Japan Outreach Inititative
Unidentified Fusion Orangement: (left to right) Alexander Anderson, Tomoki Sanders, Connor Steck, Juan Chiavassa, & Will Lyle
One of the most profound teachings I learned from the time I spent with Herbie Hancock was the realization that music, is a universal language that can change the way people think, and may be the only tool that can bring about a sustainable world peace. Jazz music has a tradition of breaking down barriers, uniting people from foreign lands and initiating a healthy, positive dialogue between cultures from around the world. During my studies at Berklee College of Music, and career as a professional pianist, I have met and played with musicians from all over the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, the Caribbean, England, Italy, Germany, Russia, Turkey, China, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, Egypt, Greece, West Africa, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Australia, and Taiwan. Music in my life has served as a tool for connecting with people, ideas, and cultures from all over the world, and has changed my perspective to see people from all nations and backgrounds as my brothers and sisters in the human family. I am now trying to spread this understanding and awareness through the power of music with my group of international musicians, Unidentified Fusion Orangement, to Japan, which has recently undergone many traumatic disasters and has been receptive to jazz music through hosting International Jazz Day in 2014. Jazz music has been the voice of freedom since it’s creation in the early 20th century for over a million peole in the United States and around the globe. Jazz music is the perfect tool for cultural diplomacy because it values diversity, welcomes new ideas, encourages responsibility, sincerity, and fosters both inner reflection and communal interaction. It is the perfect language for uniting people from foreign lands and serving as a bridge between cultures, belief systems, and ideologies.
Beginning from July 15th 2015, I will be taking my musical group on a two week cultural outreach program to Japan to demonstrate the ability of jazz music to bring people together from around the world and have a positive impact on a foreign nation. The group will consist of Berklee students from around the world: Alexander Anderson from San Diego, California playing piano and synthesizer, Connor Steck from Portage, Wisconsin playing soprano saxophone, Tomoki Sanders from Irabaki, Japan playing tenor saxophone, Will Lyle from Orange County, California on the electric bass, and Juan Chiavassa from Santa Fe, Argentina playing percussion. We plan on conducting clinics at local music schools, perform seminars at music manufacturing companies, host jam sessions inviting local musicians, conducting musical therapy sessions at special needs facilities, and performing in concert halls and jazz clubs to promote the ideas of intercultural exchange and understanding through improvised music.
In order to fulfill the intentions of this cultural outreach program, we require appropriate funding to cover the cost of transportation, lodging, food, and promotions. Five round trip tickets from Boston to Tokyo will cost $6,000, two weeks of lodging for the five of us will cost around $2,000, and two weeks for food and other miscellaneous expenses is going to be around $2,000. This does not factor in the cost of documenting the events in the form of audio/video recordings. In total, a minimum of $10,000 must be raised to cover the bare expenses of this cultural outreach program. Any organizations, donors, or government agencies that may be able to sponsor this program are essential, and is a primary goal of ours. Any events, workshops, or receptions that we as a group can take part in to demonstrate the effect, impact, and reality of our undertaking are more than welcome to reach out to me personally, I would love to receive any advice, direction, or encouragement from those who are interested in this outreach initiative.
BAND BIO:
Born in 1994 in Los Angeles, California, Will showed a passion for music from an early age. Inspired by classical and jazz music, he began studying cello at age three and eventually switched between the piano, guitar and percussion before settling on the electric bass at age 12. He was accepted to Berklee College of Music, originally as a Music Production major, as his interest at the time was primarily in hip-hop and modern funk beatmaking. At Berklee as an electric bass principle, the constant need for bassists led to him attending regular all-night jazz and funk jam sessions. Through his classes, he became inspired by a variety of bass players such as James Jamerson, Ron Carter, and Scott LaFaro. While at home in Orange County after the summer of his freshman year, he started studying the upright bass and delved into studying jazz and bebop language. That summer, he secured an arranging job for Laura Hagen, the widow of American composer Earle Hagen. The work featured vocalist Barry Minniefield, a later contestant on The Voice. While Lyle’s own arrangement of Hagen’s tune “Harlem Nocturne”, was never commercially released, it nonetheless gave him professional arranging experience, and an opening into the West Coast jazz scene. He became acquainted and later performed with local musicians such as Ron Kobayashi and Doug Webb. In January of 2015, he was the bassist and assistant road manager for a tour with Alex Anderson and Rodney Rocques from San Diego, CA to Seattle, WA.
Lyle has been privileged to study with some of Berklee’s most experienced faculty and has learned an equal amount from his peers. He credits various mentors and situations in his college career with much of his development as a continuous student of jazz and music. During his time he participated in over eight different bands, two of which he has led. Ever fascinated by classic recordings, obscure spiritual jazz, modern French composers, and 1980s boogie funk, he continues to hone his craft and stay enthusiastic in broadening his musical horizons.
Connor Steck was born in Portage, Wisconsin. He began to play saxophone at age 11, and attended college for three years at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse studying saxophone under Greg Balfany and music composition. After leaving UWL, Connor moved to Kobe City, Japan to study at the Koyo Conservatory of Music for two years. There he studied saxophone under Randal Conners and Mitsuhiro Furuya. He graduated from Koyo Conservatory in the spring of 2014.
Connor then entered the Berklee College of Music to study Jazz Composition. He has studied saxophone under Jackie Beard, and currently studies under George Garzone. Connor has studied composition under Scott Free, Bill Scism, Bob Pilkington, and others. His influences range from John Coltrane to Led Zeppelin. Enjoys craft beer and cheese.
Juan is a young musician. Drummer, performer, composer, arranger and band leader.
Born in Venado Tuerto, Argentina. A small town, with a big music tradition. Venado Tuerto is the home of some incredibly world renown musicians. Inspired by them, Juan started playing the drums at the age of 9. By the age of 11 he was already performing professional live gigs.
At the age of 18 he moved to Buenos Aires to study music, and mentored by the great drummer and Zildjian Artist, Jota Morelli (Al Jarreau, Fito Paez, L.A. Spinetta, etc.) Juan started his education at the Escuela de Musica Contemporanea, at the same time that he started doing professional gigs in Buenos Aires. At that time he started playing with Argentinean well known songwritter Gonzalo Aloras (Fito Paez). Playing along him, Juan shared the band stand with some of the legends of Argentinian Music, such as Litto Nebbia, Javier Mallosetti, Machi Rufino and more. He recorded a DVD on one of the best clubs in Buenos Aires, and played around the country in important festivals and venues. At the same time Juan started playing latin jazz with the famous Uruguayan piano player Ricardo Nole, who was teaching at the school and immediately saw the potential in the young drummer. During that time in Buenos Aires, Juan played many gigs, recordings, and all type of performances as a session player, but also with his R&B band, Mofo.
After graduating from the EMC, Juan got a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music. He moved to Boston in September of 2013. Mentored by his personal friend and grammy award winning artist Leo Genovese (Esperanza Spalding, Wayne Shorter, Jack de Johnette, etc) Juan started his education with some of the greatest jazz players in the planet, such as Ralph Peterson, Francisco Mela, Neil Smith, Bob Gullotti, Bob Moses, Kenny Werner, Tia Fuller, George Garzone, John Lockwood, etc.
Juan is currently doing session and performances of all genres, with many people around Boston and NYC. Also, he put together his Solo work, realizing his first EP called "Piscis", which is about to be presented on tour in Argentina (summer 2015). Juan's original music is played weekly at Boston's local jazz club Wally's Jazz Cafe where he hosts a jam session on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and was also plerformed in NYC at Whynot Jazz Room.
Son of the jazz saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, Tomoki was born in Manhattan, NY in 1994. He started playing drums at the age of 4, and switched to clarinet at 6. At the age of 10, his father gave him an alto saxophone. Sanders switched to tenor saxophone at the age of 14. He had his first gig at the age of 13 and had been performing around various schools, venues and clubs around Japan. He had his first recording as a sideman with TENGOKU BATAKE JAPON (天国畑JAPON) on their second album, “Karomi No Step" [かろみのすてっぷ]. Sanders has also played alongside Tatsuya Nakamura (NEW YORK UNIT), Indus & Rocks, Matthew Garrison, Giorgi Mikadze and Taylor McFerrin. He is currently a student at Berklee College of Music studying Performance and Contemporary Writing and Production.