Aoril 2nd (Fri) JAFRO @ Shrine, 6pm-7pm, Free!

I don't know what JAFRO really is but
I will play some JAFRO music this Friday.
It's free admission.

April 2 (Fri)

Toru Dodo -JAFRO
@ Shrine

6pm-7pm

Toru Dodo -keys
Yasushi Nakamura-bass
Keita Ogawa-perc

Tadahiro Uesugi got the Annie Award!

I'm very happy to inform you that
Tadahiro Uesugi received this year's Annie Award
for his work of production design for the movie" Coraline".
Tadahiro has done my 2 CD's cover design.
Congratulations!!!

Happy New Year! (too late?)

It may be too late to say Happy New Year after a month and a couple days passed already.
But hey, Happy New Year!

On January 29th , I had a chance to be on TV.
( BRONXNET TV , Bronx Local TV station. "OPEN")
I played on keys and took a interview by Rhina Valentin.

Speaking in front of camera is something and
also speaking in my second language is something.
I don't remember what I spoke out of my nervousness.
It could be a disaster.
Luckily , it seems like the BRONXNET website would not post the archive where I was on.
So my appearance is kept in secret for people not living in the Bronx.

Souvenir from Rome

Nov.24 , 2009 @AlexanderPlatz, Rome
"Air " written by Toru Dodo
Toru Dodo-piano
Joseph Lepore-bass
Nicola Angelucci-drums

Toru Dodo goes to Rome

It's going to be my first time to go to Rome.

Nov. 23th, 24th & 25th
at Alexander Platz

Toru Dodo-piano
Joseph Lepore-bass
Nicola Angelucci-drums

Come and Cheer us!

Toru Dodo Trio Japan Tour 2009

I'm performing 17 places in Japan from Oct.1st till Oct.24th.
Come and cheer my trio!

Toru Dodo Trio Japan Tour 's Schedule

When Japanese are next to me,,,,,

I have something I can not overcome in a restaurant which is not Japanese restaurant
in NY when I dine with Japanese people.

When some Japanese I don't know sit next to my table,
I become unable to talk.

This doesn't happen if I'm in a Japanese restaurant where
so many Japanese are dining.
This might not happen if I'm with more than 3 people.
And I am sure this doesn't happen if I'm in any restaurant
in some remote area where you don't expect not too many Japanese
like Africa.
(I remember I became very talkative when I met some Japanese on the street
during my trip in Niger a few years ago.)

This only happens in NYC.

The other day, My wife and I went to some Korean restaurant in Fort Lee, NJ.
(OK, so this happens in NJ , too.)
We were talking about our Japanese friend who used to live in NYC for 7 years and
went back for 2 years and half, and now is wondering if he'd come back to NYC.
He's a jazz saxophone player, by the way.
Whether he should stay in Japan or he should come back to NYC....
It's not an easy question.
What if I am in his position, what should I do?
Our conversation went on .......till we heard some Japanese language from
next table.

"It's been a while to be in this restaurant.....(in Japanese)...."

Oh..

They were 20-something Japanese young couple.
I was not trying to overhear their conversation but
my primary language just kept coming through my ears.

"I have to be myself in the USA........"

"I can't be myself if I'm in Japan. Japanese society doesn't allow me to be myself....."

Oh, Yeah?

My wife and I became silent , finished our meal, and paid and left quickly.
I don't know what made us stop our conversation.
Even I have live in the USA for long time, I just can't overcome this situation.
It's strange.