Kept the live music theme going by seeing Five Peace Band at the Blue Note, Tokyo - Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Christian McBride, Kenny Garrett and Brian Blade.
Like the previous night, we were privileged to be present as 5 guys, at the peak of their artistic powers (or one of them), blew us all away, and were clearly delighted to have the opportunity to do so. Brian Blade, the drummer, in particular seemed to be in ecstasy, and reminded me of a little boy waking up on Christmas morning and finding he'd got everything he'd ever wanted and more.
.
The thing I love about jazz is its life - the here-and-nowness of it. How they break up the music they create then fill in the gaps they made with sparkling magic - showers of sequins and pearls. As we were about two yards from Chick Corea, we felt almost part of the band.
.
Got to see more live jazz.
.
To top it all, I managed to thank him personally and shake his hand.
.
Before the concert we wandered around the studio and garden over the road of another great artist - Taro Okamoto.
.
Afterwards I was persuaded to go up to the 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Building to admire the view of 40,000,000 people's homes and workplaces below. I have to say I was somewhat apprehensive being so far above the ground in the middle of an earthquake zone, and quite relieved to get back to terra firma, touchwood.
.
CM, BB, (and PM, JR)
