Michael Pronko - The Japan Times

November 22, 2024

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Michael Pronko

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Michael Pronko

Michael Pronko writes essays for ST Shukan. He also writes for his own website Jazz in Japan, as well as for Newsweek Japan and Artscape Japan. He has published three books of essays about Tokyo and teaches American literature, culture and film at Meiji Gakuin University.

CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES

May 8, 2002

Angelique Kidjo: 'Black Ivory Soul'

On past recordings, Angelique Kidjo seemed to choose popularity over authenticity. Critics have taken her to task for diluting the purity of her musical origins (she was born in Benin but lives in Paris) by opting for the easy appeal of over-produced world pop.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES

Apr 24, 2002

Bobby McFerrin: 'Beyond Words'

Singer Bobby McFerrin knows the mixed blessing of a hit song. His 1988 pop hit "Don't Worry, Be Happy" earned him sales that most jazz vocalists would kill for, but, somehow, people missed the irony. They also failed to realize that the full sound of the song came from his voice -- and his voice only...

CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES

Apr 17, 2002

Gary Burton and Makoto Ozone: 'Virtuosi'

Jazz and classical have long had an antagonistic relationship. Despite the two genres' overlapping affinities, jazz players often see classical as too stiff and intellectual, while classical musicians look down on the casual folksiness of jazz.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music / JAZZNICITY

Apr 14, 2002

Bigger, fresher, louder

In the last Jazznicity column, I focused on meat-and-potatoes big bands in Tokyo. But in addition to those bands that work directly in the jazz tradition, there are many others seeking to extend its range of possibilities.

CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES

Apr 10, 2002

Steve Coleman: 'Resistance Is Futile'

As the leader of M-Base, a movement of young jazz players in New York City, Steve Coleman has framed all of his releases, since his first in 1985, in intriguing, if spaced-out, concepts. But he never quite painted in all the details.

CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES

Mar 27, 2002

Stanton Moore: 'Flyin' the Koop'

Stanton Moore has been the drummer for New Orleans' favorite funky jam band, Galactic, since the early '90s. That band earned its following the old-fashioned way, by playing hard and heavy music to make audiences groove. Moore's solo projects, however, lean more toward jazz, but without ever leaving...

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES

Mar 20, 2002

Francis Lockwood: 'Jimi's Colors'

Re-thinking Jimi Hendrix in terms of an acoustic jazz piano trio would seem to be a bit of a stretch. It comes as a surprise, then, that Francis Lockwood's new release, "Jimi's Colors" -- which does just that -- works so well. On listening, however, unexpected similarities reveal themselves.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Mar 17, 2002

Meditations on a master disciple

Sonny Fortune wears his John Coltrane influence proudly. And well he should since he is one of the few sax players working today confident enough -- and good enough -- to follow in his footsteps.

CULTURE / Music / JAZZNICITY

Mar 10, 2002

Say it loud, big band and proud

On any given night, one full 16-piece jazz orchestra is sure to be playing somewhere in Tokyo. Considering the generally small stages, lack of practice rooms, band members' tight schedules and competition from small combos, it is amazing that big bands regularly pack Tokyo's jazz clubs. But they do....

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES

Mar 6, 2002

Ali Hassan Kuban: 'Real Nubian'

Sadly, this third international release from the godfather of Nubian soul, Ali Hassan Kuban, will be his last. Kuban died in June of last year, having spent his life singing and playing his particular brand of raw, earthy, energetic music. Fortunately, "Real Nubian" catches Kuban at the height of his...

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES

Feb 27, 2002

Soulive: 'Next'

Soulive have dug back into the '60s hard-bop era to resurrect the Hammond B-3 organ-guitar-drum trio combo. Far from being retro, though, they refurbish this jazz staple into a gleaming, hot-burning sound. They can definitely be called a "jam band," with their CDs fitting as comfortably in record stores'...

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES

Feb 13, 2002

Michelle Wilson: 'Wake Up Call'

With searing vocals, Michelle Willson delivers her clear-eyed statements on work, love and life from a woman's point of view. And in that regard, nearly every cut on her fourth release, on which she teams up with the tight, rocking Evil Gal Festival Orchestra, is a wake-up call.

CULTURE / Music / JAZZNICITY

Feb 10, 2002

Jazz that isn't afraid to be entertaining

For a long time in jazz, playing to the crowd was a sign of selling out. Creating music that pleased listeners was considered by many jazz players, and their fans, to be insincere, compromised and unsophisticated. "Entertainment" became something of a dirty word.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES

Jan 30, 2002

Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard Ensemble: 'Mnemosyne'

The collaboration between saxophonist Jan Garbarek and the a cappella vocal quartet Hilliard Ensemble is an avant-garde blend of modern European jazz and early music. On "Mnemosyne," their recent collaboration, the origin of their songs extends back to the second century B.C. with a Greek hymn to Delphic...

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES

Jan 16, 2002

John Medeski with Robert Randolph: 'The Word'

Until a year ago, Robert Randolph's only regular gig was playing sacred steel on Sundays for the parishioners at his New Jersey church.

CULTURE / Music / JAZZNICITY

Jan 13, 2002

Take me to your anti-leader

The Shibuya Takeshi Orchestra is one of the most singular, challenging and unusual jazz units in Tokyo. Many local groups strive for accomplished technique, pushing their instruments to the far edge of rapid-fire playing or polishing one style to perfection. The Shibuya Takeshi Orchestra, however, delights...

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES

Jan 9, 2002

metalwood: 'the recline'

Every self-respecting Canadian jazz enthusiast should have metalwood's latest on their shelf. How many jazz bands can Canada claim, after all? Clearly, not enough. But all that joking about the frozen northern land should melt under the heat of "the recline," on which metalwood takes a sophisticated...

CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES

Dec 26, 2001

Bireli Lagrene: 'Gipsy Project'

When Bireli Lagrene burst onto the scene at the age of 13, many felt he was the reincarnation of Django Reinhardt, the famed Gypsy jazz guitarist.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES

Dec 12, 2001

The Park Tower Blues Festival

Heaping portions of soul-satisfying blues are served up in Tokyo only twice a year -- once in May, at the Blues Festival at the Hibiya Park Open Air Amphitheater, and then in December at the Park Tower Blues Festival at the top of Shinjuku's Park Tower Hotel complex. The latter event is coming up this...

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music / JAZZNICITY

Dec 9, 2001

A rough guide to buried local treasures

Even though many jazz players in Japan do get a chance to record, it can sometimes be a challenge to find their CDs -- even in the biggest stores. With limited pressings and uneven distribution, last month's release from a popular live performer in Tokyo can be harder to find than an obscure 1950s hard...

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

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