Arai Watches David Byrne with Kanno
Anyway, the gist is that Akino Arai wrote in her blog Viridian Room that she watched the February 28, 2009 David Byrne concert with Yoko Kanno……… In New York!
That’s all. It’s not that being in New York is surprising for Kanno as she’s been recording there for a while now, but I’m just wondering what she did there aside from watch a concert. And Akino is also there, but I don’t see any mention of a recording with Kanno, or a picture of them together. (EDIT: Apparently, Kanno was there for a mastering with George Marino. This isn’t CMYoko2 since that was by Bernie Grandman, and besides, the online release must have been done by then. Akino writes that she didn’t have pictures of her since Kanno and George Marino were very busy in the recording room.) That, and if you’re in New York, they were in your city just a few days ago!
Thank you to Fuducky for the translation!
Thanks to 小花妖 from YKFan for the source.
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March 8th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
The final paragraph is interesting, I wonder how close Arai and Kanno are since Arai calls her “Youko chan”. They haven’t worked together for a while have they?
March 8th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Did you understand what she wrote? I thought Kanno made a comment while smiling that “it was a strange uncle” ? To whom was that directed? XD
March 9th, 2009 at 2:44 am
I absolutely hope they’re doing something together for a future project… anyway it’s nice seeing they’re still good friends after all this time. ^^
March 9th, 2009 at 8:18 am
I want a collab between them again!
March 9th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
I’l have another look Mai, but a full translation might have to wait for a few days (this is a test week). I thought the strange uncle comment was about Byrne.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Take your time Kai, your test is more important. Thank you
*bows*
March 9th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
It’d be awesome if they work together again! Their last collab was a while ago, wasn’t it?
March 9th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
I don’t remember when that was XD
March 10th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Arai is releasing a full album at the end of May called Sora no Sphere. There doesn’t seem to be a tracklist yet but wouldn’t it be great if Kanno and Arai met in NY to work on the album (wish wish). Oh, and the CDJ link: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=VTCL-60107
March 10th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Oooh, thanks for that, Kai, I’ll do some research, maybe I’ll stumble on something.
EDIT: Apparently, Kanno isn’t in the guest list. I suppose she’s not in this album then.
http://www.neowing.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=VTCL-60107
March 10th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
I’m happy to see all her photos. I’ve seen Cherry Kaoru Hulsey, Toshiaki Ota, and Hisaaki Hogari in the liner notes for ages, but finally have faces to go with the names.
Here’s a quick translation:
On the last night, together with Yoko Kanno, we went to see David Byrne live, courtesy of Borderline’s Ota-san.
He’s a person who has been active as an artist not to mention he was frontman for Talking Heads.
I was surprised that when he appeared on stage he suddenly started talking. He was explaining something like ‘i made an album with Brian Eno.’
It was a full show and the audience was very happy. We were in the first line on the side of the 2nd floor and there was so much shaking I thought we would fall. Hogari-kun also in such a happy state he was about to cry, said ‘David Byrne is moving!’
Radio City. A music hall with a great history.
I also felt it has a similar quality of air to a kabuki theater.
Everyday type, with everybody spearately doing their own thing, while drinking and eating, the hall became one busily humming body.
Actually David Byrne seemed to be fixed on it. In the middle of addressing the audience, he was saying something like, ‘It seems there are still people walking in. The opening act is already over! The rockstar is coming on stage!’
For me, his dancing(or choreography) was kind of unique and childish like Matsumoto-san of Downtown. In that way, I couldn’t look away even though I didn’t even know one song. Being scared of all the shaking, I couldn’t enjoy it at all…
and in that cold manner it ended.
Going back, while smiling cheerfully Yoko-chan said ‘That was a strange old guy’. I’ve a feeling that it might be one of Yoko-chan’s peculiar compliments.
March 10th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Thank you Fuducky!!! That’s very clear now
Sounds like they had fun 
March 20th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Akino Arai will be in Paris in April!
http://www.jmusiclive.com/
I’m going 11th, anyone else coming?