YAZ BAND: You Can't Say It In Public

Yaz Band

You Can't Say It In Public

© 2005 Yasuyuki Takagi (616892645122)

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mixture of r&b, funk, blues and jazz.

notes

When Yaz (Yasuyuki Takagi) came to New York in 1992, he was teaching himself the art of playing the saxophone in much the same way most musicians do; By constant practice at home, alone. However, by 2000 he began playing in New York City's subway stations (without accompaniment) to become more involved in New York's music scene.

In June, 2001, he was playing saxophone in Penn Station when a man who had been listening to him asked for his telephone number. Before leaving, he said: "Remember me: Mets cap and Yankee T-shirt!" That man, who later invited Yaz to join a smooth jazz group called "Since When?" was keyboardist/composer/producer Eric Smith, who was also the group's musical director. This was the beginning of the collaboration between Yaz and Eric Smith. And because Yaz admired Eric Smith's R&B/jazz style of playing, he never thought about choosing any other keyboard player when he decided to form his own band.

About the same time that Yaz met Eric Smith, a music promoter also heard Yaz playing in the subway and asked him to accompany him to a club called "Club 101" where a band by the name of "Joy Ryder and the New York Rhythm Allstars" was playing. Drummer Dave Dawson and bassist Sly Geralds were playing with Joy Ryder at the time and while listening to the band perform Yaz hoped one day to play with such a tight and tasteful rhythm section. His dream came true very soon; Eventually Yaz was sitting in the band at their gigs and was later asked to and became a regular member of the band.

Subsequently, Yaz was asked by Sly Geralds to join his own band (The Sly Geralds' Band) where he met drummer Shinya Miyamoto. Yaz was immediately impressed by Shinya's power and rhythmic groove which was something he had never experienced from the other Japanese drummers with whom he had previously played. Later, Yaz also discovered that Shinya was also a great engineer, which would later prove to be a benefit to Yaz in the studio, as well.

When Yaz auditioned for and was chosen to perform as part of The Music Under New York Series, he formed YAZ BAND in May, 2002 and immediately asked Eric Smith and Sly Geralds to join as keyboardist and bassist, respectively. Later, Dave Dawson and Shinya Miyamoto were also asked to share the position of the drummer of YAZ BAND.

Of the many Japanese musicians living in New York City, Yaz played with a band which included guitarist Takeshi Hiwatari. When Eric Smith was unable to perform an upcoming gig, Yaz asked Takeshi (who knew most of Yaz's material) to play guitar in place of the keyboardist.

Similarly, when Sly Geralds was unavailable to perform on upcoming date, Yaz asked Iyasu Nagata to fill in to replace his regular bassist. Although unsure whether Iyasu would be familiar with Yaz's R&B/funk oriented play list (they had met at a jam session where most standards were played), he was pleasantly surprised to discover that the bassist was quite adept at playing other styles (especially funk), as well.

Tomoaki Kanno was introduced to Yaz by his former drummer, Arei Sekiguchi. A student of The New School's Jazz Program, he was asked to tour with Yaz Band on their Summer, 2003 Korea Tour when no other drummer was available. Although he was given very short notice, Tomo performed magnificently and subsequently became an important regular member of Yaz Band.

Before Yaz came to New York, he played with guitarist Eiji Obata in Kyoto, Japan. At the time, Yaz felt that Eiji showed promise as becoming a talented jazz guitarist in the future. Hence, when they met again several years later (after Eiji had recently graduated from prestigious Berklee College of Music), Yaz's prediction had come true; Eiji had become a fine guitarist. Reunited, Eiji has become a regular member of Yaz Band.

Today, these musicians form the Yaz Band and perform both at various subway stations and other events throughout the New York metropolitan area. Yaz's choice to have these fine musicians appear on his second CD was not only due to their artistic abilities
as musicians, but also a statement of fellowship and growth among musicians and more importantly . . . people.

reviews

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  • You can's say it in Public
    author: Carol Gamble

    Again, I also, purchased "Rush Hour". Both albums are extremely enjoyable. I look forward to purchasing albums with you in the near future.

  • Buy It!!!
    author: Terence Culpepper

    "You Can't Say It in Public" is Yaz Band's second offering which proves that some things do get better and better as time goes by. This CD takes the music up a few notches higher than the first CD with interpretations of such classics as "Low Down", "I Wish" and a surprisingly smooth (and at times, funky) version of Herbie Hancock's "Dolphin Dance". But the striking difference between this release and the last is the presence of more originals in the repertoire. This is where the fun really begins as Yaz and Company slides, glides, shakes, rattles and rolls through the rest of the CD. Do yourself and favor: First, buy this CD and second, go see the Yaz Band live! After watching Yaz play for the first few minutes, you will see that all he wants to do is play and play and play and play and play and play and play . . . .!

  • author: Elaine Rhoades

    Excellent CD and a must for fans of Yaz. He is an accomplished soloist, and works well with the rest of the band. Jazzy, funky and very well presented.

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