FORTHCOMING CD "I LOVE BANJO MORE"

"I'm very glad to have the opportunity to make my 2nd CD with the wonderful musicians of my band. On this CD, I play some 1920's tunes that I learned from some festivals abroad over the last few years. I am grateful for the music, the friendship's, and the many encounters I have enjoyed. I am thankful for everything -- it makes me alive." ANY TIME - I learned this song from the banjo festivals in U.S.A. The melody of this song is reminiscent of 1920's music; also, I heard it was popular in the1950's in Japan. EL CONDOR PASA - This is a well-known folk song of Peru. We got a charge out of this arrangement; our expert drummer, Takeshi, concentrated our feelings in this song. THE OLD RUGGED CROSS - This is a New Orleans number. We play it as a slow boogie.It was difficult for me to make a mental image of this style. THE THIRD MAN'S THEME - Using a recording technique that would be difficult to duplicate in live performance, I play the melody over a recorded background. THE BRIDAL DOLL - This is a beautiful Japanese song composed in the1920's . All Japanese know this song. APPLE BLOSSOM TIME - This gentle melody is one of my favorite songs of the 20's. I perform it along with clarinet, tuba, and piano once a month at the club in Tokyo. AVALON - Trumpeter Suzuki did his best to play the fast, vivid second riff demanded by the arranger. He met the challenge. HOME -I often play this beautiful, favorite song at the live club . To tell the truth, this is the first time I have listened to the sound that Koji Shiraishi, clarinet player, plays on the tenor sax. We like it very much, and we were all charmed by his sound during rehearsal. IS IT TRUE WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT DIXIE? -I played duet with pianist, Takashi Ohashi, who is a Stride-Piano specialist. You can hear a sound like an insect hum; it is his humming as he plays. RED SHOES -This is also a 20's Japanese song. Tuba player, Kenichi Igeta, plays good "color" which adds a lot to this beautiful song. LINGER AWHILE -This song is another that I got at banjo festivals in U.S.A. I play it, changing the rhythm and without the wind instruments. AT THE JAZZBAND BALL -This is a Dixieland jazz number. At first, the melody line is played by the tuba, then by the banjo. It is an unusual arrangement, isn't it?. NOBODY KNOWS DE TROUBLES I'VE SEEN. -This is a traditional number which is attributed to the origins of Jazz. There is deep feeling behind the simple melody... How can I play this year after year holding the weight of this most poignant song? BEI MIR BIST DU SHON -When you hear the funky Riff far from the original melody, you'll wonder what happened. As with other songs we play,this is also a popular song in Japan. Added bonus: GET OUT AND GET UNDER THE MOON -May I sing just one song...?