Samm Bennett : Tokyo Live Schedule for September 2024
Full details on all shows coming soon!
Hello friends, Samm Bennett here, extending a warm invitation to join one or more of these upcoming live music events. Support live music! It's good for you!
SAT 9/7 : with Kuwahata (percussion) at Lighthouse (Kokubunji)
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Had a great time with drummer Kuwahata Ryougo at our first gig together, last month at What the Dickens. For our second live meeting, we're happy to be at the lively and friendly Lighthouse in Kokubunji. Free entry there as always, and we'll pass the hat for your kind donations toward the music. I'll be singing a buncha covers and originals, with Kuwahata-san laying down the crucial beats. Come to Lighthouse, where the food is really tasty (no lie!) and the beer selection is excellent.
Google map to Lighthouse
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FRI 9/13 : Samm solo, on a triple bill, at Hikari no Uma (Okubo)
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I'll be turning in a solo set of original and cover songs, and also on the bill will be veteran (some might say legendary) guitarist and singer "Hachi" Kasuga. If you know, you know. Rounding out the bill will be the guitar duo of Masanobu Sekiguchi and Hayashi Reina.
Google map to Hikari no Uma
video directions to Hikari no Uma!
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SAT 9/14 : with Kuwahata (percussion) at Checkerboard (Asagaya)
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Had a great time with drummer Kuwahata Ryougo at our first gig together, last month at What the Dickens. For our third live meeting, we'll be one of four acts on the bill at the tiny, legendary Checkerboard, a short walk from JR Asagaya station. I'll be singing covers and originals, focusing on blues and blues-related material, since that's the Checkerboard vibe, with Kuwahata-san laying down the crucial beats. Hope to see you there. Squeeze on in!
Google map to Checkerboard
Checker Board website
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THU 9/19 : improvised trio w/ Nakanishi Fumihiko & Sawada Jyoji at Ethica (Kamakura)
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Off and on for many years now, I've had the great pleasure of making music with Sawada Jyoji, a supremely talented bassist, pianist and guitarist. Whether in his Brazilian big band, or more often in improvised music settings, it's always a joy to play with Sawada-san. Our most recent improvised collaboration included a guitarist who I hadn't met or heard before, named Nakanishi Fumihiko. But I was knocked out by Nakanishi-san's playing and his virtuosity. Both he and Sawada-san have some pretty deep Brazilian music experience under their belts, and I'd say our trio night at Ethica will feature no shortage of grooves, in Brazilian and related styles. This will be a special evening, friends, hope you can make it.
Google map to Cafe Ethica
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SUN 9/22 : solo, as part of "Tokyo Free Zone #104" at 21st Century (Shinjuku)
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in NiI don't know anything yet about the other acts on the bill, but I'll be turning in a solo set from 18:20 to 18:50. This music series has been going for 24 years, apparently, so, wow, must be some good stuff being presented. Well, anyway, I think I'm good. Or at least, good enough... Full schedule below:
open 16:30 - start 17:00 17:00〜17:30 Chie Kodaira 17:40〜18:10 Sakana no kobone 18:20〜18:50 Samm Bennett 19:00〜19:30 (TBA) About the venue... I'd never heard of this place, and when I looked them up I could see *why* I've never heard of it! Haha! It's basically a karaoke joint, in Nishi Shinjuku, except that there's a live band that customers can sing with. A house band. This "Tokyo Free Zone" event won't be that, though! But here's a link to their English website, just so you get an idea of the "usual" vibe there. Look at your own risk... the site is HERE 21st CENTURY
Dai 12 Sankyo Bldg B1F, 7-13-5 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Google map to 21st Century
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SAT 9/28 : King Cake Baby at Oil City (Asagaya) - w/ double bill TBA
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King Cake Baby plays New Orleans rhythm & blues, of the type created by folks like Dr John, Professor Longhair, the Meters, Lee Dorsey, Huey "Piano" Smith and others. That's our specialty. We like to mix it up, too, with unexpected material by folks like Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, heck, even the gaht-dam Beatles! It's a fun band. We always have fun, and our audiences always have fun. If you like that kinda music, you'll have fun.
As usual at Oil City, this will be a double bill with another band. Don't know who yet, but the proprietor always books something appropriate, always calling it "New Orleans Night". We've always enjoyed the bands they've paired us with there: the booking guy has a good sense for it. As always, it's Matt Gillan on piano and backing vocal, Hisa Nakase on bass and backing vocal, and yours truly on drums and vocal. Hoo nah NAY! Oil City Website
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