As I previously mentioned, the Fairfield Four toured Japan in mid September, and what a great concert they did! Singing completely a cappella, they showed how deep and moving human voices can be. I was especially impressed by the baritone singer Isaac Dickie Freeman. His voice is truly amazing. I hear his solo album is now being recorded. Looking forward to that, too! Also P-Vine Records has recently issued the group's CD "Standing In The Safety Zone" which contains their recordings between 1946 and 1949. By the way, on Sept. 14, they also appeared on a TV news program "News Station" broadcast nationwide, and sang two songs live in studio.

Arkansas Fats, a blues singer from U.S. who's been active in the Tokyo blues scene for quite a while, died in June of complications resulting from diabetes. He was 63. Fats, who's real name was Billy Joe Woods, first came to Japan in 1974 to work in the U.S. Army base. He stayed here after he left the Army to be a part of the local blues scene. Tribute jam sessions in memory of him took place at Jirokichi, and at T's Saloon in Tokyo, and also at Club 49 in Hakata where he used to go to sing often. Many great musicians came to play at these shows including Masayuki Omote, Mitsuyoshi Azuma, Junichiro Matsukawa, Ryuichiro Senoh, Hi Tide Harris, Fumio Ishikawa, Jun Nagami and TAD Miura who has been the guitarist of Fats' Blues Band for the past 13 years. Rest in peace, Fats.

Ex-Ukadan guitarist Kantaro Uchida has formed a new group named the Alligators. The band members are Shinji Miyake of Kiyoshiro Imawano's Little Screaming Revue on guitar, and Kozo Niida, ex-drummer of rock n' roll band RC Succession. The band just released their debut live album from P-Vine titled "Yoru No Wani" (translation: Night Alligators).

The Issue 29 of the Blues & Soul Records magazine has a special feature on Japanese blues artists. It comes with a CD containing 14 tracks from various Japanese blues artists. Might be a good one to pick up if you are planning to start exploring the blues scene over here. The magazine itself is in Japanese though.

The line up for the 6th Annual Park Tower Blues Festival has been announced. The headliner will be Bobby Rush who will be making his debut appearance in Japan. The other artists will be Roy Gaines, Eric Bibb, Bernard Allison, and the Soul Stirrers. The dates are set for Dec. 11, 12, and 13 at the Park Tower Hall in central Tokyo. Roy will be doing a guitar jam with Bernard and the Japanese musicians on the 11th. Also in December, Smokey Wilson and Guitar Shorty will be coming to Tokyo. They are booked together in the concert named the Blues Party 1999 at the Sweet Basil 139 on Dec. 20, 21, and 22. Other concerts being planned include Dan Penn with Spooner Oldham, and also Kelly Joe Phelps. Lots of excitement for us ahead!