I'm Shimamura, the editor-in-chief of Premium Japan. Today, I attended a luncheon with Japanese jazz legend Sadao Watanabe at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan (FCCJ), of which I am a member.
The luncheon held at FCCJ is an event where famous people give talks over lunch. As a big jazz fan, I couldn't miss this one.
When I was working for International Brands, I was the secretary of the International Brands Committee within the Ginza Street Association, a shopping district organization, and I was involved in producing the GINZA INTERNATINAL JAZZ FESTIVAL.
The plan was for various jazz artists from around the world to perform in various parts of Ginza, and in 2009, Sadao Watanabe performed as the final act at the Kabukiza Theatre, which was just before it was rebuilt.
I never forgot the experience of listening to Sadao perform live on the Kabukiza stage, and I continued to attend his concerts there and there after.
Sadao Watanabe, known by his nickname Nabe Sada, was born in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture in 1933. He is 91 years old this year, but is still an active musician and a true jazz legend, continuing to perform concerts around the country almost every month.
On the day of the luncheon, he spoke in English about his background. It was so long and varied that it took all the time to finish, starting with the time when his father bought him his first clarinet, how he switched to the saxophone, his connection with jazz pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi in New York, and his experience studying abroad at Berklee College of Music in the US and performing with various musicians there.
The latest album "Peace" was released in April this year.
Then in April, he released his first new studio album in seven years, "PEACE," a ballad-themed album filled with thoughts of peace.
This ballad album starts with "Peace" composed by Horace Silver, and includes standards such as "I Fall in Love Too Easily," "Lament" composed by JJ Johnson, and "I'm a Fool to Want You," also known as the song of Billie Holiday, as well as four of his own songs. When he was young, he loved Frank Sinatra's ballad collection "In the Wee Small Hours," and he had always envisioned releasing a ballad album someday.
The rhythm section supporting his lyricistic sax playing is made up of musicians from a Japanese-American quartet that successfully performed at New York's Blue Note in 2019. Russell Ferrante (p) is the keyboardist for the popular fusion band Yellow Jackets, and has had many opportunities to play in sessions with Sadao Watanabe in recent years. Ben Williams (b) is regarded as one of the most important bassists in the contemporary jazz scene, having won the Monk Competition and performed with Pat Metheny, Wynton Marsalis, and Jose James. Ittetsu Takemura (ds) is the drummer of Watanabe's regular Japanese quartet, and is someone Watanabe has complete confidence in.
"PEACE" has become a standard song on stage in recent years, and is the first song on the album, and is also the title of the album. Sadao Watanabe's thoughts on peace are said to be infused into this song.
During the luncheon, Sadao said, "Japan has developed technologically and economically, and we are living a wealthy life, but I still feel very anxious. The only good news we hear every day is about Shohei Otani. Japanese life has changed so much that I feel like we are losing the culture of helping each other that existed in old Japan."
I can't help but feel that Watanabe's thoughts like these are connected to the title of this album, "peace."
Sadao Watanabe is a rare figure who does not hold an instrument.
Sadao Watanabe
Born in Utsunomiya in 1933. After graduating from high school, he moved to Tokyo and participated in a number of bands, including Toshiko Akiyoshi's Cozy Quartet. After studying abroad at Berklee College of Music, he became one of Japan's top musicians, active on the world stage with his unique style that goes beyond the boundaries of jazz. His talent as a photographer has also been recognized, and he has published six photo books.
He served as the general director of the government exhibition at the 2005 Aichi Expo, where he advocated for world peace through music. In 2016, he performed at "International Jazz Day 2016" at the White House, hosted by former US President Barack Obama and his wife. As a lifelong active player who continues to perform energetically not only in Japan but also overseas, his appearance inspires and inspires people of all ages and genders around the world.
Mio Shimamura
Since 2017, as the representative and editor-in-chief of Premium Japan,
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