Being on the road solo for the last 18 months has made me really appreciate the joys of sharing the stage with other players.
Back in the UK I have been fortunate enough to work with such a wonderful cast of musicians who have made the live experience a joy and have made my records sound the way I`ve always hoped. This is no more evident than on my latest long player `Good Times With Evil` where we rehearsed and honed the songs intensely for days before recording the bulk of the record live in one day (Mostly in one take).
To hear me with these guys you can check this vid out here
However my budget dictates that my tours abroad must be solo and so it give me great pleasure to be able to send some Kudos to some of the great players I`ve had the pleasure to share a stage with here in Japan.
Graham was born in Oxfordshire UK and has travelled round the world playing professionally for years now. We first met in Chiba Bar Toppers where he introduced me to the awesome Japanese Jazz combo Soil & Pimp Sessions. His playing style is wonderfully expressive and It`s truly been a pleasure to share a stage with him on multiple occasions.
Eiji (Tony) was attending shows for a while before word got to me how accomplished he was as a keys player. He bought a copy of my 3rd album and a week later turned up to a show with score sheets he had notated from the record. He speaks very little English and I very little Japanese. But that matters little as the understanding is their in the music.
It aaaaallllllll started with Adam. Back in 09 on only the second day of my first tour of Japan I attended an open mic night in Shibuya Tokyo where I put out an open invitation to any drummers in the building to jump on stage and get involved. Adam rose to the challenge and later I discovered he also plays Baritone Sax. So we`ve shared a stage many times since then.
The Story with Shinya dates right back to 2007 in New Zealand. My first tour outside of the UK and I`m booked into a cafe in Auckland called 121. Shinya is working there and so prior to the show we spend the day hanging out drinking too much coffee and enjoying many musical tangents. Then we never meet again. Cut to 3 years later and the first show of my 3rd Japan tour and who should be opening with a solo Sitar performance. The world works in mysterious ways and to meet Shinya again by chance warranted the sharing of a stage for sure.
Where to begin??!?. I`ve been a fan of Haco`s music for years and in late 2010 I was lucky enough to meet her and to play with her. We performed an improvisation show together creating 35 mins of ambience and psychedelic crazyness. One of the most affirming moments in my musical journey.
Eric has been drumming for years and has many wonderful stories of his times kerouacing around the US with his many musical projects. He has toured with and shared the studio with Gary Newman and members of Wilco and American Music Club to name a few. His style is unique and original as he dabbles with modern effects and geeks out over pre-war vintage drum sets. He is currently collaborating with Callum`s Whisky Tales and they are nearly finished with their debut album.
One half of NolenNiu-de-Ossi Yasushi is a master of both guitar and Shamisen. I had the pleasure of collaboration with these guys at the 2010 Kansai Music Conference. Since then we have played many times together in Kansai and I hope to one day see them come to the UK.
The other half of NolenNiu-de-Ossi Toruko plays and sings with such character you can`t help but smile and relish the music. The perfect ying to the yang of Yasushi`s vocal and playing style. One of my favourite moments of performing last year was to play an impromptu street performance in Osaka with these guys. Legends!!!
Always thrown in the deep end when we`ve performed together. Daniel is a member of Sorcha and the Sinners and Remedy’s Library and is one of the most tastful musicians I`ve ever heard. Respectful and communicative without words it`s no surprise that of all 4 acts who played the last show I did. All wanted Daniel in to accompany.
A member of the dub/ska/jazz band Riddimates You is so flamboyant with the Sax it`s just stupid. His live energy is as such that the audiences have been worked to a frenzy by You whilst I`m happy to hold it down and grin.
Touring in Kansai I played a venue in Osaka called Socio. The support band for the night were frankly terrible until they brought on a special guest. looking like the coolest mutha on the planet Yusuke sauntered onto the stage and turned the whole show around. I invited him to join me for my set and haven`t looked back. Everytime I visit Kansai I hope to jam with one of the most exciting and unpredictable drummers I have ever met.
Chief Songsmith behind Callum`s Whisky Tales. Callum Grant has become a great friend during my trips to Tokyo and to see his music grow and evolve has been a pleasure. During this tour we`ve finally had the chance to share a stage and to hear him adding inventive riffs and melodies to my songs has been a joy. Whisky`s a plenty to boot.
Originally from Strasbourg France but currently living in Tokyo Robin was invited by super cool Music Cafe at night and Pet Salon during the day called Cafe Mignon to come and accompany me. He is a wonderfully accomplished player who worked has worked with many artists over the years. Check out his stuff here.
Shouichi is one half of the partnership who own Cafe Mignon in Tokyo. The cafe itself does so much to help rescue and re-house animals effected by the Tsunami last march. Shouichi himself is a wonderful musician who has been professional for many years now and can be found on random videos performing in arenas as a session player from many different popular Japanese artists. He stunned me with his ability and stunned even more when I discovered he has done his homework and nailed the full structures of the songs. Plus like many Japanese musicians. He`s ridiculously modest.
Steve has been a friend and fellow music enthusiast for sometime and unfortunately it was only in my most recent tour that we finally shared a stage. Despite minimal rehearsal and the last min addition of songs he`d never had the heads up on. He was still solid as a rock. And why not when you realise how much experience he has playing with bands in the US and Japan. It really was one of my favourite Japan moments to share a stage with Steve, Graham and Eiji as we forgot the script and strayed into wonderful and simple spontaneous jamming.
So whilst on tour in Kobe I arrive to play a cafe show to discover they have no PA. There fore no Loop Station usage. Naomi stepped up to the challenge of playing the chimes for `Map of Shibuya`. She did a great job too 🙂
Stuart O'Connor 
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