The Unexpected Connection Between "Shuya-san" and "Matzz"

OkinoActually, there's a secret story about how I met Matzz that I haven't told yet.



MatsuokaA secret story? Really?



OkinoI don't remember it, but Matzz applied for a staff position at my agency a long, long time ago.

Matsuoka(Laughs heartily). I was probably just a customer at "The Room" back then. I think we properly introduced ourselves later, around the time quasimode released their first album.



OkinoI heard that British DJ Patrick Forge liked them and was playing their music on the radio. That's how I found out about quasimode. Patrick even asked me, 'You're Japanese, and you don't know a Japanese band?' (laughs).



MatsuokaThe producer of quasimode happened to give Patrick Forge some unreleased tracks before they came out.



OkinoMy impression of quasimode was that they were intelligent, lyrical, refined, and smart. Of course, they had youth and passion, but it was a different kind of passion than the somewhat chaotic energy of SOIL & PIMP SESSIONS or SLEEP WAKER, whom I produced. That freshness was appealing.



MatsuokaI'm genuinely happy to hear you say that. As I mentioned earlier, I was originally a customer who came to "The Room." You were already at the pinnacle of the scene back then, and I admired you.



—What was it about Okino-san that you admired?



MatsuokaAround the same time, I started getting into both live jazz played by musicians and club jazz. But live jazz back then felt uncool, you know, sitting down and clapping after each song (laughs wryly). The jazz I was influenced by in the 60s and 70s had this stylish image of cool Black people dressed up and dancing. That's when I learned about you, Okino-san, and I felt you were the one truly embodying the essence of jazz, both in appearance and music.

OkinoSome people tell me I should be more imposing, but I dislike authority figures in general (laughs). I'd rather be spoken to casually by younger people than act all high and mighty. Just the other day, a guy about twenty spoke to me very casually.



MatsuokaWhat did he say?



Okino'Hey, your DJ set was great. What's your name?' 'I'm Okino.' 'I'll remember it.' (laughs).



MatsuokaExtremely casual! (laughs).



OkinoMy staff were tense, but that guy genuinely thought I was his age. It's dark in clubs, so you can't always tell people's ages (laughs). But I think that's actually the essence of a club. Age, gender, race, career—none of it matters. The only commonality is being a music lover. That's the atmosphere of the clubs I was so impressed by in London when I was twenty.

—For the "Tokyo Crossover/Jazz Festival 2011," returning after two years, what was the deciding factor in inviting Matsuoka-san to perform?



OkinoI jokingly call my band "Okino JAPAN" (laughs), and I want to bring in the most brilliant players at any given time. Then, one day, I saw him play at a session at "The Room," and I was really impressed by how solid his performance was. So, I really wanted him to participate.



MatsuokaI'd been saying I wanted to perform for a long time (laughs). So, I'm incredibly happy. It feels like, 'Finally!' It makes all the effort worthwhile.

OkinoI intended to gather the strongest members of the current club jazz scene, a club jazz all-stars. Japan today hosts world-class DJs every weekend, which shows that Japanese audiences have the capacity to enjoy this kind of music, and that's a good thing. But there are also many talents in Japan who can go abroad. The consistent concept of "Tokyo Crossover/Jazz Festival" is world-class standards. My perspective is always focused there, and I believe "Tokyo Crossover/Jazz Festival" is a content that can be taken overseas as is.



MatsuokaIt's enjoyable to work on "Tokyo Crossover/Jazz Festival" because you can feel the musicians' strong desire to create the best music as a work and as an expression. But that also puts pressure on us.



OkinoBut don't you think the audience wants that too? Of course, many people prefer famous and easily accessible music, and that's fine. But I'm only looking for the best performance from this lineup. In fact, that's all I'm looking for. Otherwise, it wouldn't be me, and it wouldn't be "Tokyo Crossover/Jazz Festival."



MatsuokaSince I'm participating, I want to give it my all.

MatsuokaJazz changes with the times, and I believe it's constantly evolving. Personally, I think it's the coolest event in the current jazz scene, so I'm going to give it my absolute best.



OkinoNowadays, many people think, 'Clubs are a bit much...' But for this festival, I'm hoping not only for those who currently frequent clubs but also for adults who used to go. I'm currently hosting an event at the Bulgari lounge, and everyone drinks, talks, and dances. Essentially, adults today know how to have a good time.



MatsuokaFirst, I want to focus on my own performance so that I can continue to be invited to "Okino JAPAN" in the years to come (laughs).



OkinoI also need to make sure I'm not unexpectedly fired as the director (laughs). Although "Tokyo Crossover/Jazz Festival" is still small for a festival, I want to make it bigger. However, I absolutely want to maintain its quality. This means not only the music but also careful selection of venues, aiming for a festival where you can experience total art, blending music, fashion, and architecture.



—Finally, could you please give a message to our readers?



MatsuokaNext year marks quasimode's 10th anniversary, so we have many exciting things planned. Please look forward to it.




Okino"Tokyo Crossover/Jazz Festival" is in its eighth year, but it still has a lot of room to grow, so I hope you'll look forward to it this year and in the future. Also, next year is "The Room's" 20th anniversary, and we're planning some truly surprising projects. Please keep an eye on that as well.




Shuya Okino (Kyoto Jazz Massive)

DJ and Creative Director. Founder of "Tokyo Crossover/Jazz Festival." He has been invited to perform in 30 countries and 120 cities worldwide and has been featured by outlets such as CNN and Billboard. He is also the producer of the Shibuya club "The Room." His latest release is the solo album "DESTINY."



Takahiro "matzz" Matsuoka

Primarily active as the percussionist for quasimode, he also energetically engages in a wide range of activities, including guest appearances on numerous artists' works, DJing, and serving as the representative for the apparel brand "montyacc." quasimode's latest release is their fifth full album, "Magic Ensemble."

"The Beetle Presents Tokyo Crossover/Jazz Festival 2011" is Here!!




The only club jazz and crossover music festival in Japan committed to world-class standards,

"Tokyo Crossover/Jazz Festival," will be held for the eighth time!



TCJF continues to evolve, embracing Detroit techno, deep house, hip-hop, and rare groove.

The urban music festival for adults makes its debut at Ebisu Garden Hall with a new development!!





December 16, 2011 (Fri) @ The Garden Hall / Ebisu

Open/Start: 18:00

Close 24:00

Advance: Standing 4,500 yen / Ticket with Reserved Seat (Limited 120 seats) 5,500 yen

Door: 5,000 yen

For tracklist details and Shuya Okino's commentary on each song, click here.

http://www.extra-freedom.co.jp/release/tokyo_crossover_night/



You can watch the full track preview video here.

http://youtu.be/k1pvAKCmKaA



2011.11.30 Release

VIA-0096 (Village Again)

Special price 1,890 (tax in)

#1 on iTunes Dance Album Chart!

Reached #3 on the Overall Album Chart!!

A Masterpiece of Luxurious Dance Music!

Shuya Okino (Kyoto Jazz Massive)'s second solo album, first in 4 years!!

"DESTINY" Shuya Okino of Kyoto Jazz Massive

iTunes

☆ Listen to all tracks here.




<Release Tour Confirmed!>

Dates and details on the official website.

http://www.extra-freedom.co.jp/artists/shuya_okino/

On the video streaming site, USTREAM, The Room TV is now airing!

The Room Official Blog

TWITTER Account Shuya Okino |twitter.com/shuyakyotojazz Shibuya The Room |twitter.com/theroom_shibuya