LarryS
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2002
- Posts
- 191
- Likes
- 4
Keiko Matsui arrived yesterday in Washington DC & played at the Kennedy center.
This morning....early (& she elaborated the early) they flew here to Austin for 2 performances at the One World Theatre. It's a small intimate venue with seating for 300. I was just 7 rows back right between the electronic keyboard & the Steinway. (for those of you interested in such matters the keyboard was a Yamaha KX88 SST with a Motif 6 mounted above it).
She is an absolute doll with a totally infectious smile.
She was accompanied by two guitarists, drummer and e-saxaphonist. Only one of the guitarists was from Japan...the other 3 fellows were from the US (US touring group?). Her husband also came out with his shakuhachi for the last 2 numbers. He spoke for a little bit & was rather amusing.
What can I say...it was so great to see her and hear her play in person.
The Yamaha was right in the middle of the stage, and she sat on a small stool facing the audience bent over the keyboard, her ponytail falling down in front of her face hanging next to her smile.
It was so incongruous to see such a tiny diminutive figure putting forth such powerful music.
She would really get into the music at times rocking back & forth, smiling, and during one piece where they *really* jammed she was turning alternatively between the saxaphonist & the drummer, grinning. They had a couple of very hot numbers that the audience went wild over.
For one piece, she pulled out this tiny little keyboard that hung from a strap around her shoulders and rested at mid-thigh level. It was only the size of a couple of octaves (Yamaha KX5 ?). She was jamming on it across from the sax-ist.
I was very happy...she played some of my favorites from the Whispers from the Mirror album...I think they played something like 8-10 pieces over the course of 1 to 1 1/4 hours.
Afterwards, she went out to the lobby to sign CD's. Needless to say I had to pick up her latest CD, Wildflower (#14 !!!) for an autograph. During the concert she played "Facing Up" from the new CD & I really enjoyed it.
Overall, it was not to disappoint...especially for a Keiko Matsui fan. For the first time in over a year since I moved here, I was happy to be in Austin.
This morning....early (& she elaborated the early) they flew here to Austin for 2 performances at the One World Theatre. It's a small intimate venue with seating for 300. I was just 7 rows back right between the electronic keyboard & the Steinway. (for those of you interested in such matters the keyboard was a Yamaha KX88 SST with a Motif 6 mounted above it).
She is an absolute doll with a totally infectious smile.
She was accompanied by two guitarists, drummer and e-saxaphonist. Only one of the guitarists was from Japan...the other 3 fellows were from the US (US touring group?). Her husband also came out with his shakuhachi for the last 2 numbers. He spoke for a little bit & was rather amusing.
What can I say...it was so great to see her and hear her play in person.
The Yamaha was right in the middle of the stage, and she sat on a small stool facing the audience bent over the keyboard, her ponytail falling down in front of her face hanging next to her smile.
It was so incongruous to see such a tiny diminutive figure putting forth such powerful music.
She would really get into the music at times rocking back & forth, smiling, and during one piece where they *really* jammed she was turning alternatively between the saxaphonist & the drummer, grinning. They had a couple of very hot numbers that the audience went wild over.
For one piece, she pulled out this tiny little keyboard that hung from a strap around her shoulders and rested at mid-thigh level. It was only the size of a couple of octaves (Yamaha KX5 ?). She was jamming on it across from the sax-ist.
I was very happy...she played some of my favorites from the Whispers from the Mirror album...I think they played something like 8-10 pieces over the course of 1 to 1 1/4 hours.
Afterwards, she went out to the lobby to sign CD's. Needless to say I had to pick up her latest CD, Wildflower (#14 !!!) for an autograph. During the concert she played "Facing Up" from the new CD & I really enjoyed it.
Overall, it was not to disappoint...especially for a Keiko Matsui fan. For the first time in over a year since I moved here, I was happy to be in Austin.
