MAY 2017 : Live shows by Samm Bennett and his various bands
MON 5/1 : with BANDA CHORO ELETRICO
at Praça Onze (Aoyama) Tokyo (near Omote-Sando station exit A3)
open:18:30 start:19:30 (2 sets) - entry: ¥2800 + order
open:18:30 start:19:30 (2 sets) - entry: ¥2800 + order
BANDA CHORO ELETRICO is a big, ecstatic and totally grooving Brazilian music unit led by bassist and composer extraordinaire Sawada Jyoji. The full membership clocks in at about, oh, 15 musicians or so, and includes brilliant flutist Ogata Mitsuru and slamming drummer Numa Noaya. (Numa-san and Sawada-san happen to be members of The Smoky Dose, and you might've heard us at some point doing more improvised groove-based stuff). But EVERYBODY in this band is killer, I ain't lying.
For me this band is a chance to get back to being a percussionist, adding spice and color to the musical proceedings with shakers, bells, bongos, woodblocks, whistles, rattles, scrapers and various other items, as well as the CUICA, which I love playing but outside of this format have little chance to! Anyway, if you are a fan of samba or choro or baiao-style groove, and if you are a fan of, say Hermeto Pascoal or Tom Zé, you will LOVE Banda Choro Eletrico. Check it out.
For me this band is a chance to get back to being a percussionist, adding spice and color to the musical proceedings with shakers, bells, bongos, woodblocks, whistles, rattles, scrapers and various other items, as well as the CUICA, which I love playing but outside of this format have little chance to! Anyway, if you are a fan of samba or choro or baiao-style groove, and if you are a fan of, say Hermeto Pascoal or Tom Zé, you will LOVE Banda Choro Eletrico. Check it out.
Below: at-a-glance map to Praça Onze - need more detail? Go to Google Map
WED 5/3 : Samm Bennett's String'n'drums TRIO
w/ Habu Hiroshi & Mutsumi Kobayashi, as part of "Oktoberfest / World Soul Food Festival"
at Komozawa Olympic Park, Tokyo
(near Komazawa-daigaku station, Den-en-Toshi line)
15:00~16:00 (1 hour set) - FREE
(near Komazawa-daigaku station, Den-en-Toshi line)
15:00~16:00 (1 hour set) - FREE
Those of you who've heard my duo band with percussionist Habu Hiroshi know that he is a solid, soulful rhythmist, and has a few dance moves as well! Our duo is called S&H. For this special performance, we'll be joined by a 2nd percussionist, the talented and effervescent Kobayashi Mutsumi (known to friends as Muupy). I'll be playing the 3-string guitar and singing songs with these two drumming dynamos, so the energy is gonna be strong.
As will be the BEER! This is an Oktoberfest event, and there'll be a whole buncha German (and other) brews available, as well as a varied menu of beer-friendly foods. Various other performers will be onstage (before and after our set at 3PM), and the whole thing looks like fun. Come on out for the Golden Week festivities enjoy some food and drink and live music!
As will be the BEER! This is an Oktoberfest event, and there'll be a whole buncha German (and other) brews available, as well as a varied menu of beer-friendly foods. Various other performers will be onstage (before and after our set at 3PM), and the whole thing looks like fun. Come on out for the Golden Week festivities enjoy some food and drink and live music!
Below: at-a-glance map to Komazawa Park- need more detail? Go to Google Map
SUN 5/21 : KING CAKE BABY - "New Orleans Sounds for Tokyo Town"
at What the Dickens (Ebisu) Tokyo
music from 8 to 11 (3 sets) - FREE entry
music from 8 to 11 (3 sets) - FREE entry
Time once again, friends, to take that boat to the land of dreams, heaven on earth, they call it... New Orleans! Yours truly Samm Bennett on drums and vocal, Matt G on the keys, Huw Lloyd on clarinet and Hisa Nakase on bass. We play those timeless tunes made famous by Louisiana luminaries like Dr John, Professor Longhair, the Meters, Huey "Piano" Smith and many more. Bringing in some new original tunes this time around as well, with that New Orleans flavor, naturally. Come on down to the Dickens, where the pints are fresh and the pies are sliced! Mmmmm-MMMMM! Check out King Cake Baby HERE.
Below: at-a-glance map to What the Dickens. Need more detail? Go to the Google map.
Below: at-a-glance map to What the Dickens. Need more detail? Go to the Google map.
SUN 2/28 : Samm Bennett SOLO
at Alpha Beta Coffee Club, Jiyugaoka, Tokyo
open 17:00 - music from 18:00 to 21:00 - 1000 yen entry
open 17:00 - music from 18:00 to 21:00 - 1000 yen entry
It'll be songs, songs, songs on Sunday evening at the brand-spanking new Alpha Beta Coffee Club, where they take equal pride in their coffee AND their craft beer. This will be the premiere concert of a new series sponsored by the wonderful people of ABREWCADABREW, who, as you might've guessed, are SERIOUS about their beer! Gonna be a fun and relaxed evening, I reckon, with three sets of music plus ample break time for jolly conversation and such. And the early start means that your Sunday music enjoyment won't have to run too late for you to get up and do whatever you gotta do on Monday morning. Come join us!
Below: at-a-glance map to Alpha Beta Coffe Club. Need more detail? Go to the Google Map
WED 5/31 : Samm Bennett SOLO + Jean-paul Richard SOLO
at LOWN (Shimokitazawa) Tokyo
open 18:30 - music from 20:00 to 23:00 - PASS THE HAT donations for music
open 18:30 - music from 20:00 to 23:00 - PASS THE HAT donations for music
LOWN is an intimate and comfortable venue very conveniently located in Shimokitazawa, and the sound there is very good.. This will be my second time to play there, and I'll be doing a solo set of original tunes accompanying myself on the three-string guitar.
Joining me on the bill will be French bluesman Jean-paul Richard, with his idiosyncratic take on Delta blues and perhaps some tunes from his native France, and a bit of Irish flavor thrown in for good measure.
Joining me on the bill will be French bluesman Jean-paul Richard, with his idiosyncratic take on Delta blues and perhaps some tunes from his native France, and a bit of Irish flavor thrown in for good measure.
Below: At-a-glance map to LOWN - Need more detail? Go to the Google map.