Ota Ward Cultural Arts Information Paper "ART bee HIVE" vol.12 + bee!

Issued April 2022, 10

vol.12 Autumn issue

The Ota Ward Cultural Arts Information Paper "ART bee HIVE" is a quarterly information paper that contains information on local culture and arts, newly published by the Ota Ward Cultural Promotion Association from the fall of 2019.
"BEE HIVE" means a beehive.
Together with the ward reporter "Mitsubachi Corps" gathered by open recruitment, we will collect artistic information and deliver it to everyone!
In "+ bee!", We will post information that could not be introduced on paper.

Artistic people: jazz pianist Jacob Kohler + bee!

Artistic People: "Art/Two Vacant Houses" Gallerist Sentaro Miki + bee!

Future attention EVENT + bee!

street piano jazz session
"Jazz pianist Jacob Kohler"

Jacob Kohler, a jazz pianist based in Kamata since coming to Japan. He has released more than 20 CDs and won the "Piano King Final" on the popular TV program "Kanjani no Shibari∞".In recent years, he has become popular on YouTube as a street piano player*.

Ⓒ KAZNIKI

Japan is full of great musicians.

Please tell us about your encounter with Japan.

“I was doing electronic jazz in America with Japanese vocalist Koppe Hasegawa, and we were doing a live tour. I came to Japan for the first time in 2003. I was in Japan for about half a year, twice for about three months.At that time, I was based in Kamata.For me, Kamata was my first time in Japan (laughs).”

What was your impression of the Japanese jazz scene?

“What surprised me was how many jazz clubs there are. There are a lot of jazz musicians, and there are coffee shops that specialize in listening to jazz. did not.
I came back to Japan in 2009, but at first I only knew two people like Mr. Koppe.So I went to various jazz sessions and created a network.Japan is full of great musicians.Any instrument, guitar or bass.And then there's swing jazz, there's avant-garde jazz, there's funk jazz.Any style. "

I never run out of people to do sessions with (laughs).

“Yes (laughs). After about half a year, I started getting calls for various things. I toured with a lot of bands. It became popular and I started getting more work little by little.However, I didn't feel like I could make a living.Thanks to YouTube, the number of fans gradually increased.It started about 10 years ago, but over the last five years or so, it's really exploded. I feel like I did."

The tension is stimulating and interesting.

When did you start playing street piano?

“I learned about it on YouTube in the fall of 2019. People who don’t usually listen to music listened to it in various places, and I thought it was interesting.At that time, a friend of mine, Yomi*, a pianist, played a duet* at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building*. I was invited to play. That was my first street piano.”

What is the appeal of street pianos?

“At concerts in halls, the audience knows me and supports me. At street piano, there are many people who don’t know me, and there are other pianists. And I can only play five minutes.I don't know if the audience will like it.I feel the pressure every time.But the tension is exciting and interesting.
Street piano is, in a sense, the new jazz club.I don't know what to do or what will happen.Trying to collaborate together, it's a bit like a jazz session.The style is different, but I think the atmosphere and method are similar. "

Jacob Kohler Street Live (Kamata East Exit Delicious Road Plan "Delicious Harvest Festival 2019")
Provided by: (one company) Kamata east exit delicious road plan

Japanese pop music has modulations and sharpness, and is suitable for piano.

You've also covered a lot of Japanese songs.Could you tell us about the appeal of Japanese music?

“Compared to American pop music, the melody is more complex and there are more chords. The progression is quite jazz-like, and there are modulations and sharpness, so I think it is suitable for piano. The songs from 3 have a lot of development from beginning to end, so it's worth arranging.I also like songs by Gen Hoshino, YOASOBI, Kenshi Yonezu, and King Gnu."

What was the first Japanese song you picked?

“When I opened a piano class in Yokohama in 2009, a student said that he wanted to play the theme of Lupine the XNUMXrd, so it was cool to check out the music. But when I played the theme of Lupine the XNUMXrd, everyone responded very well.That was my first piano arrangement.Before that, I had been playing in a band all my life, and I was actually not interested in solo piano. (laughs)."

I want to hold a street piano event in the Kamata West Exit square.

Could you tell us about the charm of Kamata?

“Since Kamata was the first town I lived in when I came to Japan, I thought Kamata was normal in Japan. After that, I toured all over Japan and learned that Kamata was special (laughs). The town of Kamata is a strange combination.There are parts of downtown, modern parts.There are small children, there are elderly people.There are things that are a bit suspicious, and people from all over the world. It's a fun city, it has everything (laughs)."

Please tell us about your future activities.

“For the past two years, almost all concerts have been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but they have returned this year. In the city I visited, I play street pianos and outdoor performances.I play in front of castles and on boats on lakes.It's fun to think about where to play outdoors in this city. We filmed it and put it on YouTube.”

What about outside of concerts?

“I would like to release a CD with all original songs. Until now, I have arranged other people’s songs. Half and half.I think I'll continue arranging, but next time I want to express myself 100%.I want to release a 100% Jacob CD."

Is there anything you would like to try in the city of Kamata?

"Recently, I made an interesting piano. A tuner acquaintance of mine did it for me. I attached a bass drum to a small upright piano and painted it yellow. I used that piano to play on the street in the square in front of the west exit of Kamata Station. I'd like to do a piano event (laughs)."

*Street pianos: Pianos that are installed in public places such as towns, stations, and airports and that anyone can play freely.

*Yomii: Pianist, Composer, Taiko no Tatsujin Tournament Ambassador, YouTuber. When she was 15 years old, her first song composed was adopted in the "Taiko no Tatsujin National Contest Theme Song Contest" and she became the youngest winner.Taking advantage of her improvisational arrangement ability, she was selected as a technical performer of YAMAHA's latest technology "artificial intelligence ensemble system" at the age of 19. Four years later, she is appointed AI teacher/advisor for the system.

*Tokyo Metropolitan Government Memorial Piano: On April 2019, 4 (Monday), a piano designed and supervised by artist Yayoi Kusama was installed in conjunction with the reopening of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government South Observatory.

Profile

Ⓒ KAZNIKI

Born in Arizona, USA in 1980. She started working as a professional musician at the age of 14, as a piano teacher at the age of 16, and has been active as a jazz pianist.She graduated from Arizona State University Jazz Department. His YouTube channel has more than 2 subscribers across his two accounts (as of August 54).

YouTube (Jacob Koller Japan)

YouTube (Jacob Koller/The Mad Arranger)

When you spit out everything you have, something will be born at the last minute.
“‘Art / Vacant House’ Two peopleNito”Gallerist Sentaro Miki”

A very ordinary house in a residential area of ​​Kamata, that is the gallery "Art / Vacant House Two" opened in July 2020. The exhibition space consists of a Western-style room and kitchen with flooring on the 7st floor, a Japanese-style room and a closet on the 1nd floor, and even a clothes drying area.

Kurushima Saki's "I came from a small island" (left) and "I'm now in the process of demolition" (right) displayed in the Japanese-style room on the 2nd floor.
Ⓒ KAZNIKI

It is important to properly entertain the person in front of you.

Please tell us how you started the gallery.

“I wanted to create a point of contact with people who usually don’t have the opportunity to come into contact with art. I wanted to make it, because there are many artists, there are various personalities, and I wanted to be able to see and understand that each person is different.
The goal is to thicken the layers of Japanese art.For example, in the case of comedy, there are many theater live performances for young comedians.By doing various things there, you can expand the range of things you can do, and at the same time you can check the response.You can also build long-term relationships with your customers.In the same way, in the art world, I thought it was necessary to have a place where artists could receive reactions from customers and build continuous relationships.This space makes that possible.Selling your work means that you have a relationship with art by having people buy your work. "

What is the origin of the name of the gallery?

"At first it was really simpleOne personひ と りTwo peopleTwo people OfTwo peopleTwo peoplewas the name.Expressing alone is not 1 but 0.If you don't show it to anyone, it's the same as not existing.Even so, there is no need to seek universal appeal, and pursue expressions that deeply stick to someone.Not just one person, but another person or two.named after it.However, in conversation, "today'sTwo peopleTwo peoplehow was it? ], so I called them "Nito", something like katakana (laughs).I would like to create a place where works/artists and customers can create relationships. "

While facing the customer's reaction, do not waver with your own axis.

You have a very unique sales method. Could you tell us about it?

“Ten artists will participate in one exhibition. All of their works will be sold for 10 yen, and if the works are purchased, they will be sold at the next exhibition for 1 yen, which is an additional 1 yen. If is purchased, then add 2 yen for 2 yen, add 4 yen for 3 yen, add 7 yen for 4 yen, add 11 yen for 5 yen, and add 16 yen for the 6th exhibition. Yen is 6 Yen, and if the price rises to this level, I graduated.
The same work will not be exhibited.All the works will be replaced for each exhibition. If an artist fails to sell at two exhibitions in a row, he or she will be replaced by another artist. "

So the concept you mentioned earlier = various personalities and continuous relationships.

"that's right."

Exhibiting a different work every time is a test of the artist's ability.How long will it be held?

"Once every two months."

It is amazing.It takes strength as an artist.Of course, it's difficult if you don't have a solid background in yourself.

"That's right. That's why it's interesting to see something emerge at the last minute when you spit out everything you have now. It feels like something expanding beyond the limits of an artist."

Please tell us the selection criteria of the writers.

“It is important not to waver from the audience’s reaction, but to stay on your own. I am constantly asked why I am creating and showing it, so I would like to ask someone who can respond with their work. It also means two people."

Taiji Moriyama's "LAND MADE" displayed in the exhibition space on the first floor
Ⓒ KAZNIKI

It is easy to imagine how it will actually look when the customer displays the work.

Why did you open in Kamata?

“I was born in Yokohama, but Kamata is close to Kanagawa, so I was familiar with Kamata. It's a multi-layered town with many people still living traditional lifestyles."

Why a gallery in a house?

"I think it's easy for customers to imagine how the work will look when it's displayed. A big reason is that I can imagine how it would look like in my own home. The pure white space of a normal gallery. = It looks cool inside the white cube, but there are times when you wonder where to put it (laughs).”

What kind of people buy your works?

“Nowadays, there are many people in the neighborhood, Kamata people. Some people I happened to meet in the city of Kamata, and some people I talked to a little bit at a hamburger shop party in Kamata the other day bought my work. It's quite difficult to have a space in the real world called a gallery.Nowadays with the internet, there was a part of me that thought I didn't need a space. It's a great pleasure to actually meet people who didn't have contact with art that I wanted to meet."

"Art / Vacant house two people" that blends in with the residential area
Ⓒ KAZNIKI

There are many things that customers tell me about perspectives that I didn't notice myself.

How about the reaction from the customers who purchased the work?

“People who say that decorating their works brightens up their daily life. People who usually keep their works in storage, but when they take them out occasionally and look into them, they feel like they are in another dimension. We also sell video works, so I think there are many people who enjoy the relationship of owning them.”

Did you notice anything when you tried the gallery?

“You mean that the customers are astute. Even if they have no knowledge of art, they perceive and understand the attitude of the work. There are many things that I have learned from the perspectives that I myself hadn't noticed.
The two of us are introducing the works of the exhibition on Youtube.In the early days, we took a video before the exhibition started for promotion and played it in the middle of the exhibition.However, my impressions after talking with the customers are deeper and more interesting.Recently, it has been played after the exhibition period is over. "

That's a bad promotion (laughs).

"That's why I think I'm no good (laughs)."

Why don't you try it twice?

"That's right. Right now, I think it's best to put it out at the end of the event period."

I would be happy if you could come as a place where you can feel free to touch art.

Could you talk about the future?

"It's about making the next exhibition more interesting every time. To do that, I think it's important to build up good exhibitions while colliding with artists. I think it's my role to make art a part of everyday life.If it's not something that everyone can appreciate, it won't reach the people who want it unless it's spread.Involve many people and make art a culture that blends into everyday life. I want to go."

Finally, please give a message to the residents.

"I think it's fun just to look at the exhibition. I would be happy if you could come here as a place where you can easily come into contact with art."

Profile

Sentaro Miki
Ⓒ KAZNIKI

Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1989.He completed a master's course at Tokyo University of the Arts. She made her debut as an artist in 2012 with her solo exhibition, Unbearable Skin.While questioning the significance of creating her work, her interest shifted to connecting art and people, and in 2020, she launched Art / Vacant House Futari in Kamata.

Art/Empty house XNUMX people

• Location: 3-10-17 Kamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo
• Access: 6-minute walk from Keikyu Main Line "Kamata Station", 8-minute walk from "Umeyashiki Station"
• Business hours / 11: 00-19: 00
• Opening days / open only during exhibitions

Home Page

YouTube (Art / Two empty houses NITO)

Attention EVENT information may be canceled or postponed in the future to prevent the spread of new coronavirus infections.
Please check each contact for the latest information.

Jacob's Magic Jazz Band

"I'm home~! Delicious Road 2022"

Sumikko Gurashi x Keikyu & Hanedaku in Otaku
"10th Anniversary Celebration Campaign in Sumiko Ota Ward, Tokyo"

OTA Art Meeting
“Recommendation for Art Activities @ Ota Ward <<Vacant House x Art Edition>>”

Orquestra Sambador Oriente Feat.Shen Ribeiro〈Fl.Shakuhachi〉

Contact

Public Relations and Public Hearing Section, Culture and Arts Promotion Division, Ota Ward Cultural Promotion Association