DECEMBER 2016 : Live shows by Samm Bennett and his various ensembles
Hello friends, Samm Bennett here, hoping to see you at one or more of these upcoming shows!
SUN 12/4 : Samm Bennett meets Huw Lloyd
at Our Space, Hatagaya (Shibuya), Tokyo - open: 19:30 / start 20:00 - ¥2500 entry
Some of you might know Huw Lloyd as the clarinet maestro in my New Orleans Mardi Gras style band King Cake Baby. You may also know him as a creative improvisor and composer and the "operator" of what is most likely the most enormous bass clarinet in all of Tokyo. Well, we're joining forces for a special evening of music: I'll be drumming to some of his new compositions, and he'll be helping me out on the big bass clarinet for some of my new tunes.
More details at this Facebook event page.
SUN 12/11 : KING CAKE BABY - "Mardi Gras Sounds for Tokyo Town"
at What The Dickens, Ebisu, Tokyo, Roob 6 Bldg., 4th floor / music from 8-ish to 11-ish - FREE!
If you love the classic New Orleans R&B sounds of legends like Professor Longhair, James Booker, Dr. John, the Meters and more, you do not want to miss King Cake Baby. We're bringing it to you like nobody else in this town can. Come on down for a dancing good time, y'all.
This will be the full quartet version of the band: Matt G on piano, Huw Lloyd on clarinet, Hisa Nakase on bass and yours truly on drums and vocal. Got some new tunes up our sleeves for you, as well as a host of old favorites.
This will be the full quartet version of the band: Matt G on piano, Huw Lloyd on clarinet, Hisa Nakase on bass and yours truly on drums and vocal. Got some new tunes up our sleeves for you, as well as a host of old favorites.
Below: at-a-glance map to What the Dickens. Need more detail? Go to the Google map.
SUN 12/12 : SOLO, + COMRADES, Robert Taira Wilson & PERPETUAL
at Gabi Gabi, Shibuya, Tokyo - start: 20:00 - FREE entry (one drink minimum)
I'll be doing a solo set of songs and such, as part of "Gabi Gabi International Night", along with singer/songwriter Robert Taira Wilson,
the band PERPETUAL, and the Comrades. Schedule: 8:00 - 8: 35 Takashi Umemiya & Comrades 8:40 - 9:15 Samm Bennet 9:20 - 9:55 Robert Taira Wilson 10:00 - 10:35 Perpetual Gabi Gabi website |
Below: at-a-glance map to Gabi Gabi. Need more detail? Go to the Google map to Gabi Gabi
THU 12/15 : Lyall-Bennett-Shimaji TRIO
at Hikari No Uma, Okubo, Tokyo - open 19:00 - start 20:00 (2 sets) - entry: 2000 yen + drink
This will be the 2nd outing for this new trio formation, and I'm really looking forward to it. Cal Lyall (on electric guitar) is a musician I've been happy to work with in the context of another band, Communists From Outer Space (along with psychedelic guitar maestro Tabata Mitsuru). Masahico Shimaji (from yet another band I'm in, Mechanical Bear) is putting a solid and funky bass underpinning to this trio, though, and with Cal bringing his Africanesque rhythmic patterns and improvisational sonic edge to the proceedings, this unit is a rather different experience from the Communists or the Bear. The energy is high, as is the groove quotient. Oh, and as for me, I'll be on the drums, with maybe a wee bit of vocalizing here and there. It's basically a groove thing.
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DIRECTIONS to HIKARI NO UMA:
10 seconds from South Exit of Okubo Station (JR Sobu Line) Get out from South Exit (smaller exit - rear of train if coming from Shinjuku - front of train if coming from Nakano), go right out of the ticket gate and immediately turn right onto the first street there. Walk along raised railway about 10 seconds (tracks on your right). Hikari No Uma ( ひかりのうま ) will be on your left. OR... from Shin-Okubo Station (JR Yamanote Line) Go out the station exit and turn LEFT. Walk about 5 minute till you arrive at JR Okubo station. Turn left immediately after crossing under tracks. Walk along that street, tracks will be on your left. Hikari No Uma ( ひかりのうま ) will be on your right after about 2 minutes. Total walking time from JR Shin-Okubo station is about 7 to 8 minutes. |
At-a-glance: Google map to Hikari No Uma. Need more detail? Go to Google Map to Hikari No Uma
SAT 12/17 : "Three Views on the Blues"
at Never Never Land, Shimokitazawa, Tokyo
open 19:00 / start 20:00 - entry: 1000 yen plus drink
open 19:00 / start 20:00 - entry: 1000 yen plus drink
Come one, come all, to this special evening of SOLOS by yours truly, French roots/blues/Celtic stringman Jean-paul Richard, and unique blues stylist Brutha White. It's "three views on the blues" at the friendly, well-worn Never Never Land, down in deepest Shimokitazawa! A fine place to let your hair down and dig some relaxed and spontaneous musical fun!
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Google Map to Never Never Land
DIRECTIONS TO NEVER NEVER LAND: Take a right turn out of the north exit at Shimokitazawa station. Walk straight along the pedestrian shopping street (past Caldi Coffee Farm and Segafredo) until you come to a T-intersection. Turn right again and walk a short block till you see the giant Pepsi can and the MOS BURGER. Turn left there, then right again at the next T-intersection. You will see a big SHIMOKITAZAWA sign at the end of that street. There you take a left, and you will soon see NOAH SOUND STUDIO. Never Never Land is directly acrosss the street from NOAH, on the second floor, just above the smaller NOAH Piano Annex.
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MON 12/19 : The SMOKY DOSE + Jyoji Sawada duo + more
at Showboat, Koenji, Tokyo
open 18:30 / start 19:00 adv.¥3000 / door ¥3500
(Showboat website with links to advance ticket puchase info [Japanese language only] HERE
open 18:30 / start 19:00 adv.¥3000 / door ¥3500
(Showboat website with links to advance ticket puchase info [Japanese language only] HERE
I'm very excited to announce the revival of The Smoky Dose, featuring yours truly Samm Bennett (vocal and mystery instruments) - Numa Naoya (drums) and Sawada Jyoji (bass). We did a couple of shows back in 2012, and then the project went on hold for 4 years. But we're BACK! Come check us out! The opening set that night will be Sawada Jyoji's solo, where you'll get to hear some of his sublime guitar work on a batch of his original songs. Two other acts on the bill as well:
大島輝之 vo.g + 武田理沙 vo.key
and
Re:Served Momoko Motion(モモコモーション) and NOEMI
大島輝之 vo.g + 武田理沙 vo.key
and
Re:Served Momoko Motion(モモコモーション) and NOEMI
Check this video from one of our shows in 2012. We'll be up to stuff like this and more:
THU 12/22 : THIRD PERSON (Bennett, Umezu and guests)
at Pit Inn, Shinjuku 3-chome, Tokyo
open 19:30 / start 20:00 - entry: 3000 yen (includes 1 drink)
open 19:30 / start 20:00 - entry: 3000 yen (includes 1 drink)

Delighted to be making a joyful noise once again with my improvising partner Umezu Kazutoki, who plays about 500 different horns. And all of them VERY well. Read about Third Person HERE, then come see the show!