This summer, a couple of people whom I knew and liked and respected have died; one of them was quite a bit younger than I. The news of their deaths really brought me down. On top of that, there’s the national and international news, which has also been bringing me down. Plus today I started feeling under the weather — I hate being sick in the summertime.
I needed something to pick me up. So I looked for music by Rio Saito, a young ukulele virtuoso who has been playing some hot jazz. And I found a Youtube video of the Rio and Dani Brazilian Jazz Trio, recorded last November, playing “Aquelas Coisas Todas” by Brazilian jazz great Toninho Horta. I recognize Rio Saito as the ukulele player and band leader, but since I don’t read Japanese I can’t tell you the names of the pianist, bassist, and drummer. All I can tell you is that they are all fabulous musicians who put across eleven minutes of bright, uptempo, very accomplished jazz that made me smile.
One of the reasons I love jazz is because of the international connections. This performance is a perfect example — a Japanese ukulelist playing a Brazilian composition that comes from the American tradition of jazz. In a world filled with hot wars and trade wars and cultural wars, it’s good to remember that we can build connections across our differences.
And if you want more, here’s Abe Lagrimas Jr. and Rio playing Antonio Carlos Jobim together.