Really Nice Gig Tonight. Played at Airegin (Yokohama) with Mike Reznikoff's band. Tonight he had Tamura Hiroshi on piano and bassist Suzuki Katsuto.



Uploaded from my cellphone - blog.

Just a got a call from Mike Reznikoff to go to Airegin in Yokohama to play tonight with his wife's band. She has a bad cold and can't do the gig. If you're free come on out!

5/30/06 My recent favorite drink.....hazelnut flavored soy milk w/ice.

what is...is what isn't...isn't.

Went to see the new movie on Tuesday....loved it.

My favorite artist is Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) Russian born

Web Museum, Paris

Kandinsky: Compositions

Kandinsky and Music

List of Kandinsky Images On the Web

My favorite Kandinsky painting is "Composition VII"

Had a great gig on Sunday at Airegin with our new band, "nyc-tokyo cell". David Berkman (piano), Jeff Curry (bass), Arun Luthra (sax) and Nobuaki Fujii (drums).

Thanks to everyone that came out to listen. I'll be back at Airegin on July 16. I'll be using a different band and haven't decided the members yet.


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Neil Stalnaker-trumpet
Arun Luthra-sax
David Berkman-piano
Jeff Curry-bass
Nobuaki Fujii-drums

My CD, "And Now The "Bad News" on iTunes

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Woodstock (intl) CHIBA CITY, CHIBA, JAPAN
84 AIOI-CHO WAKABA-KU 264-0031 - phone: 81-43-254-9200

JYM AND RECORDS (intl) Fukuyama-Shi, Hiroshima
2-5, Funamachi Daigo Iwabe Bldg. 2F 720-0043 - phone: 81-849-260-4350

Elmo LTD (intl) Funabashi-Shi, Chiba
593-1 Innai-Cho Nishifunabashi NST Daini Bldg. 273-0025 - phone: 81-47-431-0400

NSS - Inuyama (intl) Inuyama
Tsutaya Ryutsu Center 43 Jizoike Nishi, Aichi 484-0888 - phone:

Street Sounds Inc. (intl) KANAGAWA-KEN
NO. 502, 1-23-1 NAKAGAWA-CHUO TSUZUKI-KU, YOKOHAMA-SHI 224-0003 - phone: 81 45 914 8305

Ark Enterprise (intl) Machida-shi, Tokyo
4-11-9 Nakamachi Apia Nakamachi 101 194-0021 - phone: 81-42-726-3860

Atmosphere (intl) Musashino-Shi Tokyo
Paru-Haitsu 1F Right 3-5-20 Kichijoji-Kitamachi 180-0001 - phone: 81-42-222-2155

Bout Records (intl) Nagoya, Aichi
1-12-34, Central Avenue1223 3F-A, Izumi, Higashi-ku 4610001 - phone: 81-52-950-5300

Sunrise Music Co., LTD (intl) Nagoya-shi, Aichi
4-314 Koshin Moriyama-ku 463-0079 - phone: 81-52-797-7081

NSS - Okinawa (intl) Okinawa
Tsutaya Retail Center Okinawa 423-1 Uema, Naha - phone:

Sam's Record Shop (intl) Sakai, Osaka
7-4-19, Kitamikunigaoka 590-0021 - phone: 81-72-221-5453

Tower Records Japan-Audio (intl) Shinagawa, Tokyo
Wholesale Dept. SRC Bldg 1-5F 1-1-1 Katsushima 140001 - phone:

Marquee Inc. (intl) Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
3-1-17 Shimo-Ochiai 102 Maison Mejiro 161-0033 - phone: 81-33-954-2055

Handa Wanda (intl) Tokyo
1-50-17-201, Kamitakada, Nakano-ku 164-0002 - phone: 81-33-389-0659

HMV JPN Corporate (intl) Tokyo
Roppongi YAMADA Bldg.,3-5-27 Roppongi, Minato-ku, 106-0032 - phone: 81-35-561-9892

Japan Publications Trading Co. (intl) Tokyo
1-2-1, Sarugakucho Chiyoda-ku 101-0064 - phone: 81-33-292-3757

Miyoshi, Co., LTD (intl) Tokyo
2-2-19 Amanuma Suginami-ku 167-0032 - phone: 81-33-398-9163

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5-26-21-2f Kamimeguro Meguro-ku - phone: (81) 3-5722-3022

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2-15-9 Minami-Shinagawa Shinagawa-ku 1408667 - phone: 81-35-479-5801

Triple Seven Records (intl) Tokyo
4-3-3 Sendagaya 2F Shibuya-ku 151-0051 - phone: 3109548530

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Unbelievable! Look At The Size Of These Melons AND The Price!!!

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Unbelievable! Look At The Size Of These Melons AND The Price!!!

Ate Some Great Ribs At The Outback Steakhouse In Shibuya.

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Ate Some Great Ribs At The Outback Steakhouse In Shibuya.

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A Snicker and a Warning for you!


A priest was being honored at his retirement dinner after 25 years in the
parish. A leading local politician and member of the congregation was chosen to
make the presentation and give a little speech at the dinner. He was delayed, so
the priest decided to say his own few words while they waited.

"I got my first impression of the parish from the first confession I heard
here. I thought I had been assigned to a terrible place. The very first person
who entered my confessional told me he had stolen a television set and, when
questioned by the police, was able to lie his way out of it. He had stolen money
from his parents, embezzled from his employer, had an affair with his boss's
wife, taken illegal drugs, and gave VD to his sister. I was appalled. But as the
days went on I knew that my people were not all like that and I had, indeed,
come to a fine parish full of good and loving people."

Just as the priest finished his talk, the politician arrived full of apologies
at being late. He immediately began to make the presentation and gave his talk.
"I'll never forget the first day our parish priest arrived," said the
politician. "In fact, I had the honor of being the first one to go to him in
confession......."

Moral of the story: DON'T EVER BE LATE.

Went to a great little curry shop in Tobu Nerima tonight. It's just outside the station and between the station and SATY, across the street from McDonalds. Try It! The shops name is Rasna. This little video was uploaded from my cellphone.

This is not a joke. You can get a free BBQ grill from any of the following stores:
A&P
Albertsons
Safeway
Target
Tops
Wal-Mart
Wegmans
Winn-Dixie
Costco
Food Lion
Fry's
Kroger
Meijer
P and C
PriceChopper
Publix
Safeway
Target
Tops
Wal-Mart
Wegmans
Winn-Dixie
I especially like the higher shelf which can be used for keeping things warm!

Neil Stalnaker-trumpet
Arun Luthra-sax
David Berkman-piano
Jeff Curry-bass
Nobuaki Fujii-drums

Just got off the phone with a new guitar player that has moved to Tokyo. He called to find out where he should go to sit-in. Wanted to know where the sessions are. I hated to do it but, I had to give him the same message I was given by a long-time friend when I arrived (all excited and ready to jump into the action) in Tokyo. I was told that the sessions are for the people who have no gigs. A little later I found out these people are usually called amateurs. It was weird. I kept going out to these all night sessions and waiting for great players to show. People were always asking me if I was professional or amateur.

It's a shame.

I remember moving to Washington, D.C. in August, 1982. I started going to sessions all the time and I remember how my phone started ringing from people who had heard me or heard about me from other people who had been at sessions that I played at. Same thing happened to me in Pittsburgh, Baltimore and New York.

The session was a place to learn how to play. Learning from others who were a little more experienced. There was competition but friendly competition. Sometimes the sessions were terrible. Sometimes I played so badly. It didn't matter. Sometimes driving home after a session, I wanted to sell my trumpet and quit. But I didn't. Because the next session was sometimes soooo great. You could get refreshed and energized and feel great for weeks. But also, the session was a networking place. A lot of business happening. It was kind of like a party. People were happy. People would encourage someone up on the stage. Everyone yelling good words to a player when he/she played something soulful or passionate.

In Tokyo, there are some sessions but......there is no "session feeling". Kind of feels like I'm getting my 3 minutes to audition for an amusement park gig or something. Feels like when I'm sitting in a waiting room at the doctor's office. Anyway, it's a shame. The Tokyo scene could be soooo hip. There are a lot of good musicians here. A lot of clubs/concert halls/studios. But there is a big hole in the center. No session scene.

Just finished watching, "Inside The Actors Studio". I love that show! I learn so much listening to actors talk about their work which relates so much to what I'm trying to do with my music.

I really like going to the website, "FRONTLINE", and watching the previous shows. So damn interesting!

One of my very favorite people on TV is talk show host, Charlie Rose. I've enjoyed his show for many years on PBS. Rose can interview anyone on any subject and just seems to be so knowledgeable on many, many subjects. While living in Japan, I have REALLY missed watching his show.

Relaxing In A Cafe This Afternoon, Planning My Next Trip (To Yakushima). Been stayin around the house since Friday. Felt like I had the flu but, doing fine now.

Shibazakura (lawn cherry blossom) in Chichibu, Japan. 1 1/2 hours west of Tokyo.

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Shibazakura (lawn cherry blossom) in Chichibu, Japan. 1 1/2 hours west of Tokyo.

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Shibazakura (lawn cherry blossom) in Chichibu, Japan. 1 1/2 hours west of Tokyo.

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Shibazakura (lawn cherry blossom) in Chichibu, Japan. 1 1/2 hours west of Tokyo.

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Shibazakura (lawn cherry blossom) in Chichibu, Japan. 1 1/2 hours west of Tokyo.

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On a recent trip to the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route, I stumbled on to this colony of Japanese monkeys in Omachi Kyo (hot spring village).

5/4/06 While taking a walk in my neighborhood today, I saw these beautiful flowers and this "little guy" hard at work.

December 2005 We played at Airegin in Yokohama. I apologize that the video recording is not so great. I've had a lot of people ask about seeing this band. So, I wanted to put this tune on the web.

Neil Stalnaker-trumpet
Hakuei Kim-piano
Jeff Curry-bass
Masashi Tomikawa-drums


NEXT LIVE: June 17 Mahou no Ryu (Oizumigakuen, Tokyo)

May 2, 2006

Part 2 of my trip on May 2, 2006 to Mt. Takao. This clip shows scenes from the mysterious buddhist temple on top of Mt. Takao.

Mt. Takao Temple

LIBRO - IKEBUKURO STATION (SOUTH EXIT)....Foreign book sale...May 1-21...3rd floor

May 1, 2006 Trip to Mt. Takao. Located just 45 minutes west of Shinjuku station in Tokyo, Mt. Takao can be an easy day trip by Chuo Line or Keio Line trains. Once you reach Takaosan station, you can take a chair lift, cable car or one of the many hiking trails to the top. At the top you will encounter an amazing Buddhist Temple complex complete with live ceremonies that you can watch. It's one of my favorite places in Japan!

Temple..Mt. Takao

On top of Takao Mountain...rainy, cold and fog.