Wouter Hamel

Dutch Jazz Singer-Songwriter

May 22-23

@ Billboard Live, Osaka

Fresh-faced Dutch jazz/pop musician and vocalist Wouter Hamel didn’t release his first album until he was 30 years old, an age at which many striving musicians would have thrown in the towel at the prospect of a professional career.

After winning a jazz vocal competition in his native Holland in 2005, Hamel began to receive a large amount of interest from the media which soon led to a recording contract. Noted to be in a similar vein as Jamie Cullum, Hamel penned all 12 tracks on his self-titled album. The single Breezy was released solely in Japan and reached number 36 in the Tokio Hot 100 chart.

Though labeled in to the jazz genre Hamel states ‘as a teenager I listened to P.J. Harvey, Smashing Pumpkins and was a huge fan of Jeff Buckley’ his music lends openness to many musical styles making it easily listenable and a refreshing experience. Since his last trip to Japan a year ago, Hamel released his new album Nobodys Tune in January this year and of it critics state “His clarity, perfect timing and beautiful own sound enable us to call his voice a gem.”

Time: 6.30pm/9.30pm • Entry: ¥5,000-¥6,500 TEL:06-6342-7722 • Genre: Jazz

Robert Cray

US West Coast Blues Guitarist

May 21

@ Namba Hatch, Osaka

Robert Cray is part of the blues establishment, a west coast American blues guitarist who can count Eric Clapton as a close friend, has recorded solos on two John Lee Hooker albums (Boom Boom and The Healer) and has graced the stage with the likes of Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert Collins.

Born August 1 1953 in Virginia, Cray put his first band together while at high school and in 1982 he signed a recording deal with Mercury Records. His third album, the 1986 release Strong Persuader, earned Cray a Grammy award and the single “Smokin Gun” brought commercial success and recognition of the soulful voiced bluesman to a wider audience.
Raised on his parents’ collection of soul and gospel records, Cray has developed a unique style with guitar licks that are clean and crisp and a voice that is smooth yet searing.

Cray’s Namba Hatch gig also features Louisiana bluesman Chris Thomas King. This the starts of a four-date Japan tour before he heads back across the Pacific for a busy two month schedule of festival dates.

Time: 7pm • Entry: ¥7,500 TEL:06-6362-7301 • Genre: Blues

In This Moment

US Melodic Metalcore

May 17

@ The Live House, Soma

Formed in 2005 and signed to Century Media Records, this US melodic metalcore five-piece fronted by the distinct scream and clean vocals of Maria Brink has made quite an impact on the commercial music scene in a very short space of time. And what has probably adhered many fans to the group is that this almost meteorically rapid raise to fame was brought about by the band posting demos on myspace, touring off of their own backs without any corporate promotion machine and building an internet fan base. It was only a matter of time before the business sector would want a piece.

In a similar vein to the band Evanscene, In This Moment captures a growing trend to return to a raw rock sound of nineties grunge and thrash whilst encompassing the melodic eighties metal genre. Sounds like poles apart, but it works and commercially it is a genre that seems to draw new talent out of the woodwork with every passing week and the audience numbers are excitingly getting larger and larger. If RnB or hip-hop is in decline then In This Moment maybe the band to lift the mantle of a new direction in popular rock music.

Live the band is a ferocious barrage of engaging energy and sound, catchy melodies that linger in the mind after one listen. This band is going to be around for some time and is not a flash-in-the-pan temporary music industry darling.

Time: 7pm • Entry: ¥5,800 TEL:06-6535-5569 • Genre: Rock

Roy Ayers

Jazz Vibraphone Maestro

May 19

@ Taku Taku, Kyoto

And now for something completely different but quite enthralling nonetheless. Born in 1940 Roy Ayers grew up in the South Central area of Los Angeles, an area that became synonymous for the Southern California Black Music Scene. Starting out with Jazz-Funk, Ayers takes credit for the early Blaxploitation movie soundtrack to the Pam Grier film Coffy but soon developed his style taking in both RnB and Disco.

As well as movie scores, Ayers’ music has also appeared in popular video games such as Grand Theft Auto so it goes without saying that many people would have heard at least one of his pieces without knowing who it belonged to. The number of albums he has released is endless and his playing is as full of the passion and enthusiasm as it was over thirty years ago. Not only is Roy Ayers a master of his instrument but a pleasure to see play live. In a small venue such as Taku Taku in Kyoto, this is a must-catch gig.

Time: 7pm • Entry: ¥6,800/¥7,300 TEL:075-351-1321 • Genre; Jazz

Live Listings May

Hisasugu Suzuki Organ Trio ft Larry Marshall (drums)

5/2 @ Mister Kellys, Osaka
7.30pm/9.15pm • ¥4,000
TEL:06-6342-5821 Jazz

Diana King

Uzumakimaru

Eddie Levert

Extreme The Dojo Presents

Kariyushi58

Karla Bonoff

In This Moment

Roy Ayers

Hibria

Ayumi Hamasaki

Robert Cray

Fumio Itabashi

Walter Hamer

Tatuya Iishi

Katy Perry

No Age

Allen Toussaint

Tower of Power

All Time Low/Set Your Goals

Brandy

Magma

Natsuki Migiwa

Compiled by Phillip Jackson