ITG 2005

Tuesday, June 21
10:00 P.M. - PERFORMANCE: Tiger Okoshi
with the 2005 Conference Rhythm Section
Grand Hotel Grand Ballroom

This concert will feature Tiger performing traditional Japanese folk music, a collection of works by Louis Armstrong, as well as Tiger's original compositions expressing a global peace concept. Tiger has written especially for this event a piece titled Sanam Luang Field of Kings in Bangkok. Tiger remarks, 'When I become nothing, the sound will come to me, and I dance against the sound waves around me', 'Paint the air with a brush of trumpet, one note at a time. Please join me to celebrate the evening with trumpet players of ITG'

Program to be announced from the stage

Gary Mortenson, reporter

Tiger Okoshi has built a reputation as a jazz artist of innovation and creativity, and his performance to end the first day of concerts at the 2005 Conference confirmed that these qualities are continuing to grow and mature in his approach to his distinctive style of playing. Okoshi is professor of music at the famed Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, but his music is anything but academic.

The program began with taped birdcalls and with all the artists offstage. Slowly the musicians came onstage and performed an extended introduction that featured a free flowing ballad feel, this eventually gave way to a more up-tempo section that still retained a sense of lyricism in the solo trumpet with much more active lines in the rhythm section underneath. It should be noted that the 2005 Conference rhythm section did a fantastic job throughout the performance. This fine group of musicians was comprised of Darin Pantoomkomol – piano, Alexander Sergueenko – bass, and Vyacheslav Shumilov – drums. Okoshi and Pantoomkomol, in particular, had an excellent rapport as they traded ideas throughout the evening. This extended work was based on two children’s songs Travel Fly, and Cuddle Me, Cuddle Me.

Throughout the evening Okoshi employed bold, almost brash statements in slow sections that would then be contrasted by straight ahead technical lines featuring his technical skills in all ranges and at all dynamic levels. He also used vibrato as an effective expressive tool, particularly at the end of an extended solo on the second tune, followed by a particularly active and thoughtful solo from bassist Sergueenko. All of the musicians on stage seemed to genuinely enjoy playing with one another and this only added to the musical presentation.

Gershwin’s classic Summer Time, adapted in Okoshi’s own unique arrangement, was a highlight of the program. The arrangement featured blazing technique and great variety in Okoshi’s extended treatment of Gershin’s melody. The program continued with Okoshi’s Paintings in the Stream, a tune that was inspired by a scene he had witnessed when visiting a village in Japan. During a walk he was disturbed to see what appeared to be a man throwing paintings into a stream only to realize, as he continued to watch, that it was just an illusion as the sun was reflecting off the water. Okoshi’s music is a perfect blending of his Japanese roots with his interest in the contemporary jazz of today. This work featured busy lines all over the range of the trumpet and some effective color contrasts through the use of Harmon mute. Okoshi gave the enthusiastic audience a most satisfying conclusion to a long day of outstanding concerts and master classes.