I’ve spent a large part of the past two days designing and creating a website for flamenco dancer Iwata Reiko. In addition to performing throughout Japan, Iwata-sensei owns and operates the Escuela de Flamenco dance studio here in Hiroshima. I think I have most of the major designing complete, but will probably be making minor adjustments over the next several days/weeks.

The second practice session with Izumi (Nekomushi) went better than I had expected, considering that I didn’t spend nearly as much time preparing as I should have. We did end up cutting one song from the set list, because I felt it was just to intricate for me to learn it and come up with an interesting part in such a short time frame. We may try to squeeze in one more short rehearsal in the next few days, but competing schedules (ours and the studio’s) may make it an impossibility. While it would be nice to have another hour together, I think we’ll be mostly fine for Sunday. Between now and then, I’ll try to work on some more interesting melody/accompaniment parts with my right hand.

This practice session was the first time that I took my MacRack out of the house. I didn’t bring all of my foot controllers along (in an attempt to reduce baggage), so it was difficult for me to adjust volume levels while playing. That combined with the fact that we weren’t using monitors made it hard for me to get a good sense of how the processing on the melody side sounded. Sunday at El Barco will be my first opportunity to really test the MacRack away from home.

Last night was my first practice session with Izumi. We will be performing only her music, so the entire two-hour rehearsal was spent with her teaching me the songs. While not a very productive rehearal, I think it was not unusual as far as first sessions go. I am, however, a bit worried that it appears we will have only one more opportunity to rehearse together before our performance. Luckily, I recorded her playing the songs for me, so I can spend the next few days listening and coming up with ideas. After only one listen today, a couple of ideas have already emerged, so I’ll just have to see how they develop over the weekend.

After the practice session, we stopped into a nearby restaurant/cafe for coffee before going home. This was completely spontaneous, and we ended up talking for about 2 hours. I believe that if I am to have any chance at success in making music with someone, it is vital for me to establish some form of personal link with the other, develop a sense of comfort and ease with the person. So, the long chat over coffee and tobacco was very welcome.

In addition to my performance with Izumi at El Barco on 27 March, I will also be playing at the new outlet mall, Marina Hop, on 8 May. Details on the latter are still sketchy; I’ll post more info when it becomes available.

This has been a long period of inactivity for me. For about a month, I haven’t been interested in touching my Stick at all, and it has been refreshingly liberating. Now, just as I’m starting to think I want to get back into the swing of things, I get a suprising and welcome email from my friend Izumi, vocalist/accordion and leader of the band Nekomushi. She is scheduled to play a solo set at the next El Barco Live open mic event, but decided she’d like me to play with her rather than play alone. Since I’ve been hoping for quite some time that she and I would have the chance to play together at some point, I was very happy to accept. Our first rehearsal is tentatively scheduled for next week.

I went to Kapone on the 5th to see the farewell performance by Colin and Bill of Cannery Row. It was a great show. I really dig their music, and will miss them when they leave Hiroshima. (Actually, it turns out it wasn’t their final show, as they too are scheduled to play at the next El Barco event. These guys really know how to milk a farewell.)

Oh, the 2nd anniversary party at The Shack was … eventful. ’nuff said.