May 2022 Live Schedule

May 2022 Live Schedule : Samm Bennett and friends

Hello friends, Samm Bennett here, inviting you to come out and hear some LIVE music.
It's about time, don'tcha think? Here's the details:

SUN MAY 1 : KING CAKE BABY at Moon Stomp, Koenji

The Baby is BACK! We like Moon Stomp cause it's in Koenji and we like Koenji, but most of all because they have an acoustic PIANO. An upright, with all 88 keys relatively intact! So, you hear the music like it oughtta be heard, you dig? Cause piano is at the heart and soul of so much great New Orleans-style rhythm & blues: Professor Longhair, Huey "Piano" Smith, Fats Domino, Dr John... and, yeah, that's the music we play. Even when we do our originals, that New Orleans flavor is there. Yup, that's King Cake Baby. So come hear us, by all means! Yours truly, Samm Bennett, on the drums and vocal, Matt Gillan on piano and backing vocal, and Hisa Nakase on bass and backing vocal. It's always a mighty fine time when KCB brings those joyful noises.

¥2,000 yen entry + 1 drink
Open 19:00 - Start 19:30

SAT MAY 7 : The METAPHORS at Hikari No Uma, Okubo

Facebook event page

Google map to Hikari No Uma

Metaphors info

After a looong hiatus, the Metaphors are back in action! Can't wait to get back into that clickety-clack rhythm action with these two talented souls, Marcos Fernandes and Shimizu Hiroshi. All manner of percussive sound, all kindsa rhythms, with a bit of impromptu vocalizing here and there just for good measure. Also on the bill will be the legendary guitarist and songwriter Kasuga "Hachi" Hirofumi, performing tunes old and new, in a duo format with the bassist from his new trio, Aigos. Also appearing will be experimental song duo 鶯色 (Uguisuiro) with 鈴木美紀子 (Mikiko Suzuki : vocals, guitar) and 山田民族 (Minzoku Yamada vocals, guitar)

¥2,000 yen entry + 1 drink
Open 19:00 - Start 19:30

FRI MAY 13 : Samm Bennett / Makigami Koichi DUO at Bar Isshee, Sendagi

Bar Isshee website

Google map to Bar Isshee

Rhythm Focus Improv Night info

This will be the May installment of my monthly series "Rhythm Focus Improv Night" at Bar Isshee in Sendagi. My guest this month is the astonishing vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Makigami Koichi, a living legend! For full info on this event plus the entire series, please check the dedicated Rhythm Focus Improv Night at the Polarity site HERE

entry: 500 yen bar charge + 1 drink
pass the hat (投げ銭) for musicians

Makigami Koichi is a man who wears a lot of hats, and damned if he doesn't look good in all of 'em! He is, first off, one of Japan's most influential improvising vocalists, capable of all manner of vocal expression. He is an acknowledged master of the jaw harp (sometimes called jew's harp, khomus, guimbarde, etc), and has taken several top prizes over the years at jaw harp festivals in Mongolia, which you'll know, if you're familiar with the deep history of the instrument, is pretty much the locus solus of the jaw harp world. In addition, he is a theremin wizard, plays a mean trumpet, Mongolian string instruments, and god knows what else. I've worked with Makigami-san sporadically over the years, in a number of different group settings, and I have always immensely enjoyed those musical situations.This will be the first duo show we've done up till now, and I'm greatly looking forward to it.

SUN MAY 15 : KING CAKE BABY at What the Dickens, Ebisu

Twice in the same month, that's how the Baby likes it! Back at our familiar stomping grounds, What the Dickens, we'll be bringing you those rollicking Mardi Gras sounds, as usual, and note: there's a dance floor at the joint, and we pretty much always get some people up and shaking it there. So come on out to the Dickens and move your feet, or, if you prefer, just take in the sounds as you sip your tasty brew and munch on summa that fine English pub food.The band is comprised of yours truly, Samm Bennett, on the drums and vocal, Matt Gillan on piano and backing vocal, and Hisa Nakase on bass and backing vocal.