that is not your own and don't have the lyricist (me) there to work it through. So now they've approached me to do the song in English, which should be interesting and a challenge. More information on the release later. November issue of Tokyo Calendar on News Stands -- This is the shoot I did with my husband and two other great musicians, drummer Antonio Sanchez and guitarist David Gilmore, modeling clothing by Paul Stuart. I'll be uploading some shots from the day of the shoot after its release on October 21st. December issue of Straight -- Straight decided to do a special on New York jazz clubs, and the editor in charge of this special, Mr. Yoji Nagasawa, asked me to help recommend and round-together a list of clubs in New York, which I was more than happy to do. We also coordinated interviews with my husband, and also my step-father, Lew Tabackin, as well as with rising star pianist Hiromi Uehara. It involved a few days of shooting in Manhattan, two of which I partaked in -- I even got to make a run to the famous Italian bakery on Bleeker in Greenwich Village for some canoli treats! This will be coming out on November 28th. Other News -- This is already getting too long, so I'll try and make the rest short! The "ROUTES" Live in Japan DVDs were sent to my gold participants as a perk for their generous involvement in helping to get the project off the ground, thank you Timmy and Mark -- hope you got and dug 'em! For you hardcore manga fans, if you're hip to "Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu" which was a huge hit in Japan and Europe and for which I wrote the theme songs back in the day, there's talk of pachinko games featuring these characters and the songs! Indies singer Risako releases her debut album on November 22nd in Japan, "Lotus Color" in which she did a touching version of my song "I'm Still Here" -- thank you Risako, and good luck! Jazz Brat fans anywhere? Or perhaps some real life jazz brats? If you don't know what I'm talking about, my 1995 album was entitled "Jazz Brat" which I stole from Don Cherry's mouth after I did an interview with him in 1992, where he referred to his children and other children of jazz musicians as "jazz brats." We made promo T-shirts in 1995 upon the release of my namesake album, and now that my son is older, he fits into and is wearing my Jazz Brat T-shirts! We have a lot of jazz musician friends who have had children recently, which has inspired me to design JAZZ BRAT T-shirts 21st century style! More on that as it develops New ArtistShare Project Launch Soon! For real!! I'm working on putting together a remix EP of the "Routes" material, which I am going to entitle "Alternate Routes," and anticipate release at the launch of the new ArtistShare project hopefully by January of 2007! Christian Ericson, another talented person I met through myspace and who, among other things, worked on the recent ArtistShare Brian Lynch and Eddie Palmieri album (I introduced them!) and doing work for the Marley camp, will be putting together the visuals with his art direction, graphics and whatnot. Please check back for more information and updates. I'm totally psyched! I've also got some new pictures and blogs up in both the "Routes project" pages (click the ArtistShare link on the top right of my homepage) and my home site, so check 'em out. **** Well, as you can see, the colder weather has not slowed me down in the least, and if anything, I feel more revitalized than ever, hungry to create more and ready to dive into it. But first things first -- tours in Indonesia and Japan, and helping out my husband's ArtistShare project which we haven't even begun -- HELP! But it's all good and positive. Y'all be safe, healthy and be full of positivity! peace, Monday Michiru www.mondaymichiru.com

not only is the pony tail gone but most of the facial hair and the theatrics! he made me a fan as a result of his eclectic performances at monterey this year. before that, i didn't really care for him. he's a talented, very knowledgeable performer. and i think a good guy besides. during an interview, he even spoke about the changes in his style, saying something like, "with time can come some wisdom".

got to hear the gig at the blue note on the second night. paquito d'rivera sat in. loved antonio hart. it was a wonderful evening in spite of bill cosby's not-so-funny adlibs. jimmy was actually funnier than cosby with his asides and intros! can't wait for the book!

and don't forget Renee Taylor that night at Vibrato!! and i heard your fabulous Mom last night. she was absolutely wonderful. she does the most amazing things with that voice of hers - and with such ease! thoroughly enjoyed myself.

larry: that must have been some interview! was she sick at that time? do you know what caused her death? i'd be very interested to read your interview. i knew helen (and lee) slightly in the '60s and '70s.

i heard/read that Lidle was killed in the crash.

i'm just glad that he received a lot of recognition and "props" this last year. in fact, his demanding schedule as a result of that proved too much for him to deal with. it should definitely have happened earlier in his life but at least it did happen and he knew he was very much respected and appreciated.

there is a fabulous jazz calendar available every year, at least in california, by a wonderful artist by the name of Ramsess. they're all excellent likenesses of the musicians in large size. and i believe the price is only $10 or close to that. it was on sale at the monterey jazz festival.

actually, i'm pretty sure i was there both years.

20 minutes?!? i sure don't remember it being anything but a full set which probably would have been 60-90 minutes. i'm fortunate to have heard Mingus in Calif. but even more so to have heard him more times than i can count in NY!

bravo, matthew, for your comments. i agree with you wholeheartedly. these "punks" who are so rude would probably never, ever have the guts to talk like that to someone's face! they're very brave though sitting behind their computers. pathetic is what they are.

it takes my breath away to say/think/write it, but i was there!!! and it was my very first monterey jazz festival.

i am so thrilled that things are happening for ms. monday! here's to more and more!

is think it's very true that he's a really nice, sincere person. he's also a good singer but obviously not everyone's cup of tea. sort of like mark murphy.

Yes. He plays at Ortlieb's several times every month. In addition to Jazzmatazz, this site also provides a schedule of upcoming events. Thank you for the website. I am looking forward to seeing Mickey Roker! mickey is one of my all-time favorite drummers. i knew him in the '60s and '70s when we both lived in nyc but haven't seen him much since then. i think the last time i saw him was in monterey several years back. if you get to talk with him, please tell him that valerie bishop sends her love all the way from los angeles! enjoy, jazzmessenger. i know you will.

I might have been at the Cecil Payne gig. Now that I think of it. I've been three times--Cecil, Houston Person and Jimmy McGriff . . . i was there for a cecil payne gig years ago with walter booker and richard wyands. club is pretty funky and the ladies room was "memorable"! LOL!

i will definitely keep him in my prayers and joshua as well.

sending lots of love and very best wishes to wayne-o!! and here's to many more happy, healthy ones!!

i played this at work without the sound but still enjoyed it. what a woman! what a mother! what a talent! look forward to hearing it later. thanks so much JSngry!

hi, bertrand. if he had had heart surgery, he would have had to be off the scene for quite awhile. i don't remember any long absences in recent times, do you?

he's most definitely been ill for awhile now but no one seems clear as to the problem. diabetes is supposed to be part of the equation.

it's been known for some time by many people that mel is anti-semitic.