The Tokyo Concert Experience

Contemporary Classical music is definitely not an easy sell and that was, unfortunately, the case for this concert. Not because of the quality of the program or the performance, which were flawless, but because of the modest turnout. When I got to the hall -kind of in a hurry because I was late, I made it on time though- I didn’t expect to see a billboard just outside advertising the show and a huge number of people in the surrounding areas. I noticed they were mostly young women and remembered that it was the weekend when the coming of age ceremonies are held in Japan. I guess they were registering for the event or something. I struggled my way into the venue as if I were in the platform at the Shinjuku JR station when there’s a train delay. Finally made it about three minutes before start time and was surprised to see the hall half empty. It was a shame because what it took place was a validation of the argument that favors live performances over recordings. In preparation to th...

The first extreme metal show of the year was a special one because it showcased one of the pioneer bands of the genre. Still going strong, Obituary was at the forefront of the Florida death metal movement along with bands like Morbid Angel, Death and Deicide. This specific show was the first one of a tour celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of their landmark sophomore album Cause of Death . The tour will take them to Osaka, New Zealand and several cities around Australia. It took place at a venue that I think just reopened maybe a couple of months ago, Garret Udagawa. I got there barely on time for the opener because I kind of got lost and ended up at a different place instead. Luckily I made it to the sold out venue and stood in the back for World End Man’s set. It was my second time seeing them, the first one being as openers of the Suffocation show last year. As at that time they were solid and fun to watch. Their brand of groovy death metal was definitely a better match t...

It’s well known that it is in a live setting where jazz music truly thrives. Legendary recordings ranging from Duke at Newport, to Coltrane at the Village vanguard or Sun Ra’s Black Myth / Out of Space are some examples worth checking out. The same could be said about this particular show, in which telepathy and interaction among musicians were outstanding, definitely a thrill to see. If I’m not mistaken the first Fabian Almazan Trio record dates back to 2011. As far as I know the same lineup has been together since. Fabian Almazan is originally from Cuba and moved to the States with his family as a young boy. He has recorded with Terrence Blanchard and in his own group he incorporates those cinematic sounds that Blanchard is renowned for. The Almazan records usually include strings and Classical influences along with his own pianistic and compositional skills. His wife Linda May Han Oh on bass and her own projects have had a big impact in contemporary jazz. She also has share ...

This year didn’t disappoint. Most genres were covered, the top two being Classical and Extreme Metal. I could check off some items of my bucket list, l finally saw The Cure, Tom Zé and Vijay Iyer. I also was able to cover the Fuji Rock Festival this year and even though I didn’t go to venues I usually go to every year, like Blue Note, Club Quattro and WWW, I visited several live houses in the Tokyo area. The blog also expanded to cover musicals, stand up comedy, theater and movies. All in all it was a fruitful year for the Tokyo Concert Experience. Bubbling under the top 5 were shows like Voivod and Giovanni Guidi from back in January. The amazing double bill of Neurosis and Converge in February. One of Sylvain Cambreling’s farewell concerts conducting the Yomiuri Nippon Orchestra and their performance of Scielci’s and Grisey’s works. The unique sensorial experience that was Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Fever Room at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theater. Neal Brennan’s stand u...

Over the course of three weekends, from November 23rd to December 7th,  François-Frédéric Guy  performed the 32 piano sonatas written by Ludwig van Beethoven . The cycle was performed almost in the exact order throughout nine concerts, two on Saturday and one on Sunday each week. It was an exhilarating journey that reflected, not only on the genius of creation at its peak, but also on the fascinating historical evolution from the Classic era to the Romantic one. By the last decade of the Eighteenth Century the piano replaced the harpsichord as the preferred keyboard instrument among composers and performers. Beethoven started composing his cycle in 1795 and those three concerts on the first weekend showcased the first period of his piano sonatas. Still indebted to Haydn, his teacher, but at the same time announcing an imminent revolution. I enjoyed these early pieces a lot. It was the beginning of the nine concerts set, which it’s always exhilarating. These pieces also r...

Thirty years have passed since that infamous night (for some) when Jethro Tull beat Metallica for Best Metal Album of the year at the Grammys. It was the first year that category was introduced at the awards ceremony. I remember watching it live and the shocked expressions from the presenters when instead of reading And Justice For All form the envelope, they read Crest of a Knave . At the time I owned both albums, I liked them both and thought they both rocked. Jethro Tull’s was another late eighties prog band type of record, like Yes’ Big Generator ; while Metallica’s was of course a landmark. Thirty years later Metallica is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Jethro Tull isn’t. On the other hand the flagship current band of the extreme metal genre sounds more like Jethro Tull than Metallica. Opeth released an album this year, In cauda venenum , their first sung entirely in Swedish. It’s the latest in a string of prog inspired albums that started around ten years ago with H...

There’s a picture on the internet of the Arditti Quartet that it is one of the most badass pictures I’ve ever seen. It was taken a while ago, with Irvine Arditti sporting a full-on black afro. The four members are all crouching down in the front row. The second row, behind them, is occupied by three towering figures of the arts in the Twentieth Century: Elliott Carter, La Monte Young and John Cage. This unique document that reunites these three individuals represents Arditti Quartet’s influence and unquestionable relevance in contemporary music. Their role as promoters of some of the most challenging music from the last fifty years can not be understated. This evening’s program went back further and showcased pieces written over a hundred years ago in some cases, among the most contemporary fare. The turnout was more than decent, the concert hall was almost full. Right on time they came out on stage and started the program with one of the six string quartets written by  Béla...