Kokoro: The Heart of Japan, a public symposium and choral concert will be held on March 6 at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center (129 W.67^th Street) on the one-year anniversary of the March 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami.  The Tokyo Foundation in collaboration with the Weatherhead East Asian Institute at Columbia University will host this event.

March 11, 2012, will mark the first anniversary of the magnitude-9.0 Great East Japan Earthquake that devastated northern Japan and caused one of the worst nuclear accidents in human history. On March 6 a symposium and choral concert will be held to reflect on Japan’s response to the disaster, with reference to various aspects of Japan’s traditional culture, particularly haiku, that offer deep insights into the emotional experience of the survivors.

Madoka Mayuzumi, one of Japan’s leading contemporary haiku poets, will introduce poems composed by the survivors themselves, many of whom lost all of their material possessions but nonetheless expressed happiness in reuniting with family members or found solace in simple manifestations of nature, like a fresh spring breeze.  She will elucidate what the haiku form reveals about their perceptions of the unprecedented disaster and the values that permeate and underlie Japan’s culture. Mayuzumi will later be joined by a panel of Japan scholars from Columbia University and the greater NY area to discuss both the unique and universal aspects of Japanese society as reflected in the haiku poems and the response to the March 2011 disaster.

The symposium will be followed by the world premiere of a song for the people of Fukushima—who are unlikely to be able to return home for many years—that fondly recalls the prefecture’s four seasons and natural beauty. The choral piece is a collaborative benefit project by Mayuzumi who penned the lyrics and composer and musical producer Akira Senju and will be performed by the Japan Choral Harmony and the Men’s Glee Club of New York. 

Already in the past 4 weeks, we at Sozo have been inspired and guided by the force and brilliance of the Water Dragon. New ideas and projects are being conceived with great momentum, passion and zeal like never before, and we are aligning ourselves with visionary thinkers and doers. Doors are opening up.

However, the challenge always remains the same year after year: how do we keep steering the macro vision and goals of our projects while we fulfill the near-insurmountable, daily administrative needs?

We are constantly impressed and humbled by our artists and partners who all experience this dilemma but somehow come out on top. Nothing stops them, or us, from wanting to move forward, wanting to express and share those expressions with others – as many as posssible - for the good of the 99%.  As marketers and promoters of the arts, we are proud of playing a small role in that.

Speaking of dragons, we had a great opening night last night for TOKIO CONFIDENTIAL. We had a packed house despite the Super Bowl!  The show runs through February 19. Be sure to get tickets now as we’ve already sold out a few nights! And we’re getting press!  Here are a select few. Enjoy!

Timothy Childs’ iBlogBroadway.com Review:
http://www.iblogbroadway.com/cms/index.php/entry/off-broadway-review-tokio-confidential

CAPITAL Magazine Review:
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/culture/2012/02/5253706/tokio-confidential-not-typical-broadway-musicals-it-has-human-charac

JapanCulture NYC Review:
http://www.japanculture-nyc.com/2012/02/10/in-the-noh-tokio-confidential/

TDF Exclusive Interview:
http://wp.tdf.org/index.php/2012/02/a-little-bit-noh-a-little-bit-musical-theatre/ 

CHOPSTICKS Feature:
http://www.chopsticksny.com/contents/entertainment

But first things first. Back home in New York, we have the annual Arts Presenters Conference (aka APAP) starting this weekend, followed by the Chamber Music America Conference. Our amazing composer/cellist Dana Leong will present his new trio project at APAP on Sat. Jan 7th, and the one-and-only Haitian-American composer/violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) will present a program with the Sphinx musicians on Fri. Jan 13th.  If you are attending either of the conferences, please contact us so we can save you a spot! Details to follow. 

We’re also gearing up for the opening of the new musical TOKIO CONFIDENTIAL (the Lady with the Dragon Tattoo) running at the Atlantic Theater Feb 5-19. Be sure to check out our previous post for more information. You’ll also start to see info about this show around town this month and in magazines like CHOPSTICKS, so pay close attention.

Conference Showcases:

Sat. Jan 7 at 10:20pm
Dana Leong Trio APAP Showcase
Hilton Hotel Regency Parlor Suite
W53rd Street and 6th Avenue NYC
www.danaleong.com

Fri. Jan 13 at 7pm
Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) presents FILTER
feat. Sphinx Artists
CMA Showcaase produced by Opus 3 Artists
The DiMenna Center
450 W37th Street NYC
www.dbrmusic.com

About TOKIO CONFIDNTIAL:
Japan. 1879. A young American woman crosses an ocean in search of a lost love—and crosses a line from which she can never return. On a journey between pleasure and pain, art and artifice, secrets of the flesh and sins of the heart, she becomes an object of unexpected desire—in a realm of unspeakable danger. 

Words and music by Eric Schorr
Directed by Johanna McKeon

February 5 – 19, 2012
ATLANTIC STAGE 2
330 West 16th St. NYC
For performance schedule, tickets and more info visit  www.tokioconfidential.com

Acclaimed composer-violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) returns to BAM with an invigorating new production fueled by DBR’s inimitable mash-up of pop, hip-hop, and classical music. The third and final installment of a multi-year BAM commission that includes One Loss Plus (2007 Next Wave) and Darwin’s Meditation for The People of Lincoln (2008 Next Wave), Symphony for the Dance Floor features hip-hop artist Lord Jamar (founding member of Brand Nubian, HBO’s Oz), photography and video by Jonathan Mannion—best known for his striking portraits of Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill, and Eminem—and choreography by Millicent Johnnie (Urban Bush Women). DBR’s latest work radiates an infectious raw energy, transforming the stage of the Harvey Theater into an ecstatic dance party.

INFO & TICKETS

Lord Jamar and DBR (photo by Leslie Lyons)

Here is a sample of our favorite song, KOI (Current of Life), by MAKANA.

This is our 4th photoshoot with Leslie.  Back in 2005, we did our very first shoot with her and ended up with this fabulous and famous “hair flying” image that graced the front page of the New York Times:

Now, 6+ years later, we’re thrilled to launch DBR’s first official publicity photos without his dreadlocks. Stay tuned as we unveil these later this month!

Patagonia Inc., the environmentally minded apparel company, and some of music’s most talented artists have come together to form the Patagonia Music Collective and release exclusive tracks to help benefit environmental organizations.

DBR has written and provided vocals for ”When It All Comes Down,” featured alongside previously unreleased tracks by Esperanza Spalding and Maroon 5 among others. Proceeds from the track are donated to The Good Earth Singers, a global grassroots movement inspiring humanity to become more responsible stewards of the earth and its resources by harnessing the power of song.

“Patagonia is honored to have DBR as a part of the Patagonia Music Collective,” notes Rob BonDurant, Patagonia’s VP of marketing, “We’ve been stunned at the graciousness of artists like him who so readily jumped at the chance to introduce their fans to an enviro cause they support. We’re so hopeful that fans will not only purchase this track, but learn about the work The Good Earth Singers is doing.”

Click here to preview and download “When It All Comes Down.”

For those of you who have been following his career, you’re probably familiar with his ultra energetic hip-hop/jazz quartet, MILK & JADE, which has been a smashing hit at festivals in Europe and Asia and the band continues to tour and sell out large, standing-room-only venues.  This NEW instrumental trio configuration (Dana Leong on cello/trombone, John Shannon on guitar, and DJ Icewater on turntables) is something we’re very excited about, because it highlights yet another dimension of his work as a cutting edge composer and virtuoso performer. And the music appeals to pop, jazz and classical music lovers alike, and audiences of all ages! (But, sorry, this Blue Note Jazz Festival show is 21 & over)

The concert will feature the New York premiere of Music from IdEgo, a work originally commissioned by the San Francisco-based Project Bandaloop aerial dance company.  (The world premiere took place last October at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, pictured above.)

Described by Dana as “a musical dream journal,” the work was written over the course of 30 days during which he meditated on melodies while keeping a manuscript book next to his bed so as to be able to wake up and notate the very first notes that came to mind. “It’s highly imaginative, lyrical, and even entrancing,” Dana says. The guest artists John Shannon and DJ Icewater bring to the mix an equally exciting blend of instrumental techniques and musical styles.

Curious what they sound like?

Buy tickets here.

Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) composes and performs music for the Atlanta Ballet

IGNITION: New Choreographic Voices
featuring HOME IN 7
Choreography by Amy Seiwert
Music by Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR)
Spoken Word by Marc Bamuthi Joseph

May 15 @7pm (May 13 & 14 Sold Out)
The Alliance Stage at the Woodruff Arts Center
Atlanta, GA
Event Information
Buy tickets here.

Presented by Atlanta Ballet in association with the National Black Arts Festival