This gig was the very first appearnace of this band in NYC and in US, although they had toured in Japan twice in the past and they were going to go there for the third time the next week after this NYC show. Akiko and Marc did a set here last year and left us wondering how the band sound going to be like… with huge expectation.

With the bass Jennifer Condos, and the drums Jay Bellerose, the entire picture poped up with more color and stronger groove. It was interesting to watch how the grooviness of the band was actually supporting Akiko’s subtle sensitivity and quirky mixture of any genre of music.




Akiko had composed new songs and rearranged some previously written songs for this gig and the upcoming Japan tour. Her ability of composing and arranging music is often understated simply because her singing and piano playing is so unique and that is the most prominent feature of her performance. All the songs she performed with this band shone brightly with different reflections from what we had seen when she played with other musicians or by herself as solo. Again she was succeeded to surprise us by showing us new interpretation/perspective of music. “Whole Lotta Love”, “Laamen”, “Funamachi Uta” were a few of many examples. It was interesting to hear her saying that she felt like she was born with a thing for Southern music even though she was born in the northern part of Japan. That groovy soul was there. indeed.
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Those of you who are going to see her in Japan, you will mostlikely be able to see the duo of Akiko and Marc as well. Look forward to it. In the meantime, we who will stay home hope the next show outside Japan may happen soon in 2011