Toru Dodo's Blog

May 3rd (Sat) Toru Dodo Trio at Brooklyn Museum

Posted on Apr 26, 2008

Come at the Target First Saturday at Brooklyn Museum on May 3rd(Sat)

Toru Dodo Trio performs at

Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Auditorium, 3rd Floor

10pm(1set)

FREE!!!!!

http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/visit/first_saturdays.php

Toru Dodo-piano

Yasushi Nakamura-bass

John Davis-drums

I'm on the road this week.

Posted on Apr 14, 2008

I'm on SOMI's mini USA tour right now.

Here is the schedule. MOre info is on my website,

http://torudodo.com.

15(Tue)-19(Sat)SOMI USA Tour

15(Tue)Sculler's, Boston

16(Wed)&17(Thurs) Dakota, Minneapollis

18(Fri) Germantown Performing Arts Center, TN

19(Sat) Cape May Jazz Festival, NJ

SOMI-Voc

Liberty Ellman-guitsr

Patrice Blanchard-bass

Daniel Moreno-perc

Toru Dodo-piano

April 2nd(Wed) TORU DODO TRIO @ CACHACA, NYC

Posted on Mar 17, 2008

It's a rare performance by me as a leader in NYC besides Every Sunday night Jam session at Cleopatra's Needle.

So Please read carefully and support this event.

APRIL 2nd(Wed)

TORU DODO TRIO @

CACHACA, NYC

10pm & 11:30pm

$10 music charge

The casts are..

Toru Dodo (piano)

Joseph Lepore (bass)

John Davis(drums)

CACHACA is located on 35 West 8th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.

Excellent Jazz Solo Piano Book will be out on Feb.28

Posted on Feb 14, 2008

My first book will be published on Feb.28 .

The tittle is ”Excellent Jazz Solo Piano" (Rittor Music)

including 12 standard songs I arranged , CD I playedon and

9 essays,

It's for pianists who starts to have interests in Jazz music.

It's available only in Japan.

http://www.xx.em-net.ne.jp/~swing/

So here I'm in Japan.

Posted on Jan 16, 2008

Hmm.It's good to be busy.you don't think too much if you have so many things to do.

After my toronto trip was over , now I'm off to Japan to join Meiji University OB tour.

I've been boasting that Igraduated Berklee College of Music but actually I graduated Meiji University before I came to the USA. They do the 1st Meiji University OB jazz festival at the University Hall on Jan.27th. 21st-26th , I also played various clubs in Tokyo area.

The schedule is here;

１／２１(Mon)Ginza Swing

１／２４(Thurs)November 11th

http://www.risingdragon.jp/nov11th/flame.htm

１／２５(Fri)BarBarBar

http://www.barbarbar.jp/

１／２６(Sat)Alfie

http://homepage1.nifty.com/live/alfie/

１／２７(Sun)Ochanomizu Jazz Festival

http://www.risingdragon.jp/new/0127jazz/20080127-jazz-2.htm

21 Keiji Matsushima(Tp), Kazuhiko Kondo(Alt),Yu Takase(bass), Osumi Toshio(drums)

24-27 Takako Afuso (voc), Daiki Yasukagawa(bass), Toshio Osumi(drums)

Toronto Tour

Posted on Jan 15, 2008

My first IAJE appearance was a little sour.

How could people come to see unknown pianist's trio when Eddie Gomez played in a next room and Carl Allen did his clinic at the same time?

Tons of people got together in this largest Jazz convention that took place in Toronto this year. The concerts I went to see were packed everywhere. That made me feel so down when my trio only drew 1/10 of the concert hall.

The bottom line was nobody knows me. And I know nobody.
I think the room was too big for me. I wouldn't mind playing on the street so that I hada better chance to be exposed by many of Jazz lovers but they gave us a nice
and grand concert hall.

As a performer, the attendance is a huge issue. If you see the many empty seats, you lose your motivation to play. When I played our 1st tune, I was so upset, losing myself. But after that, I tried not to think about the audience but to focus my music.
After all, I'm not trying to be a next president. If that show is a caucus in Toronto, I'd quit my campaign but I'm not quitting. I am a musician. Creating beauty, man.
The world is not discovering Toru Dodo yet. That's all.

Besides that, I enjoyed much of my trip to Toronto.

A friends of mine, a great artist in Toronto, Tomolennon videotaped our shows and will make my music video. I'll keep you updated on this.

My trio also played at the new year's party for Japanese companies in Toronto. I met many of Japanese friends in Toronto.Thank you for your support!

The weather was good during my stay. It's just good enough to be able to get there and get out without no delay on flight.

TORu ON TOur

Posted on Jan 8, 2008

So, Toru Dodo Trio, my piano trio will go to Toronto this week.I'm excited cause it's my first time to do my tour outside Japan.

I renewed my businesscard for IAJE, packed my stuff. Ready to go.

Jan.10th(Thurs)

Toru Dodo Trio @ IAJE in Toronto

5pm-6pm

Fairmont Royal York Hotel Concert Hall

IAJE Info

http://iaje.org

12(Sat)Toru Dodo Trio @ NikkeiBunka Kaikan in Toronto

7pm-

Shinkikai Info

http://www.jccc.on.ca/

Toru Dodo (p)

Joseph Lepore(b)

Rodney Green(drums)

A Happy New Year!

Posted on Jan 1, 2008

A Happy New Year!

Year by Year, My life in NY is getting wilder beyond my imagination.

I don't want to make any resolution or any prediction.

I just hope 2008 will be great year for everyone!

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Latest News on December 2007

Posted on Dec 8, 2007

1) Toru Dodo Trio will perform at the KITANO HOTEL on Dec. 13th (Thurs).

2 sets 8pm & 10pm
$15 minimun/set

Kitano Hotel at:

66 Park Avenue @38th St.
212-885-7119

Toru Dodo-piano
Joseph Lepore-bass
Yujiro Nakamura-drums

2)Toru Dodo Trio will perform at the 35th IAJE in Toronto on Jan.10th.

5pm at Fairmont Royal York Hotel

3)Toru Dodo is now working on the book project for a Japanese publish company.

It's going to be a book for people who are interested in playing jazz piano music.Currently I'm tied up with arranging 12 tunes from American old songs to Classical music.

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/todorudo

Trip to Rwanda & Uganda

Posted on Nov 13, 2007

SOMI took her band to Rwanda & Uganda from October 26 to Nov.6th.

The job I've been doing is playing piano wherever there is piano. So basically, what I did on this trip was playing the piano for SOMI in Rwanda & Uganada. But let's face it. I played the piano at the place I've never dreamed being there when I was in Japan where I grew up. Yes, I had a special time.

(By the way, in Kigali, Rwanda's capital city,there are only 3 pianos. And more, there is only one piano tuner in Rwanda. I met him and played the one of 3 pianos in town. Yamaha grand piano in Serena Hotel.)

SOMI took me to Niger almost 2 years ago. So I kind of know the vibes in Africa. In a way I was ready to see this part of the world. However, everything I saw on this east Africa tour was as stimulating as my Niger trip.

Impressed by modernized Rwandanese carring cellphone and surfing the internet on the street.

Disturbed by their recent chaos especially for the Rwanda genocide in 1994.

Amazed by the beauty of the source of the Nile river in Uganada.

Saddened by some poverty area I saw on the way to the source of the Nile.

What I do is playing the piano wherever there is piano. But when you do a trip like this, you feel like you become not only a musician but a philosopher or historian. Or just let you realize how you were ignorant on every subject. Especially, being in Africa makes you a thinker. Yes, I learned a lot. I'll learn more.

I wanted to pasete some of the photos on this page but I don't know how to do it. In the meantime, you can check those photos on my Japanese diary section on my website.

http://torudodo.com

I'm back.

Posted on Nov 6, 2007

I just got back from SOMI's East Africa tour.

While I was gone, Red Sox won a championship, California fire was put off, it turned winter weather in NY.

I'll try to write my report later here but for now I'm off to bed.

I'm Off to RWANDA and UGANDA.

Posted on Oct 26, 2007

So I'm about to leave RWANDA. Then I'm taken to UGANDA ,too.

It's SOMI's East Africa tour.

I'll report this trip after I come back in NYC on Nov.6th.

(If I can come back....)

My Recent Activities

Posted on Oct 19, 2007

From Sep.27-Oct.12, I was touring Japan with my trio. 14 shows in 7 cities.

Oct.15th , I played at the Jazz Standard in NYC for Carolyn Leonhart/ Wayne Escoffery's CD "If Dreams Come True" release Party live.

I may go to Rwanda from Oct.26th for a week as a pianist for SOMI, a singer from Rwanda.

My piano trio will perform at the IAJE 2008.

(Jan.10th ,2008 at Fairmont Royal York Hotel's Concert Hall at 5pm-6pm )

Right now, trying to recover from a good old Japan-NY jet lag. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Why do I have to be disturbed?

Posted on Sep 20, 2007

I know it's nothing to do with my life.

But I 'm very worried about my red sox.

I know there's no point why I have to worry about them.

But why Yankees are only 1.5 games behind now? I was so disturbed they lost to Yankees last Friday after they were leading 7-2 till 7th innings. What happened to Okajima?

It'll be disaster if Boston can't win the division this year after they have been having almost perfect season.

OK. OK. I know . I know.

No worry. Their life has nothing to do with my life. They are millionaires. They don't care.

Let's focus on my life. Yeah, I'll leave for Japan soon. Think about my piano trio tour. Pack my stuff. They still can win at the post season , I hope they can be in it at least.........................

Carolyn Leonhart & Wayne Escoffery CD released!

Posted on Sep 18, 2007

Sep.18, Carolyn Leonhart & Wayne Escoffery's CD was released worldwide from nagel heyer label.

I play the piano on this whole album. Check it out!

『If Dreams Come True／Carolyn Leonhart & Wayne Escoffery』
(Nagel Heyer)

Carolyn Leonhart-voc
Wayne Escoffery-sax
Toru Dodo-p
Hans Glawischnig-b
Jason Brown- ds
Carl Allen-ds

http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/archive.html#

Actually You can Watch it.

Posted on Sep 14, 2007

Somi's live on Sep.13 at Kennedy Center can be watched at

Somi-voc,

Herve Samb-guit.

Daniel Moreno-perc

John Benitez-bass

Myself- piano

http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/schedule.html#

Maybe you can watch me...on Sep.13

Posted on Sep 11, 2007

On Sep.13 (Thurs) on 6pm E.T.

You maybe can watch SOMI's live on the net. The very Japanese- looking pianist on the band is me.

Check it out !

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Detroit International Jazz Festival

Posted on Sep 4, 2007

Sep.2 (Sun)

I know this thing would never make the world any safer place or solve the global warming but it's a good news for a Japanese pianist living in NY for 9 years.

I played at the Detroit International Jazz Festival as a pianist for Curtis Fuller super band.

Curtis Fuller (Tb), Randy Brecker(Tp), Rene McLean(As),Corcoran Holt(bass), Louis Hayes(drums).

What a band! I'm not sure if I sound good but I can brag about my resume looks better.

And what a festival!

They blocked one main road for 4 days of Labor day weekends in Detroit downtown. They set up 5,6 stages on every block. Music can be heard everywhere. So many people showed up. So many musicans got together. I felt like I don't have to live in NY cause I could meet them in Detroit.

Life is good.

My Stay in Japan

Posted on Aug 24, 2007

I just came back from my 17 days stay in Japan. I got some gigs such as playing at the outside festival at Ueda, Nagano plus I got fun time seeing my family and friends.

Even though I'm born in Japan, I've been living in the States for 12 years. My 1/3 life was spent in the USA so far. Even though I go home once or twice a year, I live in NYC for 11/12 months a year.

This math doesn't make me an American. I look like a Japanese without a doubt. But somehow I see things so fresh and different in Japan whenever I go home.

What I liked about Japan for this time;

1.Washlet is everywhere. It's fun to see Japanese old style toillets (No seats. squatting style)and high-teck toilets co-exist at the Narita Airport or any majot train stations.

2.Service industry. Any places where you pay your money. They treat you super good. I can't remember how many times they told me ARIGATOUGOZAIMASHITA ! . In the states, I can't remember how many times I told service person THANK YOU VERY MUCH! when they give me change.

3. Cleanness. If you can take care of your butt with washlet, every places must be clean.

What I didn't like about Japan this time;

1.People still smoke at restaurants. (I'm a NYer.)Non-smoking area and smoking area co-exists at most restaurants without any wall.

2. Weather. Everyday was 100 F degrees while I was there. It was not that hot 12 years ago. Man, Tokyo may become Africa in 10 years unless USA signs the KYOTO protocol. I believe so. But when I came back to NY , it was around 60 F degree. Maybe even Al Gore has a hard time to notice the earth is getting hot.

3. Attitude toward an orange juice. I couldn't find orange juice at any convenience store like Seven Eleven where you can get everything. Why?

http://live.ueda.ne.jp/joint.html

My Trio will be aired on the Internet

Posted on Aug 1, 2007

Check Out!

Aug.4(Sat) 5:45am (USA eastern time)-6:45am

My piano trio performing at the UEDAJOINT, a music festival in NAGANO, Japan,

will be aired.

Fat Cat

Posted on Jul 26, 2007

Last night, I played at the Fat Cat in west village for Joseph Lepore group.

This place used to have a wall separating music place and ping-pong tables or pool tables. They closed the place last year but theu reopened this year. The difference is they took out the wall. So musicians can see all the people playing table tennis inches away from the stage.

Ping-pong ball often came toward the piano while I was playing.(It was lucky that billiard ball naver came toward my head.)

I was wondering if musicians and audience can concentrate while they hear constant ping-pong noise.I was wondering if billiard people can focus while they hear constant conplexed harmony and rythm.

For the sake of surviving in the hot NY Jazz scene , you have to practice your instrument with TV and radio on loud.

JAL till November

Posted on Jul 25, 2007

I got more accurate info about JAL, Japan Airline.

My tune from DODO3 album, For MR.M, will be aired till November 2007 in JAL's international flights' audio service called "Jazz In The Sky" presented by Yo Nakagawa.

So I'm sorry if you rushed to get your passport and your suitcases ready. We have time to get on the JAL till this fall.

JAL in July

Posted on Jul 16, 2007

This info is just in.

My tune"For Mr. M" is aired on JAL(Japan Airlines) international flights' audio service in July 2007.

Please travel abroad now using JAL and check it out.

In case you don't have your passport, the plan B is buy the CD " DODO 3" from my website.

Sicko

Posted on Jun 29, 2007

July 23, I performed at the Saratoga Jazz Festival for Somi. Besides playing the piano, I had to drive all the band members and I had to return the rental van to the Budget, a rental car company, in Queens.

It was about past 10pm, I was heading to 125th on Lenox avenue to make a right turn and take a triboro bridge. I was stuck in traffic at 124th street on Lenox. There were lots of people around that area. It was a hot Saturday night. I thought they had a block party or something.

Then I heard some sound somewhere near. It sounded like a fire cracker. A 10 seconds later, I heard another one.

Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang.

It didn't take me a second to figure out this was not a fire cracker.People screamed and ran away. Some people ducked themselves.

S-C-A-R-Y !

I have never experienced this kind of horrors. I . a Tokyo -born pianist, have never been taught in school how to protect myself from random shooting. But I just took off my seatbelt and tried to hide myself under the driving wheel. I stayed there about 10 minutes. Many police cars came pass my van. Cops rushed to the scene holding guns in their hands.

After I came home without any injury or any damage on my rental van, I checked the news that told 6 people got shot that night within hours.It was good that nothing was mentioned about a Japanese pianist was about to wet his pants inside the van.

(Pause)

I may be living in the USA too long. (12 years!) I started to see the dark side of America. The book, Notes and Tones, told me something about racism. The shooting I experienced above told me something about guns are all over the place. Then I saw the movie, Sicko, yeasterday. It told me something about people here have to be super rich unless you're OK to lose your fingers.

S-C-A-R-Y!

Bowling for Columbine has not stopped that shooting in Harlem I saw. Fahrenheit 9/11 has not stopped Iraq war. So it seems this new movie will not change USA health insurance system but I just hope things will be better. I just don't want to lose my fingers as a pianist.

Notes and Tones

Posted on Jun 18, 2007

I'm reading a book" Notes and Tones" written by Arthur Taylor. It's interviews of 29 black prominent Jazz musicians such as Miles , Monk or Elvin in 60's and early 70's.

There are so many stories I've never known. Racism is the under tone of this book.

When it comes to racism, I , a Japanese living in the US and A, have nothing to say. Japanese has nothing to do with White vs Black, Christ vs Islam , Israel vs Palestine, right?

But when it comes to that this music is Afro American's music only Afro Amreican can play, I , a Japanese Jazz Pianist living in the US and A, have to think about it.

According to this book, no" Jazz" innovators like the word "Jazz" that originally means having sex with prostitutes. Instead, they wanted to call it Afro American music.

I believe time has changed.We're in 2007. Look at Rice or Obama. Look at me playing in American musicians' band and performing at various Jazz Festivals in the States. But while I am reading this book, I feel like I don't know anything about this music.

TaKe Toriyama

Posted on Jun 8, 2007

An unthinkable thing happened to me.
I've been so disturbed by that last 10 days or so.
I don't know if it's OK to write this kind of thing on blog.
(I just don't know what blog is , anyway.)
But I 'll write , cause I want to move on.

A great Japanese drummer, my one of long time best friend
TaKe Toriyama passed away.
I don't know when exactly he died but on Memorial day,
this sad news came in from an another best friend of both,
fine bassist Yoshi Waki.
TaKe hung himself.

I met him at the Berklee College of Music about 12 years ago.
We practiced together, we did many concerts together.
We moved to NY almost same time.
We giged together.
(He was my drummer when I performed at the NY Blue Note
for my first time.)
We hung out.

Last time I played with was a Christmas eve at my regular Sunday nights
gig at the Cleopatra's Needle.
For some reason, I haven't seen him since this year.
He's been busy touring , recording and all that.
Yoshi told me last month that TaKe ran out of his visa status
so he decided to go home on June.
Yoshi and I were planning some farewell party for him.
But not this way......

He was gentle, always nice, joking around, funny,
and very sincere.
I didn't get why he had to end his life this way.
He didn't leave any notes, either.

Last Sunday was his funeral day.
It was strange.
More than 150 people (mostly musicians ) showed up.
He was loved so much by all people who know him
beyond nationalities.

Life is very ironic.
When I looked the way people gave their respect toward him,
I started to feel like he looked happy and people he left looked unhappy.

He died young (38 yeard old.)
But he'll never join funerals of his friends.
That seemed lucky.

I felt like I don't want many friends
because I' don't want to face this kind of sorrow many times.
But is it happy to be lonely?

10 days or so passed.
I still think of him.
I wanted to play together, talk ,eat and laugh together,
I wanted to struggle together.
I came to know that I liked him.
I regret why I didn't say to him I like him.
So many should have could have,

But that you can see the future could be also unhappy thing.
Can you say "I love you" to the person
who you know he'll commit suicide in 12 years
without any weird feelings?

I miss him so much.
All my prayers to his family.

Arturo's Debut

Posted on May 18, 2007

Last night, I got a very last minute offer to play at the Arturo's restaurant
in Greenwich Village.

I can't depict well but this Italian pizza place has a good old NY vibes
which I don't know really. (It's my imagination.)
They have a grand piano in the bar counter and they have
a live jazz music entertainment almost every night.
A veteran pianist Harry Whitaker usually plays here but he couldn't make it so I got a call. The band was Jimmy(Voc), Pat(bass) and Franky(drums). They're all probably in their 50's. I was the youngest one in the group. It was my first time playing at this joint.

There were many singers who came down and sat in.
Like Japanese eat sushi and Italian eat pizza,
American singers sang American old songs.
I must confess I, a Tokyo-born pianist,learned those standard songs from the chord changes.Not from the lyrics.
Hearing they sing, I was like, Oh, they sing a song.
I need to learn words. It must be rude to
accompany singers by playing chord changes not really understanding what they sing about.

There are other issues.
It's about my niche.
Last couple years, I had chance to perform
at some of big venues or festival in foreign countries
through SOMI or other artist's group.
That made me more ambitious like
I want TORU DODO's music to conquer the world
like Napoleon did.
But when I play at places like Arturo's which could be
a symbol of NY local jazz scene, singers acclaim my
accompaniment, I feel like I don't have anything against it.
I don't dislike this situation at all.

I know I just do my best on any gigs
wherever it is, whatever it is. But sometimes I'm wondering what is my goal.

It could be simple that the thing is just about a pianist plays piano,
Like Japanese eat sushi, Italian eat pizza,
and American sing American standards.

Japan's loneliness

Posted on May 3, 2007

Myspace technically made people all over world be friends, under one condition.

You have to understand English.

If you write your page in Japanese, your chance to make friends are limited. Your friends would be Japanese or some people who can read Japanese.If you write it in French, you could be friends with people in some part of Canada,some part of south America, some part of Caribean, Africa or South Asia. If you write it in Spanish, you could connected to people in most of south America. But if you write in Japanese,you have a very slim chance to win in the How -many -friends- can-you- make competition.

I'm making music without using words. I believe instrumental music can be universal and have a chance to be loved by people all over the world.Trying to spread my music by internet, however, I confront this reality that 19th Century's Imperialism still rules in this cyber world.

If Japan could colonized most of countries in the world in the past, there would be more chance for Japanese musicians to tour all over the world.It would be easy to negotiate with club owners, MCing on the stage....Don't get me wrong.I'd never support Imperialism and I'm deeply sorry about the tragedy that that countries got colonized by some other army- strong country.

But sometimes I 'm a bit jealousy when I see South American musicians do tours all over the south American countries or even in Spain. Look at American musicians! They can go almost anywhere besides some Arab countries they still haven't conquer for last 4 years or so.

I'm just pondering on the Country of Japan's loneliness and a huge challenge Japanese musicians have to deal with in this 21st century's globalization and why my CD is not selling like Madonna ,,,,while I'm checking myspace.

After the shows

Posted on Apr 19, 2007

I had good time performing at the the Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola for my favorite singers, Carolyn Leonhart (April 10-13.)and SOMI(April 16.)

I want to do my show more often but sometimes I feel like I'm OK with accompanying for great singers like them.As an independent artist, Hoping these singers gets bigger could be very passive approach for success in this NY-dog-eats dog music world but, hey, they are great, I'm happy playing for them.

Terrorists attacked me.

Posted on Apr 13, 2007

3 bombings happened in a capital area in Morocco on April 10.

Due to this incident, SOMI's performance at the festival in Morocco that was scheduled next week was postponed indefinitely.

That means ,Toru Dodo's Morocco diary that was scheduled to be uploaded on this page in 2 weeks was canceled.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

After all, we're living in the world where a terrorist attack in Morocco gave huge damage on a Japanese pianist's account book.

Sing!Sing!Sing!

Posted on Apr 11, 2007

This month, still winter time in NY, I've been enjoying playing for some of NY's finest vocalists.

April 9th, Michelle Walker, who recently moved to big apple from DC, hit at the Zinc bar.

She is soulful and coooool.

April 10th, SOMI had her CD release party at Plumn in 14th street. The place was full of SOMI related people. I expected to see her band members in the house but I couldn't see anyone. So I just got out quickly as soon as I felt lonely..... (Partying and socializing is my weakness I haven't overcome since I move to USA from Japan.) Congrats, SOMI!

Then I went to Dizzy's club to hear Sachal Vasandani and also play for Carolyn Leonhart.

Sachal and his band members are my friends who came to NYC almost same time as I came.It's great to see those cats doing great after all those things they had through.Sachal is a great singer, great composer and has great showmanship. Congrats, Sachal!

Then Carolyn sings this week through Friday. Then I'll play at Dizzy's again for SOMI next Monday.Toru Dodo can play for singers, man.

Maybe I'm getting old,I'm more liking singer's thing more than instrumental thing these days. I've heard that you are really old if you become interested in stones. I'm not interested in stones, yet, just to let you know.

http://www.jazzreview.com/article/review-5354.html

Blue Note Live Review

Posted on Apr 2, 2007

Read the review of my piano trio show at the Blue Note Sunday Brunch on March 18th.

I am proud of reading

"Dodo’s delivery from the stage between tunes should make him consider comedy as a side gig."

Thank you!

JAZZREVIEW.COM

http://thejazzsession.com/2007/03/26/show-5-toru-dodo/

Listen to my interview

Posted on Mar 26, 2007

Listen to my interview on the Jazz Session, ipod casting.I talked about my music background, my life in NYC and my latest CD"DODO 3".

Technically,every creatures who can click on their computer can hear my voice.

I'm sure this interview will make you think this pianist needs a serious English lesson.

Enjoy.

To people who came down to Blue Note on March 18th.

Posted on Mar 19, 2007

Thank you very much for coming down to Blue Note.

For me, it was such a joy to be able to present my music world in front of you.

I hope you had a wonderful time as much as I had.

Toru Dodo

March 18 at Blue Note Sunday Brunch

Posted on Mar 14, 2007

So, Please come to my show on This coming Sunday.

Toru Dodo Trio

at the Blue Note (NYC)

Toru Dodo trio
the Blue Note jazz club in NYC
March 18th, 2007 at its Jazz Brunch
12:30 PM & 2:30PM

FEATURING:
Toru Dodo (piano)
Yasushi Nakamura (bass)
Rodney Green, (drums)

Blue Note
131 West 3rd St.
New York City
Admission $24.50
For information call (212) 475-8952

Phone Interview

Posted on Mar 14, 2007

I took an phone interview from some jazz website.
I talked about my bio and my newest released CD
DODO 3.

The thing is this interview will be heard on this
jazz website's Mp 3.
That means any human beings, dogs,and cats
can listen to my thick accented bumpy English
if they can click on the website.

I asked them to replace my voice with Brad Pitt's voice.
But they rejected it.
I think there are something possible and something impossible
in this world.
I'll accept any kind of humiliations.
It will be uploaded in 2 weeks.
I'll let you know about this.

Pick up Jazz Improv's New York Jazz Guide

Posted on Mar 7, 2007

Just one page interview of me on the free jazz magazine.
(Jazz Improv's New York Jazz Guide, March issue)

Just one page appearance may be a very very small impact for
the USA market.

But, Just one page appearance is a huge step for
Toru Dodo's music career in USA market.

I was exultant after I read my interviews many times, then,
I felt a little dizzy after I read the whole magazine inside out.
You see so many musicians trying to get some attention.
I'm playing there! I'm releasing CD! Hey, Look at me!!!!

I feel like I jumped into this big pond.
Now I have to swim till the rest of my life.
Hey, look at me!!!

Pete Zimmer Band at Blues Alley

Posted on Feb 28, 2007

On February 26.
I played at Blues Alley in Washington DC
as a pianist for Pete Zimmer band.

Pete Zimmer-drums
Joel Frahm-ten sax
Marco Panascia-bass
Myself -piano

Pete is a guy I've been learning from
as to what the band leader should be
in the world where tons of independent artist
are around in NYC.

He set up his own record label about 4 years ago.
He made 3 CDs so far.
He self promotes them.
He gets gigs by himself.
If a gig is in out of town, he drives by himself.
He sets up his own drums, plays, talks to the audience,
sells CDs at the venue, pack up his drums, pays musicians,
treats musician's dinner, gives each member of his bands a ride back.

It was around 4 in the morning when he arrived my apartment in Bronx
after he unloaded Joel in Washington hight.
He headed for Brooklyn where Marco lives.
Probably, he'd go home by 5:30 am in his Queens home.

Thank you, Pete!

I saw a piano master

Posted on Feb 20, 2007

Even though I'm doing TORU DODO music most of times,
I am still interested in Classical music.

I found that there was Jacques Rouvier's piano master class at
Yamaha salon at midtown last Saturday afternoon so
I went there. (It was free.This is one of the greatest things in NY,
Lots of free event.)

Mr.Rouvier is a professor at Paris conservatoire.
A 60 -year-old French piano master is busy traveling all over the world
and performing and doing clinics like this one.

I was totally knocked out by his sound when he demonstrated.

Relaxed.deep, silky. perfect finger control&dynamics.
Sensitive pedal skill.

There were 5 students at the class and some of them were
prize winners in some international piano competitions.
However, Mr. Rouvier's sound stood out.
His advice really affected those students and made them play better.

I felt like I knew nothing about a piano after I heard him playing.
I am so ashamed that I am living as a pianist in the world
masters like Mr. Rouvier are around.
Only thing that consoled me was I made a good decision at
my high school era that I gave up becoming a classical pianist.

(Somehow, I've been surviving as a pianist who only can play good on TORU DODO music.)

VIVA! Jacque Rouvier!

V's day at Smoke

Posted on Feb 15, 2007

5 years ago,

Wayne Escoffery (Tenor Sax)& Carolyn Leonhart(Vocal)met at
the Smoke, a jazz club in NYC, for the first time.
They fell in love and got married.

5 years later,they performed at the Smoke to
celebrate Valentine's day.

I'm thankful for being part of their love story
as a pianist on the stage.

It was a delightful night.
In the audience, there was a somebody who
proposed to his girlfriend.(Yes!). There was a
somebody who bought my CD(Thank you!) though it was not my gig.
Even Sue Mingus showed up so
a Japanese pianist somehow couldn't help but
playing his ass off.

A Happy Valentine's Day!

Interview

Posted on Feb 12, 2007

I took an interview from JAZZ IMPROV Magazine.

Interview is not a easy thing to do.
Sure it's hard for a Japanese musician
to deal with it in English.

But more than that , it's hard for me
to reply it logically.

I may have to blame it to Japanese education I have taken.
In Japanese class, since there is a harsh competition just to enter
a good university, how much information you can remember
is always priority. Kids who can remember things like
who did this and when he did have more chance to go to good
universities than kids who take time to think about how he did
and why he did.

I was one of those kids who can remenber things.
But I have not trained to think things logically.

On the interview, they asked me about how I compose
and what my concept is.

I do have some concept when I compose.
But it's hard to explain on the phone.
If I have a piano near me or If an interviewer is
my friend who knows me and my music well,
I might be able to do it.

But that was not the case.

I gave up. I told a interviewer "I'll explain later."
I sweated so bad.

I said to myself, "I need to write out my concept of composing
on my note and REMEMBER it."

(My interview will be on JAZZ IMPROV NY magazine March issue.
It's free!)

A Happy Musician

Posted on Feb 8, 2007

I used to love reading famous classical composers' biographies

when I was a kid. I remember I didn't like about they didn't have a happy life.

That scared me ,too.

Beethoven---------lost his hearing.

Chopin------------dumped by his long time lover

Schubert-----------all time poor life

Even, newer musicians have a same deal.

Either they are junkie or die young. Ex.Parker, Bob Marley..........

Is there any musicians who made thousands of money,had a tons of children and lived long?

I was able to be as a musician till now by luck.

Now I'm thinking about Mozart after I became 35 years old today.

He died at age 35.

Oh well.

You Can Buy DODO 3(USA Version) from my website.

Posted on Feb 6, 2007

From now on, you can purchase my CD"DODO 3" from my website. Go to my CDs page then click Paypal button. My company TORUDODO Music will ship it you you.

3 Drummers

Posted on Feb 5, 2007

On the night of Feb 2 2007, 3 drummers I've recorded with were at the Blue Note NY.

John Lamkin (for DODO, 116 West 238St.)was with Donald Harrison group.

Rodney Green(for DODO 3) was with Mulgrew Miller trio.

And Pete Zimmer (I'm in his band)was on the late night groove live where I also played on the show.

The secret code for the Blue Note on the night of February 2 was "TORU DODO".

The only person who knew that secret might be Toru Dodo But, hey,

I had a fun time seeing my friends and also performing at the Blue Note.

http://torudodo.com/reviews.html

Reviews

Posted on Feb 1, 2007

I'm now doing a little of my media campaign in the USA Jazz media.

In order to sell my CD,DODO 3.

I thought good reviews will do good on selling my music so I'm collecting reviews as many as possible.

So far, I got 2. And the both look good.

check them out!

I hope more good one's coming so that
I can retrieve my space where I used to be able to sleep with my legs stretching out in my room.

(God! Right now, my CD boxes pile up like a mountain in my apartment.)

Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival

Posted on Jan 30, 2007

I went to Montego Bay, Jamaica from Jan.24 to 26.
I performed at the Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival
as a pianist for Bro. Joe Baione(Vib) sextet.

This 3 days event's headliner includes Eearth Wind & Fire, Michael Bolton,
Kenny Rogers and Monty Alexander.

Bro.Joe Baione played on the 2nd night. On the same bill,
there were Pieces of a dream, ABBA tribute band and Michael Bolton.

When I saw the letter"Michael Bolton" on the paper pasted on the curtain
at the backstage room, I was like,

"My music career came this close to the heights where Michael Bolton is."

I never had a chance to talk to him, though...

(Earth Wind & Fire played on the 3rd night when I left Jamaica.
A Tokyo- hailed musician came one day close to the musical god.)

Montego Bay was great .
Summer-like weather. Beautiful beach.
Pina Colada. Jerk Chicken. Bob Marley.
Bobsled, Good Old Wxxd.
Viva, Jamaica!!

Last day of my stay, the heat killed me so hard
when I was shopping around on the street.
But after 4 hours flight, I found myself shivering
at the JFK airport.
(there was 70 degree difference between Jamaica & NYC.)

Ya-Man! Peace!

My new website will be coming soon!

Posted on Jan 30, 2007

I 'm sure there are not too many website
that asks you to pronounce "Do" three times
in a row. But, I hope you love this my
new home,

torudodo.com is coming up soon.