By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02). Justin has written about Japanese arts and entertainment for JETAA since 2005. For more of his articles, click here.
In the dog days of summer, it’s best to escape the heat in a place that’s cozy and cool. For those into both cutting-edge and classic anime, this month offers a diverse trio of theatrical revivals—all in the comfort of indoor air conditioning.
This month’s highlights include:
July 31-Aug. 2, August 6, 8:00 p.m.
Bob James Quartet featuring special guest Christian McBride
Blue Note New York, 131 West Third Street
$45 bar, $55 table
The career of multi-Grammy winner Bob James is long, varied and continues to evolve at every turn as he continues to captivate audiences throughout the world for more than 50 years, 58 albums, and innumerable awards. While James is recognized as one of the progenitors of smooth jazz, his music has also had a profound effect on the history of hip-hop, having been sampled frequently since the early days of the genre. A longtime star in Japan, he has recorded a piano duet album with Keiko Matsui, and worked with Seiko Matsuda as a guest vocalist on “Put Our Hearts Together,” written by James and his daughter Hilary in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. Christian McBride is an eleven-time Grammy-winning bassist, composer, and bandleader. From jazz to R&B, and pop/rock and hip-hop/neo-soul to classical, he is a luminary with one hand ever reaching for new heights—inviting us to join him.
Thursday, August 6, 8:00 p.m.
YOASOBI – Never Ending Stories Tour
Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Avenue (Brooklyn)
From $63.25
Japanese pop phenomenon YOASOBI has redefined the global reach of J-pop by transforming acclaimed short stories into emotionally resonant, genre-blending anthems that have captivated audiences around the world. Formed in 2019 by composer and producer Ayase and vocalist ikura (Lilas Ikuta), the duo exploded onto the international stage with the record-breaking hit “Yoru ni Kakeru” before following with worldwide successes including “Gunjō,” “Kaibutsu,” “Shukufuku,” and the chart-topping “Idol,” which became the first Japanese-language song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart. Their cinematic live performances, dazzling visuals, and seamless blend of pop, rock, electronic music, and storytelling have earned them a devoted international following, culminating with their first-ever U.S. arena tour launched in tandem with their latest album, THE BOOK for,. Their previous New York appearance with a sold-out debut at the legendary Radio City Music Hall (from two years ago to the day) demonstrated the group’s remarkable global appeal and set the stage for their continued rise as one of Japan’s most celebrated contemporary musical exports.
Friday, August 21, 7:00 p.m.
An Evening with Jake Shimabukuro
Sony Hall, 235 West 46th Street
$37, $47
Since gaining prominence in the early 2000’s, ukulele marvel Jake Shimabukuro has mesmerized audiences with his innovative and dynamic style, taking the instrument to dizzying new heights. Over a dozen solo albums, Shimabukuro has shown a knack for moving effortlessly between genres, sometimes in the same song. After being taught the instrument by his mother at age four, Jake became a local phenom, performing on his own and in a local group Pure Heart. Early in his solo career he became a YouTube sensation when his cover of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” went viral. Shimabukuro’s latest album is Pop Experience, which celebrates modern pop hitmakers with instrumental ukulele arrangements of recent songs by artists like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Olivia Rodrigo, and Billie Eilish, led by the preview single “Golden.”
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