I'm on the road this week.

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:24:12 -0700

I'm on SOMI's mini USA tour right now.

Here is the schedule. MOre info is on my website,

http://torudodo.com.

15(Tue)-19(Sat)SOMI USA Tour

15(Tue)Sculler's, Boston

16(Wed)&17(Thurs)CACHACA, NYC

10pm & 11:30pm

$10 music charge

The casts are..

Toru Dodo (piano)

Excellent Jazz Solo Piano Book will be out on Feb.28

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:55:01 -0800

My first book will be published on Feb.28 .

The tittle is ”Excellent Jazz Solo Piano" (Rittor Music)

including 12 standard songs I arranged , CD I playedon and

9 essays,

It's for pianists who starts to have interests in Jazz music.

It's available only in Japan.

...

So here I'm in Japan.

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:44:54 -0800

Hmm.It's good to be busy.you don't think too much if you have so many things to do.

After my toronto trip was over , now I'm off to Japan to join Meiji University OB tour.

I've been boasting that Igraduated Berklee College of Music but actually I graduated Meiji University before I came to the USA. They do the 1st Meiji University OB jazz festival at the University Hall on Jan.27th. 21st-26th , I also played various clubs in Tokyo area.

...

Toronto Tour

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:35:55 -0800

My first IAJE appearance was a little sour.

How could people come to see unknown pianist's trio when Eddie Gomez played in a next room and Carl Allen did his clinic at the same time?

Tons of people got together in this largest Jazz convention that took place in Toronto this year. The concerts I went to see were packed everywhere. That made me feel so down when my trio only drew 1/10 of the concert hall.

The bottom line was nobody knows me. And I know ...

TORu ON TOur

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:00:25 -0800

So, Toru Dodo Trio, my piano trio will go to Toronto this week.I'm excited cause it's my first time to do my tour outside Japan.

I renewed my businesscard for IAJE, packed my stuff. Ready to go.

Jan.10th(Thurs)

Toru Dodo Trio @ IAJE in Toronto

5pm-6pm

Fairmont Royal York Hotel Concert Hall

IAJE Info

...

A Happy New Year!

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:13:59 -0800

A Happy New Year!

Year by Year, My life in NY is getting wilder beyond my imagination.

I don't want to make any resolution or any prediction.

I just hope 2008 will be great year for everyone!

...

Latest News on December 2007

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 23:19:46 -0800

1) Toru Dodo Trio will perform at the KITANO HOTEL on Dec. 13th (Thurs).

2 sets 8pm & 10pm
$15 minimun/set

Kitano Hotel at:

66 Park Avenue @38th St.
212-885-7119

Toru Dodo-piano
Joseph Lepore-bass
Yujiro Nakamura-drums

2)Toru Dodo Trio will perform at the 35th IAJE in Toronto on Jan.10th.

5pm at Fairmont Royal York Hotel

3)Toru Dodo is now working on the book project for a Japanese publ ...

Trip to Rwanda & Uganda

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:50:42 -0800

SOMI took her band to Rwanda & Uganda from October 26 to Nov.6th.

The job I've been doing is playing piano wherever there is piano. So basically, what I did on this trip was playing the piano for SOMI in Rwanda & Uganada. But let's face it. I played the piano at the place I've never dreamed being there when I was in Japan where I grew up. Yes, I had a special time.

(By the way, in Kigali, Rwanda's capital city,there are only 3 pianos. And more ...

I'm back.

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:46:58 -0800

I just got back from SOMI's East Africa tour.

While I was gone, Red Sox won a championship, California fire was put off, it turned winter weather in NY.

I'll try to write my report later here but for now I'm off to bed.

...

I'm Off to RWANDA and UGANDA.

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:02:58 -0700

So I'm about to leave RWANDA. Then I'm taken to UGANDA ,too.

It's SOMI's East Africa tour.

I'll report this trip after I come back in NYC on Nov.6th.

(If I can come back....)

...

My Recent Activities

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:21:01 -0700

From Sep.27-Oct.12, I was touring Japan with my trio. 14 shows in 7 cities.

Oct.15th , I played at the Jazz Standard in NYC for Carolyn Leonhart/ Wayne Escoffery's CD "If Dreams Come True" release Party live.

I may go to Rwanda from Oct.26th for a week as a pianist for SOMI, a singer from Rwanda.

My piano trio will perform at the IAJE 2008.

(Jan.10th ,2008 at Fairmont Royal York Hotel's Concert Hall at 5pm-6pm )

Right now, trying to reco ...

Why do I have to be disturbed?

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 22:38:51 -0700

I know it's nothing to do with my life.

But I 'm very worried about my red sox.

I know there's no point why I have to worry about them.

But why Yankees are only 1.5 games behind now? I was so disturbed they lost to Yankees last Friday after they were leading 7-2 till 7th innings. What happened to Okajima?

It'll be disaster if Boston can't win the division this year after they have been having almost perfect season.

OK. OK. I know . I kn ...

Carolyn Leonhart & Wayne Escoffery CD released!

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 14:51:46 -0700

Sep.18, Carolyn Leonhart & Wayne Escoffery's CD was released worldwide from nagel heyer label.

I play the piano on this whole album. Check it out!

『If Dreams Come True／Carolyn Leonhart & Wayne Escoffery』
(Nagel Heyer)

Carolyn Leonhart-voc
Wayne Escoffery-sax
Toru Dodo-p
Hans Glawischnig-b
Jason Brown- ds
Carl Allen-ds

...

Actually You can Watch it.

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:27:55 -0700

Somi's live on Sep.13 at Kennedy Center can be watched at

http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/archive.html#

Somi-voc,

Herve Samb-guit.

Daniel Moreno-perc

John Benitez-bass

Myself- piano

...

Maybe you can watch me...on Sep.13

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:18:53 -0700

On Sep.13 (Thurs) on 6pm E.T.

You maybe can watch SOMI's live on the net. The very Japanese- looking pianist on the band is me.

Check it out !

http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/schedule.html#

...

Detroit International Jazz Festival

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 10:16:02 -0700

Sep.2 (Sun)

I know this thing would never make the world any safer place or solve the global warming but it's a good news for a Japanese pianist living in NY for 9 years.

I played at the Detroit International Jazz Festival as a pianist for Curtis Fuller super band.

Curtis Fuller (Tb), Randy Brecker(Tp), Rene McLean(As),Corcoran Holt(bass), Louis Hayes(drums).

What a band! I'm not sure if I sound good but I can brag about my resume looks better.

My Stay in Japan

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:50:02 -0700

I just came back from my 17 days stay in Japan. I got some gigs such as playing at the outside festival at Ueda, Nagano plus I got fun time seeing my family and friends.

Even though I'm born in Japan, I've been living in the States for 12 years. My 1/3 life was spent in the USA so far. Even though I go home once or twice a year, I live in NYC for 11/12 months a year.

This math doesn't make me an American. I look like a Japanese without a doubt. But som ...

My Trio will be aired on the Internet

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:36:25 -0700

Check Out!

http://live.ueda.ne.jp/joint.html

Aug.4(Sat) 5:45am (USA eastern time)-6:45am

My piano trio performing at the UEDAJOINT, a music festival in NAGANO, Japan,

will be aired.

...

Fat Cat

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:09:28 -0700

Last night, I played at the Fat Cat in west village for Joseph Lepore group.

This place used to have a wall separating music place and ping-pong tables or pool tables. They closed the place last year but theu reopened this year. The difference is they took out the wall. So musicians can see all the people playing table tennis inches away from the stage.

Ping-pong ball often came toward the piano while I was playing.(It was lucky that billiard ball naver came toward my head.)

JAL till November

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:55:49 -0700

I got more accurate info about JAL, Japan Airline.

My tune from DODO3 album, For MR.M, will be aired till November 2007 in JAL's international flights' audio service called "Jazz In The Sky" presented by Yo Nakagawa.

So I'm sorry if you rushed to get your passport and your suitcases ready. We have time to get on the JAL till this fall.

...

JAL in July

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:19:57 -0700

This info is just in.

My tune"For Mr. M" is aired on JAL(Japan Airlines) international flights' audio service in July 2007.

Please travel abroad now using JAL and check it out.

In case you don't have your passport, the plan B is buy the CD " DODO 3" from my website.

...

Sicko

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:48:08 -0700

July 23, I performed at the Saratoga Jazz Festival for Somi. Besides playing the piano, I had to drive all the band members and I had to return the rental van to the Budget, a rental car company, in Queens.

It was about past 10pm, I was heading to 125th on Lenox avenue to make a right turn and take a triboro bridge. I was stuck in traffic at 124th street on Lenox. There were lots of people around that area. It was a hot Saturday night. I thought they had a block party or something ...

Notes and Tones

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 13:26:48 -0700

I'm reading a book" Notes and Tones" written by Arthur Taylor. It's interviews of 29 black prominent Jazz musicians such as Miles , Monk or Elvin in 60's and early 70's.

There are so many stories I've never known. Racism is the under tone of this book.

When it comes to racism, I , a Japanese living in the US and A, have nothing to say. Japanese has nothing to do with White vs Black, Christ vs Islam , Israel vs Palestine, right?

Bu ...

TaKe Toriyama

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 17:05:48 -0700

An unthinkable thing happened to me.
I've been so disturbed by that last 10 days or so.
I don't know if it's OK to write this kind of thing on blog.
(I just don't know what blog is , anyway.)
But I 'll write , cause I want to move on.

A great Japanese drummer, my one of long time best friend
TaKe Toriyama passed away.
I don't know when exactly he died but on Memorial day,
this sad news came in from an ano ...

Arturo's Debut

Fri, 18 May 2007 14:32:51 -0700

Last night, I got a very last minute offer to play at the Arturo's restaurant
in Greenwich Village.

I can't depict well but this Italian pizza place has a good old NY vibes
which I don't know really. (It's my imagination.)
They have a grand piano in the bar counter and they have
a live jazz music entertainment almost every night.
A veteran pianist Harry Whitaker usually plays here but he couldn't make it so I ...

Japan's loneliness

Thu, 03 May 2007 13:21:11 -0700

Myspace technically made people all over world be friends, under one condition.

You have to understand English.

If you write your page in Japanese, your chance to make friends are limited. Your friends would be Japanese or some people who can read Japanese.If you write it in French, you could be friends with people in some part of Canada,some part of south America, some part of Caribean, Africa or South Asia. If you write it in Spanish, you could connected to people in mos ...

After the shows

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:43:00 -0700

I had good time performing at the the Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola for my favorite singers, Carolyn Leonhart (April 10-13.)and SOMI(April 16.)

I want to do my show more often but sometimes I feel like I'm OK with accompanying for great singers like them.As an independent artist, Hoping these singers gets bigger could be very passive approach for success in this NY-dog-eats dog music world but, hey, they are great, I'm happy playing for them.

&n ...

Terrorists attacked me.

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 13:01:41 -0700

3 bombings happened in a capital area in Morocco on April 10.

Due to this incident, SOMI's performance at the festival in Morocco that was scheduled next week was postponed indefinitely.

That means ,Toru Dodo's Morocco diary that was scheduled to be uploaded on this page in 2 weeks was canceled.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

After all, we're living in the world where a terrorist attack in Morocco gave huge damage on a Japanese pianist's account book.

Sing!Sing!Sing!

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 10:50:43 -0700

This month, still winter time in NY, I've been enjoying playing for some of NY's finest vocalists.

April 9th, Michelle Walker, who recently moved to big apple from DC, hit at the Zinc bar.

She is soulful and coooool.

April 10th, SOMI had her CD release party at Plumn in 14th street. The place was full of SOMI related people. I expected to see her band members in the house but I couldn't see anyone. So I just got out quickly as soon as I felt lonely..... (Par ...

Blue Note Live Review

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 14:15:46 -0700

Read the review of my piano trio show at the Blue Note Sunday Brunch on March 18th.

I am proud of reading

"Dodo’s delivery from the stage between tunes should make him consider comedy as a side gig."

Thank you!

JAZZREVIEW.COM

http://www.jazzreview.com/article/review-5354.html

...

Listen to my interview

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 07:15:02 -0700

Listen to my interview on the Jazz Session, ipod casting.I talked about my music background, my life in NYC and my latest CD"DODO 3".

Technically,every creatures who can click on their computer can hear my voice.

I'm sure this interview will make you think this pianist needs a serious English lesson.

Enjoy.

http://thejazzsession.com/2007/03/26/show-5-toru-dodo/

...

To people who came down to Blue Note on March 18th.

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 13:09:13 -0700

Thank you very much for coming down to Blue Note.

For me, it was such a joy to be able to present my music world in front of you.

I hope you had a wonderful time as much as I had.

Toru Dodo

...

March 18 at Blue Note Sunday Brunch

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:41:32 -0700

So, Please come to my show on This coming Sunday.

Toru Dodo Trio

at the Blue Note (NYC)

Toru Dodo trio
the Blue Note jazz club in NYC
March 18th, 2007 at its Jazz Brunch
12:30 PM & 2:30PM

FEATURING:
Toru Dodo (piano)
Yasushi Nakamura (bass)
Rodney Green, (drums)

Blue Note
131 West 3rd St.
New York City
Admission $24.50
For information call (212) 475-8952

...

Phone Interview

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:37:01 -0700

I took an phone interview from some jazz website.
I talked about my bio and my newest released CD
DODO 3.

The thing is this interview will be heard on this
jazz website's Mp 3.
That means any human beings, dogs,and cats
can listen to my thick accented bumpy English
if they can click on the website.

I asked them to replace my voice with Brad Pitt's voice.
But they rejected it.
I think there are somethin ...

Pick up Jazz Improv's New York Jazz Guide

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 12:30:36 -0800

Just one page interview of me on the free jazz magazine.
(Jazz Improv's New York Jazz Guide, March issue)

Just one page appearance may be a very very small impact for
the USA market.

But, Just one page appearance is a huge step for
Toru Dodo's music career in USA market.

I was exultant after I read my interviews many times, then,
I felt a little dizzy after I read the whole magazine inside out.
You see so many mu ...

Pete Zimmer Band at Blues Alley

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 12:49:35 -0800

On February 26.
I played at Blues Alley in Washington DC
as a pianist for Pete Zimmer band.

Pete Zimmer-drums
Joel Frahm-ten sax
Marco Panascia-bass
Myself -piano

Pete is a guy I've been learning from
as to what the band leader should be
in the world where tons of independent artist
are around in NYC.

He set up his own record label about 4 years ago.
He made 3 CDs so far.
He sel ...

I saw a piano master

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 13:37:57 -0800

Even though I'm doing TORU DODO music most of times,
I am still interested in Classical music.

I found that there was Jacques Rouvier's piano master class at
Yamaha salon at midtown last Saturday afternoon so
I went there. (It was free.This is one of the greatest things in NY,
Lots of free event.)

Mr.Rouvier is a professor at Paris conservatoire.
A 60 -year-old French piano master is busy traveling all over the world

V's day at Smoke

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 14:36:38 -0800

5 years ago,
Wayne Escoffery (Tenor Sax)& Carolyn Leonhart(Vocal)met at
the Smoke, a jazz club in NYC, for the first time.
They fell in love and got married.

5 years later,they performed at the Smoke to
celebrate Valentine's day.

I'm thankful for being part of their love story
as a pianist on the stage.

It ...

Interview

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 13:52:46 -0800
I took an interview from JAZZ IMPROV Magazine.

Interview is not a easy thing to do.
Sure it's hard for a Japanese musician
to deal with it in English.

But more than that , it's hard for me
to reply it logically.

I may have to blame it to Japanese education I have taken.
In Japanese class, since there is a harsh competition just to enter

A Happy Musician

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 13:03:36 -0800

I used to love reading famous classical composers' biographies
when I was a kid. I remember I didn't like about they didn't have a happy life.
That scared me ,too.
Beethoven---------lost his hearing.
Ch ...

You Can Buy DODO 3(USA Version) from my website.

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 17:00:09 -0800
From now on, you can purchase my CD"DODO 3" from my website. Go to my CDs page then click Paypal button. My company TORUDODO Music will ship it you you. ...

3 Drummers

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:43:07 -0800

On the night of Feb 2 2007, 3 drummers I've recorded with were at the Blue Note NY.
John Lamkin (for DODO, 116 West 238St.)was with Donald Harrison group.
Rodney Green(for DODO 3) was with Mulgrew Miller trio.
And Pete Zimmer (I'm in his band)was on the late night groove live where I also played on the show.
The secret code for the Blue Note on ...

Reviews

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 15:11:50 -0800

I'm now doing a little of my media campaign in the USA Jazz media.
In order to sell my CD,DODO 3.
I thought good reviews will do good on selling my music so I'm collecting reviews as many as possible.
So far, I got 2. And the both look good.
check them out!
http://torudodo.com/reviews.html
I hope mor ...

Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 14:34:54 -0800
I went to Montego Bay, Jamaica from Jan.24 to 26.
I performed at the Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival
as a pianist for Bro. Joe Baione(Vib) sextet.

This 3 days event's headliner includes Eearth Wind & Fire, Michael Bolton,
Kenny Rogers and Monty Alexander.

Bro.Joe Baione played on the 2nd night. On the same bill,
there were Pieces of a dream, ABBA tribute band and Mic ...

My new website will be coming soon!

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 14:26:22 -0800

I 'm sure there are not too many website
that asks you to pronounce "Do" three times
in a row. But, I hope you love this my
new home,

torudodo.com is coming up soon. ...

do as dodo

Aug.29 (Fri) Aruba

I got 2008 BRIO Award!!!

May 3rd (Sat) Toru Dodo Trio at Brooklyn Museum

I'm on the road this week.

Excellent Jazz Solo Piano Book will be out on Feb.28

So here I'm in Japan.

Toronto Tour

TORu ON TOur

A Happy New Year!

Latest News on December 2007

Trip to Rwanda & Uganda

I'm back.

I'm Off to RWANDA and UGANDA.

My Recent Activities

Why do I have to be disturbed?

Carolyn Leonhart & Wayne Escoffery CD released!

Actually You can Watch it.

Maybe you can watch me...on Sep.13

Detroit International Jazz Festival

My Stay in Japan

My Trio will be aired on the Internet

Fat Cat

JAL till November

JAL in July

Sicko

Notes and Tones

TaKe Toriyama

Arturo's Debut

Japan's loneliness

After the shows

Terrorists attacked me.

Sing!Sing!Sing!

Blue Note Live Review

Listen to my interview

To people who came down to Blue Note on March 18th.

March 18 at Blue Note Sunday Brunch

Phone Interview

Pick up Jazz Improv's New York Jazz Guide

Pete Zimmer Band at Blues Alley

I saw a piano master

V's day at Smoke

Interview

A Happy Musician

You Can Buy DODO 3(USA Version) from my website.

3 Drummers

Reviews

Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival

My new website will be coming soon!