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August 1, 2004

Back from another wonderful adventure in Japan. Released a NEW CD called Urakaji which is my first SOLO guitar CD. The music is Rinken's, the arrangements and performances are mine. I have two originals on there also. It was reviewed very well in the Nihon Keizai Shinbun (like the Wall Street Journal) and sold like hotcakes at the shows. I'll have it up in the shopping cart here soon...

This trip crossed my path with those of many wonderful new people - Casey Rankin, Taka Tsukuma and Masanori Awata of Hearkk Inc., Crystal King, Glen Davis at the Foreign Correspondent's Club of Japan, Jerry Vicars of 'Jerry and the Hip Swingers', Jazz pianist Kotaro Tsukahara, singer Gregory Wilson, bassist Brent Nussey, the Takamura brothers, Mike Price and his trio with Jon Katz and Dean Macomber, Dan Riley and the 'Blue Trombones', bassist Stanley Gilbert, Saxman Hal Saito, drummer Kawano Naohiro, and of course, 'Texan Bob'.

It was also great to continue musical relationships with Takeshi Hara, Shinchan Kusama, and Armin Linzbichler (my amazing band!), the JAW DROPPING harmonica of Chikara Tsuzuki and his pianist Taniken, Al DiMarco (singer/songwriter /pianist /accordionist), Kazu Minamizawa the rockin singer/songwriter/guitarist,

In the town of Toda Shi in Saitama, just north of Tokyo, they have a small concert on Sundays in front of the train station. They were nice enough to include me in a few of their shows. There's a wonderful organization producing these events called 'OTODA'. Maeda san (Mr. AND Mrs.!), Ikeda san, and all the 30 or so people that put this together are keeping the music alive! My hat's off to you all.

I had a chance to travel to the north of Japan this time and meet some wonderful people and see some gorgeous countryside. We were in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, way out in the country. It's like Vermont only with rice fields instead of cornfields. Even went to a sake factory! Played an embarrassing round of golf at the most beautiful course I've ever seen. I had no business being there! Great fun, though.

It's great to be back in the pumping metropolis of New York, with so much going on. Already did sessions for Stevie Holland's new CD, quite a few cues for TV both with Josh Heineman and Brian Keane, a few gigs on the boat, and the Monday night jams at KMA. Many new projects in the works, I'll keep you all posted as it moves along. Please tell me about YOU too!