On Ensemble : Masato Baba, Kristofer Bergstrom, Shoji Kameda and Kelvin Underwood » Hiroshima Jazz

Recording with Hiroshima

shoji — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:11:03 +0000

I had recording session today with Hiroshima for the band’s new album. For those of you that don’t know when I’m not touring with On Ensemble or spending time in Java I’m usually playing with Hiroshima. I’ve been with the band for about five years and played on the last two albums “Obon” and “Little Tokyo“.

The new album is going to feature greatest hits from the band’s earlier albums and many songs that are standards in our live set. I don’t want to give away too much but the new Hiroshima album is going to be really great and a real treat for die hard fans of the band. For fans that have followed the band from the late 70′s there are songs from “Hiroshima” and “Odori” and for those new to the band it’ll be a chance to rediscover some great music.

Hiroshima at Snoqualmie

shoji — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 08:03:59 +0000

Just a quick update: drove back to Los Angeles on Christmas day after a great but short holiday vacation in Mt. Shasta. Heading up to Seattle tomorrow for a gig with Hiroshima at the Snoqualmie Casino. Really hope the weather cooperates:)

Hiroshima’s Spirit of the Season

shoji — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 02:54:23 +0000

Tomorrow I’m performing with Hiroshima for our annual “Spirit of the Season” concert. It’s become a tradition of sorts and if you’ve ever wondered what Christmas classics sound like on koto and taiko this is your chance to find out! Joining the band will be Hiroshima’s former vocalist and current star of “Here and Now, the Legacy of Luther Vandross” Terry Steele and Tex Nakamura the incredible former WAR Harmonica player. The concert is tomorrow 7:30pm at the Japan America Theater in downtown Los Angeles.

On Ensemble back in the US (kind-of)

shoji — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 06:28:53 +0000

Well Kris and Maz are back from Japan but both off gigging! Kris is on tour with Portland Taiko in Lake Placid, New York and Maz is performing with TAIKOPROJECT in the Tahoe area. I have a weekend off and am spending some time with family in San Luis Obispo. Next weekend I’ll be in San Francisco performing with Hiroshima at the Rrazz Room.

Our new studio album “Ume in the Middle” is nearing completion. We’re working with Chen Design Associates to design the CD packaging and they’ve come up with a great design. The album will be officially released in the beginning of next year but we’ll have some pre-release copies at YOBU, our upcoming annual home concert.

More Hiroshima gigs

shoji — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:30:26 +0000

Just got back to LA from a weekend of more gigs with Hiroshima. We had a great series of gigs at the Birchmere, the Rams Head and the Tampa Performing Arts Center. The Birchmere and the Rams Head gigs have become a bit of a tradition for the band the the audiences are always great. In October Hiroshima is headed up to San Francisco for a week of gig at the Rrazz Room at the Hotel Nikko.

Maz and Kris are both in Tokyo preparing for Kris’ natori debut performance at ON Ensemble ’08: YOBU. I’m working on two recording projects for On Ensemble. We’re recording parts for a collaborative piece with Patrick Graham for his upcoming solo CD and I’ll be working on the EP4 an exclusive recording for our FoundatiOn Team.