Arrested Development
Apr. 8 & 9

Led by multi-instrumentalist producer Speech, the not-so-dirty South's 12-plus member hip hop collective known as Arrested Development is back. Known for their early 90s breakout hits Tennessee, Mr. Wendal and People Everyday, the group emerged primarily as a welcome alternative to the gangsta rap that had taken over the hip hop mainstream at the time. While Speech has kept himself extremely busy, relea-sing at least two independently produced CDs and touring worldwide (he has an especially devoted fan base in Japan), AD has been sorely missed since their disbandment in '96. This month the Osaka Blue Note hosts what is sure to be a rollicking and soulful experience.

Osaka Blue Note
Showtime: 18:30/21:30
Entry: ¥6400/¥8400
Tel: 06-6342-7722

Destiny's Child

Apr. 11

Personnel upheavals, lawsuits and solo ventures all apparently, for the time being, in the past, Destiny's Child has re-emerged stronger, faster, fiercer and more secure in the knowledge that, at their best, they are without peer in the Pop/ R&B realm of contemporary music. Fans have eagerly anticipated this reunion ever since contagious tracks like Say My Name, Survivor and Independent Woman became repeat-plays on the soundtracks to their party lives more than four years ago.

Each member has since embarked on remarkably successful solo albums and performing projects (Michelle Williams, with the gospel Heart To Yours in 2002, Kelly Rowland, with the R&B Simply Deep the same year, and Beyonce, with 2003's crossover smash Dangerously In Love), with Beyonce unsurprisingly upping the ante with high profile movie roles as well. Nevertheless, the master plan was always to regroup once the dust had settled.

“We always said we were going to do solo records after Survivor and then come back and do another record,” Kelly Rowland explains. “We've maintained our friendship and supported each other's projects and enjoy each other,” Beyonce continues. “We wanted to do another record. I know we have a lot of fans that want to hear it and, more importantly, we wanted to do it because we love this collaboration.”

Their sixth and latest CD, Destiny Fulfilled represents the trio's true coalescence into something greater than the sum of its parts, something that early projections say is equally true of the material itself. With the production contributions of heavyweight R&B wizard Rodney Jerkins, (Lose My breath), and Grammy winner Rich Harrison (Soldier), the new set is covering all bets, while focusing on displaying the group's core strengths-- heartfelt, soaring vocals, with 'you-go-girl' anthems. The re-birth hits Osaka this month, and there's no time like the present.

Osaka-Jo Hall
Showtime: 19:00
Entry: ¥7500/¥8500
Tel: 06-6341-4506

Norah Jones
Apr. 11 & 12

Texas-raised Norah Jones has quickly bloomed into one of the decade's few bona fide new vocal stars.

The daughter of Indian classical music icon Ravi Shankar, Jones took a different musical course, seduced by jazz while attending Dallas' Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, eventually winning three Down Beat Student Music Awards, (for Best Jazz Vocalist and Best Original Composition in 1996, and Best Jazz Vocalist in 1997). It was there the pianist developed the musical foundation that would define her southern folksy interpretation of the jazz idiom.

However, it was among local performers and songwriters in Manhattan's coffeehouse circuit that Jones found the inspiration and passion to refine her own performance and songwriting skills while developing valuable stage experience. After recording and performing with Trip Hop and acid jazz acts like Wax Poetic and Charlie Hunter, sultry-voiced Jones secured a solo contract with famed Blue Note records in 2001. Her debut Come Away With Me (featuring pro jazz sidemen Bill Frisell and Brian Blade, as well as the deft production of Arif Mardin) was warm, and understated, yet scintillating nonetheless. The country-tinged and bluesy set went multi-platinum, won eight Grammy awards, and on the strength of the poignant Don't Know Why, ushered in the era of a remarkable new vocal talent about whom everyone seems to be talking.

While her newer material (2004's Feels Like Home) is more country than that of her debut, she continues to be supported by outstanding players as well as some welcome and unexpected guests (The Band's Levon Helm and Garth Hudson, as well as the great Dolly Parton all make appearances). Most importantly, Jones' cinnamon alto (not to mention tasteful piano and organ work) is now in full form, and the diversity of her deepening repertoire bodes well for her soul-seeped voice to stand out. Check out the smoky chanteuse as she creeps on through Osaka this month.

Osaka Kosei Nenkin Kaikan Dai Hall
Showtime: 19:00
Entry: ¥6500/¥7500
Tel: 06-6535-5569

Moe

Apr. 20

"The music is the statement. If you come to three different shows, you're going to have a different experience each time, and each one will emphasize distinct portions of our music. And a lot of how that manifests itself depends on the band-audience interaction, " says Moe guitarist/vocalist Chuck Garvey. Since their inception (original moniker: 5 Guys Named Moe), the upstate New York quintet has spent the past fifteen years not only earning their stripes as a live improvisation-based rock band to be reckoned with, but also honing their song craft and studio chops, a 7-album journey culminating in 2001's fantastic Dither, released on their own Fatboy Records.

“We took songs that we played live, laid down basic tracks, and then really reorganized them. We would deconstruct them, so much so that in rebuilding them we would some-times assign parts to different instruments,” says Garvey of the critically acclaimed release. Standout tracks Understand, Water and Opium have already become new fan favorites. On the 20th, indulge in a mid-week treat and Check Moe out at Club Quattro.

Moe is: Al Schnier (guitar, vocals), Chuck Garvey (guitar, vocals), Vinnie Amico (drums), Rob Derhak (bass, vocals) and Jim Loughlin (percussion, acoustic guitar).

Club Quattro
Showtime: 19:00
Entry: ¥6,000
Tel: 06-6535-5569

Live Listings April

4/1 & 2
Jane Monheit @ Osaka Blue Note 18:30/21:30. ¥5,800/¥7,800
Tel: 06-6342-7722. Jazz
4/3
Cubismo Grafico Five @ Club Quattro. 19:30. ¥2,500 Tel: 06-6281-8181. Rock
4/7
Sugarplum Fairy @ Club Quattro. 19:00 ¥5,250. Tel: 06-6281-8181. Rock
4/8
Jimmy Eat World @ Big Cat. 19:00. ¥5,800. Tel: 06-6535-4506. Rock
4/9
Asian Dub Foundation @ Mother Hall. 19:00. ¥6,000. Tel: 06-6535-5569. Dance, electronic
4/10
Tata Young @ Zepp Osaka. 17:30 ¥6,000/¥8,000. Tel: 06-6233-8888. Pop
4/10
Sex Machineguns @ Chicken George. 18:00. ¥5,000. Tel: 06-6341-3525. Rock
4/11-13
Fourplay @ Osaka Blue Note. 18:30/ 21:30. ¥8,500/¥10,500. Tel: 06-6342-7722. Jazz
4/12
Yamazaki Masayoshi @ Kyoto Kaikan Daiichi Hall. 18:30. ¥5,250.
Tel: 06-6882-1224. Folk/Rock
4/12
Napalm Death vs. Suffocation @ Club Quattro. 19:00. ¥5,500. Tel: 06-6281-8181. Rock
4/14
Yamazaki Masayoshi @ Kinan Bunka Kaikan. 18:30. ¥5,250. Tel: 06-6882-1224. Folk/Rock
4/14-16
Terai Naoko @ Osaka Blue Note. 18:30/21:30. ¥5,800/¥7,800
Tel: 06-6342-7722. Jazz
4/15
Yamazaki Masayoshi @ Wakayama Kenmim Bunka Kaikan. 18:30. ¥5,250. Tel: 06-6882-1224. Folk/Rock
4/16
David Lindley @ Taku Taku. 19:00
¥5,500. Tel: 075-351-1321. Rock
4/16&17
Boa @ Osaka-Jo Hall. 18:30. ¥6,500. Tel: 0570-02-9999. Pop
4/17
Nakamura Kengo New York Quintet "Roots" @ Live Spot Rag. 19:00 ¥4,000. Tel: 075-255-7273. Jazz
4/17
Asia Heiwa Geino Festival @ Kobe Bunka Hall. 14:00/18:00. ¥5,500. Tel: 078-251-7447. Traditional
4/18
Boom Boom Satellites @ Big Cat. 20:00. ¥4,000. Tel: 06-6535-4506. Electronic
4/18
Strike Anywhere, a Wilhelm Scream @ Club Quattro. 19:00. ¥4,000.
Tel: 06-6281-8181. Rock
4/18-20
Duke Ellington Orchestra cond. By Barrie Lea Hall @ Osaka Blue Note 18:30/21:30. ¥6,400~¥8,400.
Tel: 06-6342-7722. Big Band Jazz
4/19
Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin @ The Symphony Hall. 19:00 ¥6,000~¥13,000. Tel: 06-6345-2751. Classical
4/19
Kamelot, Silent Force @ Club Quattro. 19:00. ¥7,000 Tel: 06-6362-7301. Rock
4/20
Pat Metheny Group @ Osaka Kokusai Kaigijo Main Hall. 19:00. ¥7,500/ ¥8,900. Tel: 06-6233-8888. Jazz
4/20
Yamazaki Masayoshi @ Kobe Kokusai Kaikan. 18:30. ¥5,250. Tel: 06-6882-1224. Folk/Rock
4/22
Ayado Chie @ Kyoto Kaikan Daiichi Hall 18:30. ¥7,000 Tel: 075-211-0261. Jazz
4/22
Diana Krall @ Sankei Hall. 19:00 ¥7,500/¥8,500. Tel: 06-6341-4506.
4/22 & 23
Diana King @ Osaka Blue Note. 18:30/21:30. ¥8,500/¥10,500
Tel: 06-6342-7722. Pop/Reggae/R&B
4/23
Spitz @ Wakayama Kenmim Bunka Kaikan. 18:30. ¥4,600. Tel: 06-6357-9944. Pop/Rock
4/25
Spanish Connection @ Osaka Blue Note. 18:30/21:30. ¥5,000/¥7,000. Tel: 06-6342-7722. Spanish/World
4/25&26
Spitz @ Kobe Kokusai Kaikan. 18:30. ¥4,600. Tel: 06-6357-9944. Pop/Rock
4/27
Extreme The Dojo vol. 13 @ Club Quattro. 18:45. ¥5,500.
Tel: 06-6535-5569. Various
4/28
Brian Adams @ Osaka Kosei Nenkin Kaikan Dai Hall. 19:00. ¥7,500/ ¥8,500. Tel: 0570-02-9999. Rock/Pop
4/28
Spitz @ Kyoto Kaikan Daiichi Hall. 18:30. ¥4,600. Tel: 06-6357-9944. Pop/Rock
4/29&30
Jimmy Scott @ Osaka Blue Note. 18:30/21:30. ¥6,400/¥8,400.
Tel: 06-6342-7722. Jazz

LIVE Section compiled by HWJ