I always loved RETRATO EM BRANCO E PRETO, the classic song by Tom Jobim & Chico Buarque, which I first discovered in the recording of João Gilberto, but which has been recorded by most Brazilian artists.
Of course, I was then very happy when Swedish jazz singer Nina Ripe wanted to record my English translation of the song for her debut album "Apaixonada". It was released in 2011, and I have mentioned it on this blog before. I wrote three of the lyrics for that album, all fully authorized.
The arrangement is great, and the accordion is awesome.
She's just uploaded a youtube video for it, so check it out!
NINA RIPE - Picture in Black and White
(Retrato em Branco e Preto)
Get the lyrics at my website:
http://www.jcschutz.com/music.php?do=vi ... amp;page=1
Peace!
In 2009 I made a bossa nova remix of the song 'Balans' from C'EST LA VIE. It was previously only available on a download compilation, and many people never heard it.
Finally, it's now available from my Bandcamp page with a simple black-and-white cover.
Listen on this page:
http://jcschutz.bandcamp.com/track/balans-bossa-remix
The remix has more energy than the original. The guitar is different, so are the drums.
However, all other instruments and vocals are the same, so I don't know where the energy comes from!
The original is here:
http://jcschutz.bandcamp.com/track/balans
Peace!
I just want to share this great news that reached me through the internet:
On AMAZON JAPAN's Bestseller ranking of POP albums, 'Peacebird' is number 52!
http://www.amazon.co.jp/PEACEBIRD/dp/B0 ... 9340051_52
As the release was 6 months ago, I think it's really awesome!!!
Good news as I'm just finishing a second Peacebird album...
Peace!
Just have to share this song.
It's one of my favourite songs of all time, with an amazing lyric. It took some time for this album to grow on me when it was released in 1997, but now I think it's BOB DYLAN's best.
The title is NOT DARK YET, and my favourite lines are:
Behind every beautiful thing there's been some kind of pain
I was born here and I'll die here against my will
I know it looks like I'm moving, but I'm standing still
I keep coming back to this song over and over. The slow tempo reminds me of being in a dream, trying to walk away from something that haunts you. I think it fits the lyrics perfectly.
Lyrics:
http://www.bobdylan.com/us/songs/not-dark-yet
Peace!
Here are some photos from last Tuesday's event at Aoyama Francfranc with J-WAVE and the navigator Rachel Chan.
With Rachel Chan during the small talk session before my gig:
And another photo, of me singing and playing the cavaquinho (you can see it through the green plants if you look carefully):
Thank you to Rachel Chan and J-WAVE!
http://www.j-wave.co.jp/original/rendezvous/
Peace!
Here's my setlist from the gig at Saravah:
1. This Sadness
2. Difficult
3. You Can Discover (John Martyn)
4. This Is Forever
5. Changes Changes (new song)
6. Slow Down
7. Möten Och Avsked (my Swedish translation of Encontros e Despedidas by Milton Nascimento/Fernando Brant)
8. Over The Rainbow (Arlen/Harburg) with special guest Chihiro Fujita
9. Balans
I took the opportunity to play some of the songs I don't play so regularly, to give some variation for those of you who heard me live towards the end of last year.
Here's a photo I borrowed from Chihiro's twitter, which she took of me during the soundcheck:
And here's a photo I took of Piece of Peace during their soundcheck, from backstage. From left to right: Chihiro, Ben, and special guest at the grand piano Tetsuro Yafune:
And a photo of me, taken between cups of coffee while waiting for the clock to turn 19, so I could go out and listen to the DJ:s.
After my performance, I met the owner for the first time, Atsuko Barouh, and could talk with her a little about music.
Thank you Toru Hashimoto, as always from the bottom of my heart, for inviting me to play at your event at great Saravah.
Peace!
Here are the setlists from my two recent gigs in Tokyo. Sunday's gig at Setagaya Volunteer Center was lovely, the audience was very warm and receptive. I also did an improvised session with Keico Yoshida (vocals) Hitomi Yamakami (tenor saxophone) and Yuichiro Hiraoka (guitar), which was great fun!
Keico Yoshida, me, Hitomi Yamakami and Yuichiro Hiraoka (hidden behind us) performing Jobim's "Wave".
3/18
Otagaisama Festa
1. What good are tears
2. Smile
3. I'm here
4. Balans
5. After the rain
6. Slow down
7. Let the sunlight in
8. Passion
Encore:
9. C'est la vie
Session at the end of Keico Yoshida's set:
1. Wave
3/20
AOYAMA Francfranc
'Rendez-Vous Voyage" release event
1. I love you*
2. Slow down
3. Pickin' up the pieces
4. Balans
*performed with cavaquinho
There are photos from this event on my facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/jcschutz
I have another gig on Saturday, March 24, at
Saravah Tokyo
http://l-amusee.com/saravah/schedule/log/20120324.php
http://www.peacebirdmusic.com/schedule.php
If you're free, come down to Shibuya. It will be a great night!
Peace!
4 "new" live videos are now available @ youtube!
They were all recorded at the Tokyo release party for "Peacebird", in October at Aoyama Tsuki Miru Kimi Omou. The sound is the natural camera sound, so it's a bit "pumping", but the overall feeling is great. Watch them when you get a moment!
That time, the Peacebird live band was:
me (vocals/guitar)
with
Kazuya Saka (keyboards)
Takero Ogata (percussion)
Keisuke Tanaka (bass)
Toshiyuki Sasaki (drums)
and special guest Chihiro Fujita (backing vocals & shaker)
"Slow Down"
"Passion"
"Let The Sunlight In"
"After The Rain"
The URL for the Peacebird channel on youtube is:
http://www.youtube.com/user/peacebirdmusic
Peace!
The Japanese website is On Air from today!
All contents are in Japanese, except for some headlines, which are in English because they are expressions usually being used in English.
BIG and WARM thanks to Tae-chan for helping with the texts.
www.peacebirdmusic.com
Next Tuesday, March 20, I'm invited to perform a few songs live at the release event for RENDEZ-VOUS VOYAGE, the new compilation album from J-Wave's program Rendez-Vous!Place: AOYAMA Francfranc
Live: 18:30
The Rendez-Vous host, Rachel Chan, will also be there between 18-19:30!
The release date in shops is March 21, but of course, you can buy the CD already on Tuesday, and get both Rachel's and mine autographs!
J-Wave Rendez-Vous page:
http://www.j-wave.co.jp/original/rendezvous/cd/
During March 2012 we'll be recording my new Peacebird album in Tokyo! I'll also be doing a couple of gigs (see below).
On March 21, a compilation CD is released from J-Wave programme Rendez-vous - RENDEZ-VOUS VOYAGE. It includes one of my songs, "I Love You"!
Here's the live schedule for March:
3月18日 (日)
東京
おたがいさまフェスタ
Open 10:30 / Close 15:00
Music live shows 12:00 start
entrance free!
Setagaya Volunteer Association
Live:
平岡雄一郎 (gtr), ヤマカミヒトミ (sax)
吉田慶子 (vo, gtr)
Peacebird (ヨハン・クリスター・シュッツ) (vo, gtr)
世田谷ボランティア協会
〒154-0002 東京都世田谷区下馬2-20-14
3月24日 (土)
東京
Saravah 東京
OP. ／ ST. 19:00 ～ midnight
Charge：￥2,500（23:00 ～ ￥2,000） ※ドリンク別
'Saravah!'
Live：
ヨハン・クリスター・シュッツ（Peacebird）
Piece Of Peace
ヒロチカーノ（La Bossa）
和知 里
優河
DJ：
橋本 徹（SUBURBIA）
小林 恭（ima）
吉本 宏（bar buenos aires）
高木慶太
中村智昭（MUSICAANOSSA）
富永珠梨（usen for Cafe Apres-midi）
山本勇樹（Quiet Corner）
ユズル（Lots Of Lovin'）
Saravah 東京
東京都渋谷区松濤1丁目29-1 渋谷クロスロードビル B1
The small version of my website, the "mobile phone site", is no longer available, as a first step in creating a new website in Japanese.
The mobile version was created especially for people in Japan accessing my site from their phones, but the new website, which will be completely in Japanese, will also be fully accessible from phones.
We are still deciding on colours and design, so at this moment, there is just a landing page and a few links, but feel free to check it out.
The address for the Japanese site will be:
www.peacebirdmusic.com
My English site will still be available here:
www.jcschutz.com
Peace!
