Lonnie Rashied Lynn

06/05 (Sat)

Chicago-born Lonnie Rashied Lynn is known to fans of hip-hop as Common, yet as an underrated, yet increasingly crucial force in the genre, his talent and influence is anything but. Originally appearing on the scene as Common Sense, he was a key figure in rap's underground during the '90s, keeping the sophisticated lyrical technique and flowing syncopations of jazz-rap alive in an era when commercial gangsta rap was threatening to obliterate everything in its path. While his literate, intelligent, nimbly performed rhymes and political consciousness certainly didn't fit the fashions of the moment, he was able to win a devoted cult audience. By the late '90s, a substantial underground movement had set about reviving the bohemian sensibility of so-called alternative rap, and Common began to receive wider recognition as a creative force. Touring with a live band (often the Roots) seasoned him for his well-received 2000 effort, Like Water For Chocolate, which stretched hip-hop's boundaries, drawing on everything from thick, Fela Kuti-inspired afro-beat to jazzy live backing, with tracks produced by drummer/ mastermind ?uestlove and singer/keyboardist D'Angelo.

His most recent release, 2002’s star-studded Electric Circus (guests include a virtual who’s who of the alterna-soul membership rolls, including, Erika Badu, Cee-Lo, Jill Scott, and Pharell Williams) found the artist stretching out even further, this time into the realms of rock fusion via a homage to Pink Floyd, Traffic and Jimi Hendrix. Common’s diversity of influences along with his uncanny ability to sound perfectly at home in musical settings largely unexplored in hip- hop, make this month’s appearance at the Osaka Blue Note a speci-al treat for fans of jazz, rap, soul, poetry, and everything in between.

OSAKA BLUE NOTE
18.00/20.45 • ¥8400 TEL: 06-6342-7722

Sarah Brightman

6/16 (Wed)

Through the years, vocalist Sarah Brightman has confounded critics and record stores alike. It is not surprising, considering that her career has not only transcended musical genres, but has so deftly blurred the lines that divide and pigeon-hole musical forms. From pop to musical theatre, opera to classical crossover, few artists can lay claim to such musical breadth and depth. Having sold over 15 million records and firmly cemented herself as the pre-eminent queen of the classical crossover world in recent years, Sarah continues to challenge herself and break new musical ground.

The mesmerizing singer arrives at Osaka-Jo Hall a firmly established global phenomenon. Her blockbuster albums — Dive, Time to Say Goodbye, Eden, La Luna and Sarah Brightman: Classics — have sold more than 15 million copies, and her powerful and alluring concert performances have thrilled live audiences and hundreds of millions of TV viewers worldwide. She arrives in Japan in support of her new album, Harem, an intoxicating fusion of percussive world beat, dance grooves and pop sensibilities, carried forth by Sarah's sometimes tender, but always entrancing, vocals. The release is considered a master-work, and has been hailed as a “fascinating amalgam of classic orchestral virtuosity, driving synthesizer beats and exotic musical instrumentation,” punctuated at times by an operatic aria or two. A seasoned theater veteran, Brightman has said her musical influences range from Europe across the Mediterranean and as far East as India’s "Bollywood." Her innate sense of Drama will be given the perfect setting for expression, and area locals are highly recommended to experience the gifted performer live.

OSAKA JO HALL
19:30 • ¥9000 • TEL: 06-6357-4400

Arch Enemy

6/17 (Thu)

Fans of the dark and heavy thrash of power metal likely already know that Japan is an entrenched stronghold for the genre. Countless metal and hard rock festivals and feature nights dot the music calendar in any given year. Headed by fierce and furious female lead Angela Gossgow, Swedish outfit Arch Enemy arrives in Osaka this month, delivering their catchy and groove-based brand of death metal. Formed by ex-Carnage, Carcass, and Candlemass guitarist Michael Amott (concurrently of Spiritual Beggars) with his brother Christopher (Armageddon), Arch Enemy “takes a straight-ahead approach to death metal reminiscent of Entombed or late-period Carcass,” blending classic-style metal riffs with crushing grooves for an intense yet accessible sound.

The band's profile has grown in 2004 as they lent support to Iron Maiden’s Canadian dates this past January, in addition to doing a four-show run at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom. Nominated as “Best Underground Act” at London’s Metal Hammer Awards in 2003, the band is supporting their latest release Anthems of Rebellion, which features 13 tracks and deftly showcases the growling and roaring vocal sensation Gossgow. The CD garnered an 8/10 rating by Tartare and Desire magazine. Those who dig bands like King Diamond/Mercyful Fate, Overkill, and Slayer are recommended to catch Arch Enemy at Namba Hatch this month.

NAMBA HATCH
19.00 • ¥6500 TEL: 05-7002-9999

Live Listings June

Gustav Leonhardt
The Phoenix Hall Hall 6/2 19:00 ¥4000 Tel: 6-6363-7999 Classical
Felix Da Housecat
Mother Hall 6/4 22:00 ¥3500
Tel: 6-4397-9061 House/Dance DJ
U.D.O
Club Quattro 6/4 19:00 ¥6500
Tel: 6-6362-7301 Heavy Metal
Common
Osaka Blue Note 6/5 18:00/20:45 ¥8400 Tel: 6-6342-7722 Hip Hop
Han-Na Chang
Izumi Hall 6/11 19:00 ¥5500
Tel: 6-6944-1199 Classical
Soul Flower Union
Club Quattro 6/12 19:00 ¥4500
Tel: 6-6535-5569
Empire Brass
Kobe Shinbun Matsukata Hall 6/13 16:00 ¥5000
Tel: 6-6345-2751 Classical
Sarah Brightman
Osaka Jo Hall 6/16 19:30 ¥9000 Tel: 6-6357-4400 Classical/Pop
Arch Enemy
Namba Hatch 6/17 19:00 ¥6500 Tel: 5-7002-9999 Heavy Metal
Jazz Elite 2004: Carol Welsman, Jim Hall Trio
Club Metro 6/17 18:30 ¥6000/¥7000 Tel: 6-4802-3438 Jazz
Dervish
Club Quattro 6/18 19:00 ¥6000
Tel: 6-6535-5569 Irish Folk
Phillippe Entremont
Festival Hall 6/18 19:00 ¥3000-¥6000 Tel: 6-6231-2221 Classical Pianist
European Jazz Trio
Osaka Blue Note 6/18 & 6/19 19:00/21:30 ¥7000
Tel: 6-6342-7722 Jazz
Doping Panda
Club Quattro 6/19 19:00 ¥2500
Tel: 6-6535-5569 Rock
The High-Lows
Star Club 6/20 19:00 ¥4000
Tel: 570-02-9999
Wolfgang Boettcher & Masuko Akemi
The College Opera House
6/22 19:15 ¥3500
Tel: 6-6334-2242 Classical
Metal Kingdom
Bayside Jenny 6/24 18:30 ¥3800 Tel: 6-6576-5640 Heavy Metal
Teresa Berganza
Izumi Hall 6/28 19:00 ¥4000
Tel: 6-6204-0412 Classical
Fuji Rock Festival
Niigata Naeba Ski-jo 6/3-7/1 all day ¥36000 for 3 days Tel: 180-993-998 Rock/Dance/Pop
Kelis
Bayside Jenny 7/1
Tel: 6-6634-7010 R&B/Funk/Pop
Fall Out Boy
Club Quattro 7/1 18:00 ¥5800
Tel: 570-02-9999 Punk/Pop/Emo
Kenny G
Kobe Kokusai Hall Hall 7/4 17:00 ¥7500/¥8500 Tel: 78-231-8162 Smooth Jazz/Pop
Boys II Men
Kosei Nenkin Kaikan Hall 7/5-7/7 19:00 ¥7000/¥8000
Tel: 570-02-9570 R&B/Soul
Edguy
Club Quattro 7/8 19:00 ¥6500
Tel: 6-6362-7301 Heavy Metal
Shonen Knife
Club Quattro 7/12 19:00 ¥4500
Tel: 6-6535-5569 Rock/Pop
Aerosmith
Osaka Dome 7/13 19:00 ¥8000 Tel: 6-6341-4506 Rock
The Offspring
Osaka Jo Hall 7/21 19:00 ¥7000 Tel: 570-02-9999 Rock
Rock Odyssey 2004
Osaka Dome 7/24 & 7/25 11:00 ¥14000 (1 day)
Tel: 6-6341-4506 Rock
Andy Williams
Grand Cube Osaka Main Hall Hall 7/27 19:00 ¥9500/¥11000
Tel: 6-6341-4506 Classic Pop
Britney Spears
Osaka Dome 9/10 19:00 ¥7500/¥8500 Tel: 6-6362-7301