DECEMBER 2013 : performances by Samm Bennett and his various bands
WED 12/4 : SOLO, presenting photos
with specially written accompanying songs
for PechaKucha Night 109, at Super Deluxe, Tokyo
As some of you may know, I am an avid photographer (check my photosets at Flickr) and on this PechaKucha night I'll be presenting some of them, as large projections, with accompanying mini-songs composed specially for each photograph. Something a little different, that I'm really looking forward to presenting. Of course there'll be plenty of other presenters at the always interesting PechaKucha.
with specially written accompanying songs
for PechaKucha Night 109, at Super Deluxe, Tokyo
As some of you may know, I am an avid photographer (check my photosets at Flickr) and on this PechaKucha night I'll be presenting some of them, as large projections, with accompanying mini-songs composed specially for each photograph. Something a little different, that I'm really looking forward to presenting. Of course there'll be plenty of other presenters at the always interesting PechaKucha.
THU 12/5 : with SWAMP ROOT JIMMIES
at Foxhole, Kichijoji, Tokyo
東京都武蔵野市吉祥寺本町1-32-11 ﾀｶﾑﾗﾋﾞﾙBF
TEL: 0422-20-5025
19:00 open / 20:00 start - entry: 1000 yen + drink
I'm hoping as many friends and interested listeners as possible will come out to hear the premiere performance of my newest band, the Swamp Root Jimmies. Those of you who remember my old trio the Smoke Benders will know what a supremely funky groovemeister Naoya Numa is, and I'm delighted to have him on the drums once again in this new unit. On the big bass fiddle there's the irrepressible Keigo Iwami, one of the most joyously vibrant players I know of on the Tokyo scene. He has an absolutely top sense of rhythm and timing. The overall vibe of the band is an easy loping and rolling and tumbling Southern R&B, that leans heavily into a New Orleans direction. Hints of Africanesque pulse and healthy dollops of the blues will make their way into the mix as well. We'll be doing a selection of original songs I've chosen especially for their compatability with this band. Gonna be big, rollicking fun, I'm telling ya! Don't miss it!
About the venue: The Foxhole is a comfortable and relatively spacious room: you won't feel all jammed up there. It's a quick and easy walk from JR Kichijoji station (Sobu/Chuo line). Just come out at the North exit (not the Park exit) - that's the one that faces the bus plaza. Then walk along the tracks in the direction of Nakano/Shinjuku. You'll first (immediately) cross the big two-way street, then it's just another four streets (on your left side - on your right is the tracks) til the Foxhole. If you pass the 7-11, you've gone too far! The walk takes about 2 minutes.
Foxhole website - Google map to Foxhole - Facebook event page (let us know if you're coming!)
at Foxhole, Kichijoji, Tokyo
東京都武蔵野市吉祥寺本町1-32-11 ﾀｶﾑﾗﾋﾞﾙBF
TEL: 0422-20-5025
19:00 open / 20:00 start - entry: 1000 yen + drink
I'm hoping as many friends and interested listeners as possible will come out to hear the premiere performance of my newest band, the Swamp Root Jimmies. Those of you who remember my old trio the Smoke Benders will know what a supremely funky groovemeister Naoya Numa is, and I'm delighted to have him on the drums once again in this new unit. On the big bass fiddle there's the irrepressible Keigo Iwami, one of the most joyously vibrant players I know of on the Tokyo scene. He has an absolutely top sense of rhythm and timing. The overall vibe of the band is an easy loping and rolling and tumbling Southern R&B, that leans heavily into a New Orleans direction. Hints of Africanesque pulse and healthy dollops of the blues will make their way into the mix as well. We'll be doing a selection of original songs I've chosen especially for their compatability with this band. Gonna be big, rollicking fun, I'm telling ya! Don't miss it!
About the venue: The Foxhole is a comfortable and relatively spacious room: you won't feel all jammed up there. It's a quick and easy walk from JR Kichijoji station (Sobu/Chuo line). Just come out at the North exit (not the Park exit) - that's the one that faces the bus plaza. Then walk along the tracks in the direction of Nakano/Shinjuku. You'll first (immediately) cross the big two-way street, then it's just another four streets (on your left side - on your right is the tracks) til the Foxhole. If you pass the 7-11, you've gone too far! The walk takes about 2 minutes.
Foxhole website - Google map to Foxhole - Facebook event page (let us know if you're coming!)
SUN 12/8 ; with THIRD PERSON
featuring Makigami Koichi
at Lady Jane, Shimokitazawa, Tokyo
世田谷区代沢5-31-14 TEL: 03-3412-3947
2 sets - first set starts 7:30pm
entry: 3000yen (2700 yen w/ reservation) + drink
Umezu Kazutoki and I are once again firing up the ol'
Third Person machine, and our special guest this time is amazing vocalist and theremin player Koichi Makigami.
It'll be an evening of tight and adventurous improvisations in the patented 3P style, with major dollops of humor and whimsy amidst the concentrated intensity.
Lady Jane website - Tokyo gig guide page for Lady Jane - Google map to Lady Jane
featuring Makigami Koichi
at Lady Jane, Shimokitazawa, Tokyo
世田谷区代沢5-31-14 TEL: 03-3412-3947
2 sets - first set starts 7:30pm
entry: 3000yen (2700 yen w/ reservation) + drink
Umezu Kazutoki and I are once again firing up the ol'
Third Person machine, and our special guest this time is amazing vocalist and theremin player Koichi Makigami.
It'll be an evening of tight and adventurous improvisations in the patented 3P style, with major dollops of humor and whimsy amidst the concentrated intensity.
Lady Jane website - Tokyo gig guide page for Lady Jane - Google map to Lady Jane
WED 12/11 : with bondage artist Arisue Go
at Ringoya, Ikebukuro, Tokyo
open 18:30 - start 19:00
advance￥3000 - door ￥3500
This will be the the 4th time I've joined rope master Arisue Go for one of his amazing bondage performances. Joining me as musical accompanist will be the great Jyoji Sawada (the other half of my duo unit the Dosages) on bass and guitar. As Go-san expertly ties various young women up and suspends them from the rafters in a mind-boggling array of positions, Sawada-san and I will offer our musical interpretations of the esoteric proceedings.
Facebook page for this event - Arisue Go website - Ringoya website
at Ringoya, Ikebukuro, Tokyo
open 18:30 - start 19:00
advance￥3000 - door ￥3500
This will be the the 4th time I've joined rope master Arisue Go for one of his amazing bondage performances. Joining me as musical accompanist will be the great Jyoji Sawada (the other half of my duo unit the Dosages) on bass and guitar. As Go-san expertly ties various young women up and suspends them from the rafters in a mind-boggling array of positions, Sawada-san and I will offer our musical interpretations of the esoteric proceedings.
Facebook page for this event - Arisue Go website - Ringoya website
FRI 12/20 : SOLO, as part of an event to celebrate the surreal poetry of Shozo Torii
at Tokyo Salon, Jingumae, Tokyo
東京都渋谷区神宮前5-47-6 TEL: 03-3407-5028
open 18:30 - start 19:30
Charge: ¥3,000 includes a copy of the English book of translations Bearded Cones & Pleasure Blades and a drink,
or copies of both Japanese and the English edition for ¥5,000
Shozo Torii was a much celebrated surrealist/modernist poet, and this evening will be a celebration of his works. I'll be making some musical accompaniment to English translations of his poetry, as well as making some of my own solo music as part of the evening.
My partner in Third Person, winds player Umezu Kazutoki, will also be appearing!
Tokyo Salon website - map and directions
Facebook event page
Read some of Torii Shozo's poetry (translated by Taylor Mignon) HERE
at Tokyo Salon, Jingumae, Tokyo
東京都渋谷区神宮前5-47-6 TEL: 03-3407-5028
open 18:30 - start 19:30
Charge: ¥3,000 includes a copy of the English book of translations Bearded Cones & Pleasure Blades and a drink,
or copies of both Japanese and the English edition for ¥5,000
Shozo Torii was a much celebrated surrealist/modernist poet, and this evening will be a celebration of his works. I'll be making some musical accompaniment to English translations of his poetry, as well as making some of my own solo music as part of the evening.
My partner in Third Person, winds player Umezu Kazutoki, will also be appearing!
Tokyo Salon website - map and directions
Facebook event page
Read some of Torii Shozo's poetry (translated by Taylor Mignon) HERE
THU 12/26 : DUO with Michio Karimata
at Last Waltz, Shibuya, Tokyo
Yachiyo Building B1F, 2-12-13 Shibuya
This will be the 4th duo improvisation meeting of Samm and multi-instrumentalist Michio Karimata. It's been a rather different sonic experience each time around, so expect the unexpected!
Schedule:
open - 18:30
start - 19:30 with Arthmic puzl,
next up: イタチョコ=ラショウ（masked dance voice & guitar)
and at 21:00: Bennett/Karimata Duo
Last Waltz website - Tokyo Gig Guide page for Last Waltz (includes map) - Google map to Last Waltz
CHECK THESE VIDEOS FROM BENNETT/KARIMATA DUO:
at Last Waltz, Shibuya, Tokyo
Yachiyo Building B1F, 2-12-13 Shibuya
This will be the 4th duo improvisation meeting of Samm and multi-instrumentalist Michio Karimata. It's been a rather different sonic experience each time around, so expect the unexpected!
Schedule:
open - 18:30
start - 19:30 with Arthmic puzl,
next up: イタチョコ=ラショウ（masked dance voice & guitar)
and at 21:00: Bennett/Karimata Duo
Last Waltz website - Tokyo Gig Guide page for Last Waltz (includes map) - Google map to Last Waltz
CHECK THESE VIDEOS FROM BENNETT/KARIMATA DUO: