Yokai! Songs of the Japanese Supernatural available for purchase
We will be playing live between Oct. 17-Nov.2 as well as a few dates in 2027, click here to see if we are playing near you!
The new album will be released officially on October 23, but you can purchase a copy directly from me. Click here to purchase.
FUMI TOMITA: bass
Carl Clements: saxophones and flute
Jason Ennis: guitars
Gary Fieldman: drums
1. Daija (Monster Snake)
2. Kitsune (The Fox)
3. Betobeto san
4. Wakana-Hime (Princess Wakana)
5. Kiyomori
6. Amabiko (Sea Lad)
7. Genjū Zukushi Emaki (Beasts Galore)
8. Okiku
9. Hyakki Yagyo (Night Parade of 100 Demons)
For more information on the project, click here.
Yokai review & tickets for upcoming shows
The album won't be out until October 23, but there is already a truly wonderful and insight review by Thierry Clemensat from Paris Move. Click the link to read it.
AND
Tickets are available for concert dates in Brooklyn (Sun. Oct. 18) at the Shapeshifter, the Van Dyck Music Club in Schenectady (Sat. Oct. 31), CNY Jazz in Syracuse (Sun. Nov.1), and Bop Shop Records in Rochester (Mon. Nov. 2). Click on the city name to buy your tickets. No tickets required for Christ church cathedral in Hartford (Sat. Oct. 17), Bezanson recital hall at UMASS Amherst (Wed. Oct. 21), and Springfield Museums in Springfield, MA ($4, Thu. Oct. 22).
right: New Year's Eve Foxfires at the Changing Tree, Ōji by Utagawa Hiroshige (c.1857)
A slightly different take on kitsune (the fox) in Japanese foklore.but no less mysterious.
Upcoming Yokai tour dates
Getting very excited for some upcoming tour dates. If you are in the NE somewhere, please come out to the shows and say hello!
Oct. 17, 4pm; Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford, CT
Oct. 18 7pm, Shapeshifter Lab, Brooklyn, NY
Oct. 21 7:30pm, Bezanson Recital Hall, Amherst, MA
Oct. 22 12:15pm, Springfield Museum
Oct. 31 7-9pm, Van Dyck Music Club, Schenectady, NY
Nov. 1, 7pm, CNY Jazz, Syracuse, NY
Nov. 2, 8pm, The Bop Shop, Rochester, NY
Feb. 28, 7pm, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Joining me will be Jason Ennis, guitar; Gary Fieldman, drums; and Carl Clements, flute/sax (David Detweiler on flute/sax will be on the California date)
July 2026
Yokai! Songs of the Japanese Supernatural
CD coming out October 16, 2026
As usual it's been a long time, but I've been working on a recording project for the last 15-16 months. It's called Yokai! Songs of the Japanese Supernatural and will be out October 16 on Origin records. It's a jazz album with songs inspired by primarily woodblock prints of various Yokai and other Japanese supernatural creatures. It features Carl Clements on saxes/flute, Jason Ennis on guitars, and Gary Fieldman on druns. I'm so happy with how everything came out and can't wait for everyone to hear this music.
I've got six dates confirmed in the New England/upstate NY area coming up in the fall to support the album release (and so far one date on the West Coast in February 2027). Dates and places can be seen on the schedule page, so if you live close to there please come to one of the concerts. Accompanying videos will be released from the end of September.
January 2025
Hello! It's been a while, but it's been very busy---I will be even busier in the next few months working on lots of exciting projects. I was just down in Atlanta at the Jazz Education Network where I gave a clinic and played with the gentlemen below. I also gave my own paper presentation on Horace Silver. Are you in the Pioneer Valley? I have a few gigs coming up in Stockbridge at the Red Lion Inn in the den. I'll be joined by some terrific musicians including Pamela Knowles whom I used to gig with in NYC about twenty years ago! Come by if you are around and say hi. Feeling very good right now and looking forward to sharing with you the projects I am/will be working on. Peace.
January 2025 - Jazz Education Network clinic and performance with David Detweiler, Jeff Benatar, and Dave Potter
