Colours of Life: Jak Jazz Festival 2007 Saga: Chapter Eight

After Parkdrive show was over, we headed to Big Stage 1 again where Monday Michiru would perform. I was exhausted at that time and a sleepy sensation struct me. We had to wait for another 15 minutes till the show started. Anyway there were many persons decided to sit on the ground, in front of the front seat to watch this show, so we decided to follow it too. And sitting there made my sleepiness became worse.

Monday Michiru from Jak Jazz 2007 Official Program Book

Born August 19, 1963 in Tokyo, Japan, Monday Michiru was named but her parents, jazz pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi and jazz saxophonist Charlie Mariano, to reflect both her Japanese and American heritage. With music obviously in her blood, Monday showed interest in the arts from an early age, studying modern dance and ballet from the age of 8, and classical flute from 11 years of age.

After winning first place in several local flute competitions in Los Angeles, she attended the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan and was recognized for her talent and awarded a scholarship from both the Armstrong Flute Association and Interlochen Arts Academy.

After graduating IAA, Monday shifted her studies from the classical flute and began concentrating on the voice more seriously. It was in 1991 that she finally had the opportunity to reroute her endeavors back to her roots in music and released her debut solo album. By 1993, Monday steadily began recording and releasing albums in Japan and later in Europe, Australia, and South America.

First Experience with Monday Michiru

I knew Monday Michiru for the first time at the recorded Jak Jazz 2006 show and stunned by her voice. Since then I had became her fan.

More Experiences with Monday Michiru

I knew more of her music through Optimista album. She has been known as an artist that combine many genre to form her own music style. It is ranging from jazz, dance, pop, and soul. And from this album I learnt more in her style. She combine samba tune in some tracks of this album. Other than that, I'm really amazed by the depth and the meaning of her lyric. Her music is simply beautiful, and sometime energetic and groovy, and the lyric has a lot of messages. Such combination made me love her music more.

Monday Michiru's Jak Jazz Show

Monday Michiru walked to the stage with a red gown to the knee, she looked very beautiful and sexy also. Accompanied by Alexandre Sipiagin (trumpet), Seamus Blake (saxophone and guitar), Gene Jackson (drum), Henry Hey (keyboard), and Fima Ephron (bass), she was ready to begin her show. Some of her songs were romantic and some other more were groovy and energetic. But I guessed the audience was already tired, so they didn't want to get up from the seat. I wanted to stand up rather than sat down also, but I was also tired and feared to be shouted by other audience (in the previous shows, everyone that stood up in front of the stage, mainly because wanted to take some pictures, was always shouted by other audience to get down).

Anyway, I recognized at least two of her songs, those were "Oasis" and "Play It By Ear". And it was really an honour for Jak Jazz 2007, because she especially sang one song that she had never sung before live, unfortunately I forgot the title :( sigh.. Anyway, other than singing, in some of her song, she played flute too. At the end of the show after she got off the stage, the audience shout "we want more" over and over, and she appeared again. Anyway she stated that she prepared to come to the stage, and said it would be really silly if the audience didn't call her back. So I guess it didn't count as an encore anyway. One song more to go and the show was really over.

After the show was over, we left the stage, but to see she reappeared to give autograph and a little photo session to her fans. So we rushed back to the stage, but I didn't prepare anything to get her autograph. So I took a bag that was left behind on the ground by its owner, clean it up, and got her autograph. Wow.. she is a really kind person. Anyway.. what I really disappointed about is.. I should get her photo with me.. sigh.. I was too shy to ask that :P

Photos

All these photos taken at Jak Jazz 2007 festival, 24th November 2007