Midsummer Nights Never End!

This time, we started the program with a work that sounds like a soundtrack to a black movie by beatmaker Oh No, who recently released the 36-track album "DR. NO'S Kali Tornado Funk" and is scheduled to visit Japan soon. We introduced "Let's Pray Together," a funky track with Amp Fiddler, a member of the P-Funk family who taught J Dilla how to use drum machines, from an album completed by a stellar lineup of local Detroit artists jamming with the late, legendary beatmaker and producer J Dilla, who passed away in 2006.

D'Angelo, the icon of neo-soul, who has not released a studio album since his masterpiece "Voodoo" in 2000, except for contributions to other artists' works. After a long silence, he has re-emerged this year with a European tour. While eagerly awaiting his new work, we presented a cover version of Roberta Flack's timeless classic "Feel Like Makin' Love." Following this, we played the 1975 version sung by singer Marlena Shaw, who is performing at Billboard Live Tokyo this week, for a mid-program comparison.



In the latter half, we played a piece exceeding 12 minutes from 1981 by the beatnik poet/singer Gil Scott-Heron, who passed away last May at the age of 62. With drums and bass providing a steady yet groovy rhythm, spoken word unfolded, fiercely criticizing the Reagan administration of the time – a truly political work unique to him. It remains vividly in our memories.


And with the image of "Midsummer Nights Never End," we concluded with a track from the latest album by the talented French artist Sebastien Tellier, remixed into Balearic dance music by Kenji Takimi, the DJ and producer who heads the Tokyo club scene label Cruel.

REVIEW | TRACK LIST

01. Oh No | Hot As Hell (Five Day Weekend)
02. J Dilla | Let's Pray Together (Ruff Draft)
03. D'Angelo | Feel Like Makin' Love (Virgin)
04. Marlena Shaw | Feel Like Makin' Love (Blue Note)
05. Gil Scott-Heron | 'B' Movie (Arista)
06. Sebastien Tellier | Cochon Ville - Kenji Takimi & The Beauty Remix (KSR)

Marlena Shaw Appears at Billboard Live Tokyo with Legendary Musicians

"Who Is This Bitch, Anyway?" by Marlena Shaw, featuring the song "Feel Like Makin' Love" introduced today, is one of her most popular albums. For this performance, Shaw will be joined by four legends from the original recording: the sharp rhythm section of Chuck Rainey and Harvey Mason, David T. Walker with his brilliant guitar work, and Larry Nash, who brought a mellow quality to the tracks with his Rhodes piano. Marlena's show with these four legends is sure to heat up Tokyo even further this midsummer.

Marlena Shaw featuring Chuck Rainey, David T. Walker, Larry Nash, Harvey Mason
"Who Is This Bitch Anyway?" Reunion Tour



Times | August 9 (Thu), 10 (Fri)
[1st Show] Doors 5:30 PM, Show 7:00 PM [2nd Show] Doors 8:45 PM, Show 9:30 PM
August 11 (Sat)
[1st Show] Doors 5:00 PM, Show 6:00 PM [2nd Show] Doors 8:00 PM, Show 9:00 PM
Members | Marlena Shaw (Vocals), Chuck Rainey (Bass), David T. Walker (Guitar), Larry Nash (Keyboards), Harvey Mason (Drums)
*Members are subject to change without notice.