Alex Quinn's Japan Journal

6/2/2005, Turning 27 years old, jazz piano concert with Akemi

Yup, it was my birthday today.  I'm now a cubic number, since 3x3x3=27.  This won't happen again until I turn 64, and after that it's it for me and cubic numbers.  So, I'm a pretty happy guy today.

At work, one of my co-workers, Kodera, brought me a beautiful package chock full of Haägen Dazs ice cream cups.  I love ice cream.  Kodera is a good friend at work, and a very nice person.

In the evening, Akemi took me to a delightful concert of jazz pianists.  It was a pretty unusual concert.  10 of the world's finest jazz pianists (excluding old legends such as Oscar Peterson).  I previously knew of all but 2 of them, for what that's worth.  For Japanese people, fame carries a lot of weight, so here in Japan a show like this goes over quite well.  Here's the list in case you're interested.

1. Toshiko Akiyoshi
2. Kenny Barron
3. Ray Bryant
4. Cyrus Chestnut
5. Don Friedman
6. Benny Green
7. Dado Maroni
8. Junior Mance
9. Eric Reed
10. Cedar Walton

To my surprise, Akemi, bless her heart, planned this about 5 weeks ago, but she didn't tell me until last week.  I just got a card in the mail with a couple train tickets to Osaka.  And a flyer about the concert.

So we finally went to the show tonight.  It was at the Osaka Symphony Hall.  There were two pianos in the middle of the stage, along with a bass and drum kit.  I was very curious how they might fit 10 pianists into one 2½ show, especially 10 really good pianists who are used to being center-stage.  It was interesting.  Basically, a guy would come out and play a tune.  Then, another guy would come out and sit down at the other piano.  They'd do a duet (2 pianos).  Then, the first guy would leave.  Sometimes, there'd be bass and drums.  Sometimes it would be piano only.  It varied throughout.  But, it was interesting to have 10 pianists on stage at once, all doing a concert together.  And, the music was fantastic, of course.  These guys are all really, really good at playing jazz piano.  And, they were charming on stage.  Akemi kept remarking that they were cute and even child-like at times.

At the end, they did an encore number, (Take the) A-Train.  All 10 of them played the song together.  One started it.  Another would sit down at the other piano.  When the first guy finished playing a chorus or two, he'd stop and the next guy would take over.  They weren't playing at the same time.  They just passed the ball from one to another.  The audience clapped enthusiastically.  I don't usually like clapping during jazz, but they do that here and since it's Japan, I guess they can enjoy their music however they like.  The pianists also clapped along.  Benny Green, in particular, clapped very enthusiastically, to the point of dancing a little.

I took a few pictures, secretly.  I expect they'd have kicked me out if they caught me, so I took all my pictures near the end of the show, with no flash.  Since I didn't use the flash, they're a little dark.

Don Friedman playing the piano.

Doing the relay encore.

Taking a bow.

Taking a bow.

And, somebody took this one of the two of us.

Akemi and me after the concert.

It was a great birthday.

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