Shin Kawasaki

STOP THE PRESS!! this is also Chanda Dancy's BD BASH!!

the weather has been weird lately!! one day it's scorching hot,
and next day I can't step out of bed without my jacket,
then the wind blows away everything in sight!! hope all is well in your world,

at the last MidTones, we were attacked by the Madeleines Army!!
they ca...me en masse for the special occasion that was Traci Madeleine's BD,
but they also left me a message the following day that they plan to come back,
and suggested that I become a fan of their Facebook page...which I did,
http://www.facebook.com/MidToneMadeleines

anyway, at next week's MidTones we'll celebrate the BD for Greg Watanabe,
a co-founder of 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors and a MidTones regular!
I'm sure Madeleines would bring cakes for the occasion,
plz lemme know if there's any other BD(s) that I should be aware of!

same time, same placeRead More

Thank you all for the kind words re: my recent accident / injury,
YES I'm fine and NO you cannot have the rest of my Vicodin...
anyway, I got thru 4 nights "on a boat" at Ceasar's last weekend,
and even tho I'm still in pain my spirit is up and ready for another adventure.

so here comes another BD edition of MidTones - thi...s time it's for the one and only
Traci Kato-Kiriyama; she might be known as one of the Madeleines
but she's more than that and I'm sure a lot of you know her in so many different ways...
come party with us on a school night like a real party people
at Grand Star Jazz Club = the Party Central in Chinatown 90012

as always, any costume/wig/instrument/freestylin' attitude is welcome,
also, lemme know of any other BD that I should be aware of!Read More

the recordings of KUFU, the brainchild of the late great Chili Charles

are officially OUT NOW,

This was a project that I was privileged enough to be a part of since its inception.

Especially after Chili’s unexpected passing in ‘05, this became a tribute to

his talent, life and the memories we shared in a tiny house in Echo... Park,

memories which I remember vividly.
the album “Chili, This One’s For You”
includes original compositions by Chili, a few jazz standards,
and the recordings of the people from his birthplace, Trinidad, where Evan traveled twice,
plus the addition of talents such as Michael Fortunato (tp) and Michael Dubin (dr/perc)

go check it out at kufu.bandcamp.com/ – it’s a FREE DOWNLOAD!Read More

the next MidTones will be a birthday celebration for,
you know her, you love her, Keiko Agena!!
Yes, one of the ever-alluring MidTone Madeleines
has chosen Grand Star Jazz Club as the location of her party,
PARTY CENTRAL in the 90012.
LADIES - bring your wigs and boots, she'd love to have you join the pseudo-robotic choreog...raphy
and musicians, singers, MCs, and dancers are all welcome as always!

943 N. Broadway, Los Angeles CA90012
9:30pm on FREE EVENT!!Read More

we're back at legendary Grand Star in Chinatown
for another episode of random musical madness that is MidTones,
if you can't come out on TUE and/or have some licks/rhyme/moves that you wanna show off,
plz come out and share them with people! step out of your room and see the world!

also, regulars at MidTones are gonna do a... set at Tue Night Cafe in Little Tokyo!
I don't know how we're gonna maintain our volume at an outside venue
right in front of LAPD headquarters, but we'll try out best - without losing intensity that is!
our short 1st set is @ 7:40p, then we'll wrap the night around 9pm,
come enjoy the awesome Japanese food of Tokyo Cafe, get a large Sapporo,
and grab a seat - there'll be more music and comedy thruout the night,Read More