Arturo's Debut

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.

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