Coming Full Circle – The Music of Otonowa
Sunday, February 21st, 5:30 pm
Akira Tana, Masaru Koga, Ken Okada and Art Hirahara
In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Northern Japan Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear Disaster of 2011, OTONOWA will share music and reflections from their tours 2013-2019.
OTONOWA, or “sound circle”, is the ever-evolving musical creation of legendary jazz drummer Akira Tana. What began with a trio formed to play a benefit for victims of the Northern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami disaster of 2011, has emerged as an ensemble and a cause. OTONOWA has travelled year after year to share the healing power of music, to connect with the survivors and to support on-going rebuilding efforts in the Tohoku region.
OTONOWA musicians – Akira Tana (drums), Art Hirahara (piano), Masaru Koga (shakuhachi, saxophone, flute), and Noriyuki Ken Okada (bass), offer a unique sound melding American jazz craft to interpret traditional Japanese folk melodies of their ancestry. Guests: Saki Kono (vocals) and Takahiro Dai (trumpet).
“The quartet – recently returned from a goodwill tour of northern Japanese villages devastated by the 2011 tsunami and earthquake – gave a performance that seemed love-filled and compassionate. At times it felt like a lullaby . . . It was exquisite.” _ San Jose Mercury
“2011’s terrible earthquake and tsunami in Japan were to become a crucible for Otonowa, which launched this brotherhood of Japanese-American jazz luminaries into a program of touring and recording to raise both funds and spirits for the survivors. You’ll hear unique melodies you’ve never heard in highly original settings you’re unlikely soon to forget.” – Stanford Jazz Workshop
The program is hosted by J-Sei in conjunction with its 30th Annual Crab Feed. RSVP on Eventbrite for this free virtual program, “Coming Full Circle: Otonowa“.
Main Photo: Akira Tana, Art Hirahara, Saki Kono, Ken Okada, Masaru Koga
Photo credit: Gabi Nakashima