A Gathering of Esteemed DJs

Tatsuo Sunaga's jazz compilation series, "Tatsuo Sunaga's Night Jazz," is a project that has become his life's work. This series can be credited with broadening the appeal of jazz, a genre that becomes deeper the more one explores it, beyond core listeners to the general public.



To celebrate the birthday of Tatsuo Sunaga, one of Japan's leading DJs, seven esteemed DJs who admire him gathered: Toshio Matsuura, Tsuyoshi Kawakami (Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra), Tomoyuki Tanaka (Fantastic Plastic Machine), MURO, and others. They were joined by a special duo live performance from akiko, known for being the first Japanese female singer to release on the venerable American jazz label Verve, and Makoto Kuriya, a jazz pianist respected by jazz masters worldwide.



At 6 PM, the cruise ship "Celebrity II" set sail from its Odaiba pier under a slightly cloudy sky with a strong breeze.



This was actually the second time this onboard party had been held. While the previous event featured numerous landmarks like the Rainbow Bridge illuminated at night and the giant Gundam statue in Odaiba, this time, despite the 360-degree night view still providing a great ambiance, the Rainbow Bridge was not lit due to power conservation measures. Furthermore, as Toshio Matsuura later commented, "I've never DJed while the boat was rocking this much in my life (laughs)," the event was unexpectedly hit by severe turbulence due to a typhoon, making it difficult for passengers to even stand steadily.

Tsuyoshi Kawakami

Tomoyuki Tanaka

However, DJ Niche, the opening act, dramatically shifted the atmosphere of the room, which had been quiet until then, with an audacious selection of upbeat tunes mixed with live jazz. As Sunaga mentioned that day, the charm of jazz lies in its infinite, inexpressible possibilities, and DJ Niche's set seemed to embody this very idea.



Sunaga has been actively supporting the recovery efforts following the Great East Japan Earthquake, donating proceeds from his music sales. For this Night Jazz URBAN CRUISE EDITION, the catered finger foods included a special menu using ingredients from the Tohoku region. Additionally, MARCY, the owner of "Little Bird Record," a record store in Fukushima (a disaster-stricken area) renowned among record collectors for its extensive collection of rare vinyl, also participated as a guest.

Left: Yusuke Oda (Trumpet), Right: Seiwa Kimizuka (Guitar)

akiko

The Ship's Sway Added to the Excitement

Following this, Tsuyoshi Kawakami, MURO, Tomoyuki Tanaka, and Toshio Matsuura took the stage. Around the time the cruise passed its halfway point, Toshio Matsuura introduced akiko and Makoto Kuriya, and their live performance began. Previously, some guests relaxed on sofas on the second floor with drinks, while others on the third-deck listened to the gentle sounds of trumpet and guitar in a minimalist setup by Yusuke Oda and Seiwa Kimizuka. However, before long, the second-floor lounge was packed. Perhaps aided by the ship's motion, akiko remarked during her MC, "Everyone's so groovy (laughs)," and it seemed everyone was swaying in sync with the ship, fully enjoying the live performance.



Amidst the palpable energy and organic atmosphere, the music suddenly shifted to a "Happy Birthday" song. It was time for the party's guest of honor, Tatsuo Sunaga. He appeared to the cheers of the guests gathered on the second floor, looking characteristically bashful.



The event concluded with a moody DJ set by Sunaga, bringing the second URBAN CRUISE EDITION to a highly successful close.