Yesterday was about Satoko Fujii looking forward with her next small combo project, today is about one last glance back on her previous one.

It’s often said, when one door is closed, another one is opened. That’s how Satoko Fujii viewed the end of her ma-do quartet brought on by the sudden death of the bassist, Norikatsu Koreyasu.

Even as Garth Hudson continues working on a new studio effort, the Band’s very busy multi-instrumentalist is prepping for a tour in Japan, to begin at the end of July.

“I love feedback very much.” When you hear the noise art of Otomo Yoshihide, you understand what an understatement that is, coming from him.

In a happy accident last May — the result of a last minute cancellation — Italian percussion legend Andrea Centazzo suddenly found himself on stage with two of Japan’s premier improvisers

Confusion Bleue is a self-described “total improvisation unit” led by Japanese pianist Nobu Stowe (who also hold a PhD in Psychology) and Omaha native, drummer Ray Sage (formally of Reverb Motherfuckers).

Recent positive reports of Eddie Van Halen’s recovery from surgery following a nasty case of diverticulitis have proven true: Van Halen has rescheduled the Japanese shows that were postponed in the wake of the guitarist’s health scare.

In November of 1980, things were going pretty well for Art Pepper. His newly published autobiography co-written with wife Laurie Straight Life had been receiving positive reviews

Easily the most talented husband-wife team in avant-garde jazz since Carla and Paul Bley, Natsuki Tamura and Satoko Fujii are also among the few who are extremely productive without sacrificing anything artistically.

In some ways, Monday Michiru is the Norah Jones of Japan: one of the few jazz-oriented female vocalists who are currently a true star, born to a famous musical father from another land.