Kaoru Azuma (vo), Junichi Saeki (pf), Sho Iwata (bs), Hideaki Kakimoto (ds) played M CUATRO in Amagasaki, Hyogo, on Dec 28, 2018

Kaoru Azuma (voice), Junichi Saeki (piano), Sho Iwata (double bass) and Hideaki Kakimoto (drums) performed at M CUATRO in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan on Friday, December 28th, 2018.

View this post on Instagram Kaoru Azuma (voice), Junichi Saeki (piano), Sho Iwata (double bass) and Hideaki Kakimoto (drums) performed at M CUATRO in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan on Friday, December 28th, 2018. _ #MCUATRO #Amagasaki #Hyogo #Japan #gig #jazz #livejazz #music #livemusic #show #liveshow #voice #vocals #vocaljazz #piano #bass #doublebass #drums #KaoruAzuma #JunichiSaeki #ShoIwata #HideakiKakimoto #Friday #28December2018 #FF #TGIF #NewMusicFridays #HappyHolidays #JazzUpJapan #JUJ A post shared by @ jazzupjapan on Dec 28, 2018 at 7:17pm PST Personnel: - Kaoru Azuma (voice) - Junichi Saeki (piano) - Sho Iwata (double bass) - Hideaki Kakimoto (drums) at M CUATRO in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan on Friday, December 28th, 2018 Set list for the show * 1st Stage 1. Chanson d'Andy - instrumental 2. You Must Believe In Spring - instrumental 3. Our Love Is Here To Stay 4. Água de Beber 5. Remember Me 6. Stardust 7. Moanin' * 2nd Stage 1. Caruso - instrumental 2. America - instrumental 3. Cantaloupe Island / music by Herbie Hancock, lyrics by Kaoru Azuma 4. 人生の扉 / music and lyrics by Mariya Takeuchi 5. East Of The Sun (and West of the Moon) 6. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? 7. L.O.V.E. * Encore 情熱大陸 Jonetsu Tairiku / Taro Hakase - Azuma scats

They demonstrated a versatile ability to play instrumental pieces from a French film, a bossa nova song in Portuguese, jazz standards in English, a Japanese pop tune and so forth.

In addition, Azuma sang Herbie Hancock's composition she had written lyrics to.

Kaoru Azuma (vo), Junichi Saeki (pf), Sho Iwata (ds), Hideaki Kakimoto (ds)

It was terribly chilly outside that night, but the show was warm and fuzzy enough to get ready to enjoy a great New Year's Day with.

[left to right] Hideaki Kakimoto (ds), Kaoru Azuma (vo), Sho Iwata (ds), Junichi Saeki (pf)

Isamu Nozaki at Jazz Up Japan

The Stylistics played Billboard Live Osaka in Osaka, on December 16th, 2018

The Stylistics performed a live concert to celebrate their fiftieth anniversary at Billboard Live Osaka in Osaka, Japan on Sunday, December 16th, 2018.

View this post on Instagram #Signboard: The Stylistics performed a show to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary at Billboard Live Osaka in Osaka, Japan on Sunday, December 16th, 2018. _ #BillboardLiveOsaka #bblosaka #BillboardLive #Osaka #Japan #gig #jazz #livejazz #music #livemusic #show #liveshow #soul #soulmusic #chorus #TheStylistics #50thAnniversary #AirrionLove #HerbertMurrell #JasonSharp #BarringtonBoHenderson #StephanMyerson #MaxHoenig #RutherfordGayJr #TetsuyaMizobuchi #AustinMarlow #fmcocolo765 #JazzUpJapan #JUJ A post shared by @ jazzupjapan on Dec 16, 2018 at 5:12pm PST Personnel: The Stylistics - Airrion Love (vocals) - Herbert Murrell (vocals) - Jason Sharp (vocals) - Barrington "Bo" Henderson (vocals) - Stephan Myerson (keyboards) - Max Hoenig (keyboards) - Rutherford Gay Jr. (guitar) - Tetsuya Mizobuchi (bass) - Austin Marlow (drums) at Billboard Live Osaka in Osaka, Japan on December 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th, 2018

They played Christmas numbers as well as their 70s hit songs.


The show was sweet enough to bring back memories to the audience.

Isamu Nozaki at Jazz Up Japan

Kaoru Azuma (vo, pf) played CrossRoad in Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, on December 7th, 2018

Kaoru Azuma performed a solo show with guests from the audience at CrossRoad in Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, on December 7th, 2018.

View this post on Instagram Kaoru Azuma sang to her own piano accompaniment at CrossRoad in Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan on Friday, December 7th, 2018. _ #CrossRoad #HigashiOsaka #OsakaPrefecture #Osaka #Japan #gig #jazz #livejazz #music #livemusic #show #liveshow #vocaljazz #voice #vocals #piano #Miki #pianoforte #SingToYourOwnPianoAccompaniment #KaoruAzuma #JazzUpJapan #JUJ #Friday #7December2018 A post shared by @ jazzupjapan on Dec 8, 2018 at 12:51am PST Personnel: - Kaoru Azuma (voice, piano) Guests from the audience - Jun Izumi (voice) - Kei Ushijima (piano) at CrossRoad in Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan on Friday, December 7th, 2018 Set list for the show * 1st Stage 1. Alice In Wonderland 2. Desafinado 3. Little Butterfly [Pannonica] 4. Stars [Endless Stars / music by Fred Hersch, lyrics by Norma Winstone] 5. Our Love Is Here To Stay * 2nd Stage 1. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (My Baby) 2. Butterfly / Herbie Hancock 3. Corcovado - Azuma accompanied Izumi on piano 4. East Of The Sun (and West of the Moon) - Azuma sang accompanied by Ushijima on piano 5. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? 6. Sleigh Ride * Encore Winter Song

Azuma sang jazz standards, bossa nova and Christmas songs along with Japan's pop music to her own piano accompaniment.

She also had a blissful time playing with the audience members who learn vocal skills from her. They were so familiar to other listeners there that the performance was enticing to enjoy.

Kaoru Azuma (pf) and Jun Izumi (vo)

Kaoru Azuma (vo) and Kei Ushijima (pf)

The gig was heartwarming enough to spend a Christmas season night with.

[left to right] Jun Izumi (vo), Kaoru Azuma (vo, pf) and Kei Ushijima (pf)

One of the audience members conducted a live drawing.
Photo from Kaoru Azuama's Facebook Page

Isamu Nozaki at Jazz Up Japan