Steve Lacy's Japan Tours: 1975-2004

GILLES LAHEURTE,

Gilles Laheurte

since 2004

A humanist of many talents, some of his friends consider him as a contemporary Renaissance man...

Recent articles (4 total)

Published: February 15, 2006

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TOUR 1 - 1975

June 5: Niigata Kenmin Kaikan (Niigata)* Trio * with Togashi Masahiko, Yoshizawa Motoharu
June 7: Nippon Columbia Studio (Tokyo)* Trio - LP1 * with Togashi Masahiko, Yoshizawa Motoharu
June 8: Mandara (Tokyo)* Solo & Duo - LP2 * with Yoshizawa Motoharu
June 11: Yamaha Hall (Tokyo) * Trio * with Togashi Masahiko, Satoh Masahiko
June 16: Silk Hall (Kyoto)* Solo, Duo & Trio - LP3 * with Togashi Masahiko, Yoshizawa Motoharu
June 18: Nippon Columbia Studio (Tokyo)* Sextet - LP4 * with Togashi Masahiko, Satoh Masahiko, Yoshizawa Motoharu, Midorikawa Keiki, Ikeda Yoshio
June 19: Tokyo Yomiuri Hall (Tokyo) * Sextet - LP4 * with Togashi Masahiko, Satoh Masahiko, Yoshizawa Motoharu, Midorikawa Keiki, Ikeda Yoshio
June 20: Shimomatsushi Shimin Kaikan (Yamaguchi)* [Quartet or?] * with Takagi Mototeru, Toyozumi Yoshisaburo, Yoshizawa Motoharu
June 22: Fukuoka Seinen Bunka Kaikan (Fukuoka)* [Quartet or?]* with Takagi Mototeru, Toyozumi Yoshisaburo, Yoshizawa Motoharu
June 23: Nagoya Yamaha Hall (Nagoya)* Trio * with Togashi Masahiko, Yoshizawa Motoharu
June 24: Nippon Columbia Studio (Tokyo) * Trio - LP/CD5 * with Takahashi Yuji, Kosugi Takehisa

Comments: This first adventure in Japan was without a doubt the most daring and astonishing of all. Of the five splendid albums produced, only Distant Voices made it (so far) to CD reissue under Takahashi Yuji's name...
Much desired by collectors, these LPs are a bit like Van Gogh's stunningly colorful paintings: Steve Lacy did not sell many, but... both albums and prices are today flying way-up there in the sky...if you can find one! It's amazing music.

The format of the two gigs on June 20 and 22 could not be confirmed (it could possibly have been in quintet). And... as most fans know by now, The Wire gave its name to the British music magazine of the same name...!

LP1 : Stalks (Columbia) — LP2 : Solo at Mandara (Alm) — LP3 : Torments (Morgue) — LP4 : The Wire (Denon) — LP/CD5 : Distant Voices (Columbia)

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TOUR 2 - 1979

Sept. 13: Sogetsu Kaikan (Tokyo)* Trio * with Nakamura Tatsuya, Daimon Shiro
Sept. 14: Far Out (Atsugi)* Solo
Sept. 15: Sogetsu Kaikan (Tokyo)* Trio * with Nakamura Tatsuya, Daimon Shiro
Sept. 16-17: Zabo (Kyoto)* Solo
Sept. 19: Mandara (Tokyo)* Quartet * with Yoshizawa Motoharu, Takagi Mototeru, Kondo Toshinori
Sept. 20: [Other session(s) may exist]?

Comments: A very short and unusual tour, featuring two important gigs in Tokyo with drummer Nakamura Tatsuya and dancer Daimon Shiro (in those days the combination jazz improvisation + dance was way out of the ordinary). It is certainly one of the most undocumented: very little is known and available about this second tour. The search is still ongoing for additional information on possible audio tapes, films and photos etc.

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TOUR 3 - 1980

Feb. 1: Hiroshima Kenshin Kodo (Hiroshima)* Big Band * w/ Globe Unity Orchestra '80
Feb. 2: Kyoto Kaikan (Kyoto)* Big Band * w/ Globe Unity Orchestra '80
Feb. 3: Osaka Yomiuri Bunka Hall (Osaka)* Big Band * w / Globe Unity Orchestra '80
Feb. 5: Nagoya Shimin Kaikan (Nagoya)* Big Band * w/ Globe Unity Orchestra '80
Feb. 6: Kubo Kodo (Tokyo) * Big Band * w/ Globe Unity Orchestra '80
Feb. 8: Doshin Hall (Sapporo)* Big Band * w/ Globe Unity Orchestra '80

Comments: Another relatively short tour...While it has been ascertained that the Globe Unity Orchestra toured Japan for 8 days as noted, no recorded output is known, except (most likely) in private recordings... According to our sources, the concert at Kubo Kodo was broadcast by Tokyo-FM; the tunes played were those of the "JAPO albums. Personnel of the GUO consisted of its "regular members at the time (see list below at end of article).

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TOUR 4 - 1981

Oct 9: Zojoji Hall (Tokyo)* Trio * with Togashi Masahiko, Kent Carter
Oct 12: [Venue unconfirmed] (Hirosaki)* Trio * with Togashi Masahiko, Kent Carter
Oct. 15-16: King Records Studio (Tokyo) * Trio - LP/CD6 * with Togashi Masahiko, Kent Carter
Oct. 18: Far Out (Atsugi)* Solo
Oct. 20: Yokohamashi Kyoiku Bunka Center Hall (Yokohama)* Trio * with Togashi Masahiko, Kent Carter
Oct. 21: Catholic Nunoike Church (Nagoya)* Solo, Duo & Quartet * with Inoeu Keizo, Kent Carter, Joe Mizuki
Oct. 22-23: King Records Studio (Tokyo) * Duo - LP7 * with Togashi Masahiko
Oct. 24: [Other session(s) may exist]?

Comments: The bond initially established in 1975 with Togashi Masahiko (confined to his wheelchair since 1970) got all the more closer with this tour. The two Paddle Wheels LPs are gems (note: Spiritual Moments has been re-issued on CD in Japan in 2004).

Regretfully, it's been impossible so far to identify the venue of Oct 12... For Oct 21, Kent Carter confirmed this: "It was in the catholic church of Nagoya. The man producing and organizing this concert was a Buddhist Priest and the musicians spent the night in his temple. I will never forget this evening fest. Waking in the morning to the sound of the gongs and chants of the monks in the temple, looking out onto rock gardens, the peace was so good I had a flash while preparing to leave, that I would just stay right there. Lacy and I had a laugh on that one, he felt the same ... Oddly, it was their last gig together.
As per local information received, it is nevertheless possible that other sessions may exist on or after October 24 though, to Kent Carter's knowledge/recollection, there was none... The investigation continues...