HiFi-Do E-mail Newsletter

Recommended by Ms. Cappuccino:
the 9th report on "Summer memory of events"

Not only this year but also in recent years I have been feeling disgusted with irregular weather. We have had only a few days when it was clearly fine this summer. Yet, it was very hot. A lot of jazz festivals were held nationwide this summer. Did you participated in and enjoyed them? This week, I report on various events in which I participated this summer being invited. On Saturday, August 6, I took part in "Jazz Festival Uji Jazz" held in "Gallery Ohkubo" and in the garden that are owned by Mr. I, who is a regular customer of a jazz specialty shop MIMURA. At a charge of 2,000 yen for females and 3,000 yen for males, the participants are allowed to eat and drink as much as they want. Included in the participants were Mr. I's guests, MIMURA's customers, jazz enthusiasts and more. This year's guest musicians were Mr. Yoichi Tanaka (trumpet), Quartet of Mr. Haruya Kihata (piano), Mr. Hiromichi Inoue (tenor sax), Mr. Tomomi Miyano (bass) and Mr. Toshiyuki Higashi (drums).

Since I am a drum lover, I was immediately fascinated when I first listened to Mr. Higashi's performance. It was a great experience for me. The players played jazz including standard, latin and their originals. The listeners seemed to fully enjoy the performance with a glass of drink in their hand. I hear Ms. Hiromi Shimizu, special vocalist of "Jazz on Top" in Osaka, was invited last year as a guest musician. Maybe middele-aged male participants were delighted with her performance. The second part was for jam session. Of the participants, those who wanted to sing or play went up to the stage in front and showed their performance. The organizer said that he offered a chance to them hoping that they would play on a big stage some day. We should be grateful to him for that.

It was really hot and humid that day and it showered on and off. But at tables under dark green beach umbrellas, everyone ate hot dogs, spaghetti of basil flavor, beef stew, etc. talking a lot with one another. Everything was tasty. Thanks a lot. The host Mr. I was serving drinks while a little bit drunk. Mr. I's grandmother as well went here and there smiling and took good care of the participants. She was a very pretty woman.

After the jazz festival, Mr. Mimura showed me around the auction room for Mr. I's handmade goods. I looked such goods as a dragonfly-shaped accessory made by Mr. I's wife, stained-glass work made by Mr. Mimura's father and more. On the first floor of the house was an audio room where I found an excellent audio equipment. Usually the piano, which was used in the festival, are placed in this audio room. How I envied such a gorgeous house! Wasn't it unfair? --I'm just joking.
I could not have an interview with Mr. I because he was a little bit drunk that day, but I hear this "Jazz Festival Uji Jazz" has been held exactly four times including this year. I think it contributes to cultural promotion. Mr. I organizes this kind of events for jazz revival. If you are interested in it, visit the website and take part in the next year's festival. You are most welcome to the jam session!
For more information, visit the website at:
http://www.h7.dion.ne.jp/~hirono

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