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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.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Sep 30, 2005
Growl heard loud from New Orleans
Dr. John has been a central icon of New Orleans music for the past four decades. Though famed for his keyboard playing, he started out on guitar in his teens as a studio musician in 1950s New Orleans. He later switched to keyboards and put together his own special flavor of traditional-meets-funk music...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Sep 30, 2005
The Yokohama Jazz Promenade
The Yokohama Jazz Promenade is the best weekend of the year for jazz lovers, and shows you just what a city arts foundation can do if they put their music-loving minds to it. On Oct. 8 and 9, nearly a hundred groups will perform at 10 halls and 20-some jazz clubs sprinkled around the city -- and that's...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Sep 23, 2005
Kirk Joseph's Backyard Groove: "Sousafunk Ave" (Audible Vision)
At the tender age of 13, Kirk Joseph was already on the march. When his older brothers' marching band was short a tuba player, Joseph filled in, knowing the tunes from hearing his father, brothers and New Orleans neighbors play them.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / JAZZNICITY
Sep 23, 2005
Keeping the Hot Club flame lit in Tokyo
One of Europe's biggest contributions to jazz, Gypsy swing jazz -- now more correctly called "jazz manouche" -- comes down to one man, famed Belgian guitarist Django Reinhardt. Together with violinist Stephane Grappelli and a rotating ensemble of musicians, Django's Quintette du Hot Club de France shot...
CULTURE / Music
Sep 16, 2005
Fanfare Ciocarlia
Four of Europe's best Gypsy bands descend on Japan for a special "Time of the Gypsies" festival this October. With influences as diverse as flamenco, Indian music, jazz and Balkan and European folk music, the four acts -- two Gypsy brass bands, one Gypsy swing jazz group and one DJ-inspired fusion duo...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Sep 11, 2005
Lew Tabackin International Trio
A jazzman for those in the know, Lew Tabackin helped redefine the big band solo, contributed to classic sessions and has toured worldwide continuously, giving workshops and playing venues large and small. His work collaborating, writing and arranging with his wife, Toshiko Akiyoshi, created one of the...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Sep 4, 2005
Ronnie Earl and Duke Robillard: "The Duke Meets the Earl"
Pairing two guitarists' guitarists, Ronnie Earl and Duke Robillard, "The Duke Meets the Earl" is a powerhouse blues recording. In the 1970s and '80s, Duke and Earl led, successively, the heavy-touring band Roomful of Blues. Duke later recorded with jazz greats and kept touring, while Earl formed The...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 28, 2005
The Bad Plus
T he acoustic jazz trio The Bad Plus have cultivated a bad-boy image. And guess what, attitude works. They have garnered critical attention and loads of rock and alternative music fans. Past the hype, though, The Bad Plus' inspired jazz shakes up the expectations of what an acoustic jazz trio can sound...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 21, 2005
Nicole Henry
Jazz singer Nicole Henry connects to a crowd, or perhaps it's better to say she holds an audience in the palm of her hand. Cliche it may be, but Henry is just the kind of vocalist who restores a cliche to it's original beauty, as she does with her repertoire of jazz standards.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 17, 2005
The Joe Locke/Geoffrey Keezer Quartet
The New Sound Quartet, also known as the Joe Locke/Geoffrey Keezer Quartet, is a powerhouse of a group. Since both musicians had independent, well-established careers before teaming up, their names vie for top billing. But this quartet, by any name, is still one of the finest exponents of hard- and post-bop...
CULTURE / Music
Aug 7, 2005
Los Van Van
Fusing a variety of Latin rhythms into a potent, down-to-earth style, Los Van Van has been packing dance floors for over 30 years and shows no sign of slowing down. A Cuban institution, this wild, 15 member band is not only the most successful Latin group to arrive on the world stage from Cuba (at least,...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jul 24, 2005
Ryan Kisor Quartet
The "young lions" was a phrase used (in fact, overused) to describe the resurgence of young jazz musicians in New York that started in the 1980s. More marketing tool than stylistic category, young lions still felt like a term of respect, all things considered. One of the best, and youngest, of this generation...
CULTURE / Music
Jul 17, 2005
Eddie Palmieri's Latin All-Stars
After years of playing hot, percussive piano in other people's Latin bands, Eddie Palmieri formed his own group in 1961. In battles of the bands in dance clubs like New York's famed Palladium, Palmieri's always came out on top. He called his band La Perfecta for one reason: It was perfect.
CULTURE / Music
Jul 10, 2005
Cedar Walton: "Midnight Waltz"
Ever since playing on John Coltrane's "Giant Steps" in 1959, Cedar Walton has been one of the hard-bop pianists of choice. Though he famously declined to solo over the knotty chord changes of that classic (there were too many, too fast), he has written many an intricate tune of his own over the years....
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jul 3, 2005
Joyce
The emotion-filled voice and calmly pulsing guitar of Brazilian diva Joyce appeals to a broad spectrum of listeners. Unlike some performers with a strong international following, though, she draws fans by upholding authentic values. This week she brings her distinctive Brazilian music to Tokyo and Yokohama...
CULTURE / Music
Jun 26, 2005
Full House: "Champagne Taste"
The title of Full House's first release, "Champagne Taste," has a touch of irony to it. The group, led by trumpeter Jim Rotondi and keyboardist David Hazeltine, does have a sleek, bubbly feel, however, it's one mixed with funky grooves and a potent electric sound. Instead of snobbery, their style of...
CULTURE / Music / JAZZNICITY
Jun 19, 2005
Only one way to get that big band sound
Forming a jazz big band in this day and age is a somewhat insane undertaking. Scheduling the right musicians, writing elaborate arrangements and hiring a studio with the right equipment to record 16 players at once are headaches big enough to hold back even the most inspired leader. The bottom line for...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 19, 2005
Tim Ries' the Rolling Stones Project
Though rock musicians from Sting to Joni Mitchell to the Grateful Dead have always brought jazz elements into their music, often hiring jazz mercenaries to do it, jazz has rarely used rock as a source of much more than electricity. Tim Ries has set out to reclaim some of the listeners lost to rock decades...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 12, 2005
Music of Thad Jones: "One More"
For 40 years, every Monday, New York's Village Vanguard has featured one of the most stylish mid-size bands in jazz. Started as the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, 1965-1979, trumpeter and composer Jones was the brains behind it and drummer Lewis provided the fire in front. After Jones passed away...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 5, 2005
The New Mastersounds: "This is What We Do"
Though Leeds isn't particularly associated with funk, The New Mastersounds may change that. James Brown and Sly Stone can be heard stomping through their hard-hitting "deep funk" sound of this 4-year-old band, and their new release, "This Is What We Do," is a funk-jazz workout that is proudly retro and...
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

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