Joshua Redman
Sept. 14 & 15

Harvard graduate and son of great tenor saxophonist Dewey Redman, Joshua Redman was fortunate to be gifted and dedicated enough to survive all the hype that accompanied his debut on the jazz scene in the 90s. Nor has it hurt that he's broken out of his 'he's only a bop player' box and shown as much playful adventurousness in his choices as he often does in his solos.

Along with organist Sam Yahel and drummer Brian Blade, Redman most recently formed his (acid-jazzish) Elastic Band (Elastic being the latest CD title as well), which through regular residencies at NY clubs like Smalls, is becoming a tight, edgy and inspired outlet for his prowess and growth as an artist. Never a bad move to check out Mr. Redman in action.

Osaka Blue Note
Time: 18:30/21:30 • Entry: ¥6,400-¥8,400
Tel 06-6342-7722.

Michel Camilo

Sept. 24

Dominican-raised composer and pianist Michel Camilo has had an astounding musical career since he moved to New York as a preco-cious 25-year-old (at 16 he was already a member of his country's National Symphony Orchestra).

Equally accomplished in the classical and jazz idioms, he has won Best Latin Jazz Album Grammies, an Emmy award for his Goodwill Games Theme, served as musical director for the Heineken Jazz Festival, and recorded with such Latin Jazz luminaries as Spanish Flamenco guitarist Tomatito (their passionate 2001 Spain session being a must-own) and Paquito D'Rivera. More recently, Camilo appeared (on screen and) on the soundtrack CD for the acclaimed film Calle 54, directed by the Oscar-winning Fernando Trueba.

His being awarded Jazzweek's 2004 Artist of the Year honor helps complete the picture: this versatile cat is a musical force to be reckoned with. Because of his numerous recordings and performances of jazz standards (his latest CD, Solo, includes standards 'Round Midnight and Our Love Is Here to Stay) the frequent world-tourer is billed and appreciated most as a jazz artist, but, as fans know, his classical training is his secret weapon.

“I think it (classical training) gives me a sense of musical form … the ideas that I'm hearing inside myself come out because of the command of the instrument that comes from classical studies.”

Check out this unique talent at Kyoto concert Hall on the 24th this month.

Kyoto Concert Hall
Time: 14:30 • Entry: ¥5,250
Tel 075-255-7273

Ben Folds
Sept. 25 & 26

Having successfully 'rocked the suburbs' of the world for more than a decade with his inimitable brand of often cheeky, yet surpri-singly layered and complex (and steadfastly piano-based) pop rock, 30-something family man Ben Folds has carved out and held onto his own unique territory just outside the mainstream top-40 radar. Debuting on indie label Caroline Records, his North Carolina-based trio Ben Folds Five came to prominence in the mid-to-late 90s, garnering rave reviews for their dazzling live shows (which landed them on stages with top acts such as Beck, Counting Crows and Neil Young), as much as Folds' comic slice-of-life lyricism and astounding piano chops. Although the band was dissolved in 2001, Folds himself has stay-ed active and creative, releasing EPs (including one with cult icon William Shatner) as well as two solo CDs — 2001's Rockin the Sub-urbs, and this year's Songs for Silverman.

Unsurprisingly, the artist has broadened both his songwriting skills and his weapons chest — some of his most compelling material turns out to be some of the most heartfelt and romantic (this writer finds Suburbs' The Luckiest — a deceptively simple love song, irresistible), rather than the chuckle inducing.

Highlights of Silverman include a tender dedication to his young daughter Gracie, as well as an unconventional tribute song Late, for the departed singer/songwriter Elliott Smith. However, there is little danger of losing his ever-expanding fan base, as he hasn't yet lost his quirky edge, energy or wit.

“You get kicked around enough and…after all those years,” Folds says, “that streak is still there.” How much it's still there might be partly demonstrated by this simple fact: Four of his seven September Japan dates have already sold out, as of this writing. This month, 2 dates in Osaka at IMP Hall, the 25th and the 26th.

Matsushita IMP Hall
Time: 17:00 • Entry: ¥7,000
Tel 06-6341-4506

Flogging Molly

Sept. 26

"I'm inspired by bands like The Dubliners and The Pogues," says Flogging Molly singer-guitarist Dave King, who met most his band mates at a neighborhood Irish pub (Molly Malone's) in the middle of Los Angeles, California.

Now in their eighth year, and on their fourth commercial release (Within a Mile from Home), Flogging Molly continue to breed traditional Irish influences and heavy-hearted storytelling with "brazen, barn-burning punk rock."

Not unlike the instrumentation of other members of their small fraternity of popular Irish rockers, (though FM's sound is most often likened to that of the Dropkick Murphys), the band spices up their guitar/ bass/drums foundation with traditional Irish instru-mentation such as fiddle, banjo and, yes, even spoons.

Although their released repertoire is satisfying with its mix
of righteous politics, emotionally charged balladry as well as their bread-and-butter 'jig-punk' (not to mention the occasional charmed a capella sing-along), their modestly produced recorded work generally takes a backseat to their love of delivering their energy live and direct. Stealing many a show on 2003's Warped Tour has contributed to the band's steadily soaring profile.

"The only way I can think to describe the atmo-sphere at a show is that of a football game — and when I say football, I mean soccer game — in the sense that there's a camaraderie between the band and the crowd," says King. Joined by Memphis country-rock band Lucero, the delightfully raucous septet swings through Japan for about a week this getsu-matsu, doubtlessly flogging Osaka's Big Cat into submission on the 26th.

Big Cat
Time: 19:00 • Entry: ¥4,700
Tel 06-6233-8888&B

Live Listings September

9/1
Arrow Jazz Orchestra w/ Kimura Atsuki @ Osaka Blue Note. 18:30/21:30. ¥5,400~¥7,400.
Tel 06-6342-7722. Jazz
9/1
Nine Back Alps @ Club Quattro. 19: 00. ¥5,500.
Tel 06-6362-7301. Rock
9/2
Enki @ Hirkata Shimin Kaikan. 18:30. ¥4,300.
Tel 06-6762-6130. Chinese
9/2 & 3
Keiko Lee @ Osaka Blue Note. 18:30/21:30. ¥5,900-¥7,900.
Tel 06-6342-7722. Jazz
9/3
Otodama: Okuda Tamio, Yuki, UA 9@ Izumi Otsu Phoenix. 11:30. ¥6,000. Tel 06-6357-3666. Various
9/4
Clammbon @ Osaka-jo Yagai Ongakudo. 16:30. ¥4,200/¥3,675. Tel 06-6357-4400. Pop/Rock
9/5
Donavon Frankenreiter @ Club Quattro. 19:00. ¥5,800.
Tel 06-6362-7301. Rock
9/5 & 6
Jesse Harris @ Osaka Blue Note. 18:30/21:30. ¥5,400/¥7,400.
Tel 06-6342-7722. Pop/Folk
9/7
Marc Benno @ Banana Hall.
20:00. ¥6,000. Tel 06-6361-6821. Pop/Rock
9/7 & 8
Pyramid @ Osaka Blue Note. 18:30/ 21:30. ¥5,000/¥7,000.
Tel 06-6342-7722. Jazz
9/9 & 10
Tommy Emmanuel @ Esaka Muse. 19:00. ¥7,000.
Tel 06-6387-0203. Acoustic Guitar
9/10
Grooveline @ Osaka Blue Note. 18:30 /21:30. ¥4,000/¥6,000.
Tel 06-6342-7722. Jazz/Funk
9/12
Carmen Linares @ Osaka Chuo Kokaido. 19:00. ¥3,000~¥7,000. Tel 03-3901-1573. Flamenco
9/13
Magma @ Club Quattro. 19:30. ¥7,500. Tel 06-6535-5569.
Rock
9/14
Polaris @ Big Cat. 19:00. ¥3,500.
Tel 06-6357-3666. Rock
9/14 & 15
Joshua Redman @ Osaka Blue Note. 18:30/21:30. ¥6,400~¥8,400. Tel 06-6342-7722. Jazz
9/15
Fall Out Boy @ Club Quattro. 19:00. ¥4,500. Z 06-6362-7301. Hardcore/ Mellowcore
9/16
Eric Andersen @ Banana Hall.
19:00. ¥6,000. Tel 06-6882-1224. Folk, Rock
9/16 & 17
Jaguar Wright @ Osaka Blue Note. 18:30/21:30. ¥5,400~¥7,400. Tel 06-6342-7722. R&B
9/19 & 20
Peabo Bryson @ Osaka Blue Note. 18:00/21:00. ¥7,500-¥9,500. Tel 06-6342-7722. Soul/Pop
9/20
Feist @ Club Quattro. 19:00. ¥4,500. Tel 06-6535-5569. Rock
9/21 & 22
New York Voices @ Osaka Blue Note. 18:30/21:30. ¥5,900-¥7,900. Tel 06-6342-7722. Jazz Vocals
9/24
Michel Camilo @Kyoto Concert Hall. 14:30. ¥5,250.
Tel 075-255-7273. Jazz Piano
9/25&26
Ben Folds @ Matsushita IMP Hall. 17:00. ¥7,000.
Tel 06-6341-4506. Pop/Rock
9/26
Eric Benet @ Osaka Blue Note. 18:30/21:30. ¥7,000-¥9,000.
Tel 06-6342-7722. R&B
9/26
Flogging Molly @ Big Cat. 19:00. ¥4,700.
Tel 06-6233-8888. Rock
9/26
Millencolin @ Club Quattro.
19:00. ¥5,500. Tel 06-6281-8181. Hard Rock
9/27
Bonnie Pink @ Club Quattro.
19:30. ¥5,500. Tel 0570-02-9999. J-pop/blues
9/27-29
Jimmy Cliff @ Osaka Blue Note. 18:30/21:30. ¥8,500-¥10,500.
Tel 06-6342-7722. Reggae
9/29
Quruli @ Taku Taku. 19:00. ¥3,500. Tel 06-6341-3525. Rock
10/3
Dropkick Murphy's @ Mother Hall. 19:00. ¥6,000.
Tel 06-6535-5569. Rock

LIVE Section compiled by HWJ