POLARITY RECORDS / SAMM BENNETT

NOVEMBER 2015 : 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 in Tokyo. Come on out!

THU 11/5 : TRIO: Bennett - Gebbia - Reona
at l-e, Osaki, Tokyo

open 19:30 - start 20:00  -  entry: 2000 yen + drink
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Gianni Gebbia, of Palermo, Sicily, is one of the finest creative saxophonists on the world scene today. He is consistently fresh, interesting, focused and soulful. I've very much enjoyed playing with him, whenever we've had the opportunity, over the last, oh... 20 years or so. He is back in Japan this time for a number of shows in and around Tokyo, and this one, where we'll be joined by tap dancer Reona, is one you won't want to miss if you're into something unexpected! I'll be on percussion and electronic percussion that night, doing my best to keep up with Reona's tap shoe rhythms!
Facebook event page          
l-e website
Google map to l-e

FRI 11/6 : RAW TRIO: Bennett - Gebbia - Suzuki

at Golden Tiger, Kokusai Dori, Asakusa, Tokyo (tel: 03-5830-3969)
open 20:00 -  start 20:30  -   entry: 2000 yen + drink
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Once again collaborating with the great Gianni Gebbia on sax, and this time rounding out the band with one of the groovingest bass players I know here in Tokyo, Mr. Hiroshi "Koyu" Suzuki. I've worked with Koyu a number of times over the years, mostly in poet/performer Marcellus Nealey's various aggregations. This time we'll strip it down to bass, drums and sax, for some deep rhythm explorations. And the venue, in deepest Asakusa, no less, is certainly an exotic one! Gonna be a fun night in a new place, be adventurous and come on down! Here is the Facebook event page.

NOTE: At the Golden Tiger Facebook page, there is a BING map showing an INCORRECT location. Please use this:

Google map to Golden Tiger 
Golden Tiger is located on the B1 (basement) level of this building on Kokusai Dori, to the left of the Chinese restaurant on the corner...
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And this map to
Golden Tiger is
from their web
site....

SAT 11/7 : SOLO, plus theater, etc. as part of "Intangible Tightrope"
at Tokyo Salon (basement of Las Chicas restaurant, Aoyama, Tokyo
open 18:00 - start 18:30 - entry: 2000 yen (includes one drink)

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Intangible Tightrope is an event hosted and curated by my buddy Huw Lloyd (who plays clarinet in my New Orleans band King Cake Baby). Huw has a long-running interest in improvised theater and comedy and such, and apart from my solo set (where I'll be focusing mostly on my story-based songs, on the old three-string guitar) there will be some theater presentations which should be a lot of fun. A different sort of night, looking forward to it!


Google map to Las Chicas

FRI 11/13 : SOLO, and w/ Medicine Bone
as part of Tokyo Poetry Journal launch party
at Tokyo Salon (basement of Las Chicas restaurant, Aoyama, Tokyo)

start 19:00  -  entry: 3000 yen (includes one copy of the journal and a drink ticket)
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A short solo set and a short set with my partner Ken Shima in Medicine Bone will be a part of this evening's lineup, in celebration of the first issue of a new publication, Tokyo Poetry Journal. Ken will also do a short solo set, and there will be other poets and musicians taking part. Big night out.
Facebook event page    
Google map to Las Chicas

WED 11/18 : Mechanical Bear
at Hikari No Uma, Okubo, Tokyo

open 19:00 - start 19:30 - entry: 2000 yen + drink
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Mechanical Bear is a trio featuring violinist Chris Koh and bassist Masahico Shimaji, and if you haven't yet heard us, check us out HERE. We love the warm, convivial atmosphere at Hikari No Uma, and you will too, so come on over to Okubo for some fresh, groove-oriented improvisation and spontaneous song!
Facebook event page
DIRECTIONS to HIKARI NO UMA:
10 second walk 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.

THU 11/26 : KING CAKE BABY

at Hikari No Uma, Okubo, Tokyo
open 19:00 - start 20:00 - entry: 2000 yen + drink
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Yes, friends, King Cake Baby is BACK! New Orleans sounds for Tokyo town! We'll be bringing the tunes made famous by Crescent City legends like Professor Longhair, Dr. John, the Meters and more! Come get that FEELING!
DIRECTIONS to HIKARI NO UMA:
10 second walk 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.

FRI 11/27 : SOLO and accompanying poets (?) at Drunk Poets See God #34

at Bar Gari Gari, Ikenoue, Tokyo
(5.7 seconds from Ikenoue Station, Keio Inokashira line)
open 19:00 - start 19:30 - 500 yen entry + drink
Gari Gari website  
Google map to Bar Gari Gari
Yes friends, it's time for the 34th installment of DRUNK POETS SEE GOD, where some of Tokyo's most engaging wordsmiths get on the mic and show their stuff. Hosted by by Samm Bennett along with singer and poet Sorcha Chisolm, this is the place to be for those who want to get on the mic and take some of their original poetry and word work out for a test drive. And also for those, of course, who just want to listen. Samm is on hand to provide instantaneous musical backing to any poet who might happen to want it, and all are welcome to read, recite, intone, chant, grumble, shout or otherwise enunciate. Fun stuff, serious stuff, flights of fancy, hilarity, stream of consciousness, heaping helpings of free association and extended elocution. All for only a modest entry fee of 500 yen plus one drink. You'll probably want more than one, but one's all you gotta buy. Come early (opens at 7pm) to sign up for a slot!

And remember, if you want to present work that touches on this month's THEME, please do so! Remember, of course, that there is NO obligation to do so. Whatever you got for us, we're ready to hear. And the theme this month is: MY HERO. Go nuts!