Shingo Suzuki : Player Profile

Name: Shingo Suzuki
Where: 東京都 Japan
Instrument: Bass, Keys, Guitar, Production, Beats
With: Origami Productions
Listen: http://homepage.mac.com/shingo.suzuki/

Japan has always been on the edge of musical genre bending. So when you talk about blending hip hop, jazz, soul and neo-lounge elements into one, well I am all for it. Sign me up.



I got an email from Shingo, it was short and to the point. He uses our cases and wanted to collaborate. I had to check out his music, and when I did there was an instant connection. I began to dig a bit deeper into the tracks that were on his myspace and read that he samples his own instrumentals. In fact all of his tracks have him playing either keys, bass, guitars, a mixture of everything while sampled. To either create riffs or beats! No wonder his latest effort "The Abstract Truth" is in the top 10 albums sold on iTunes in Japan, Portugal, and France under the genre of Hip Hop. His production skills have been noticed by artists Moka Only(rapper/Canada).Blu(rapper/US),20syl of Hocus Pocus(Rapper/France),DJ Greem of Hocus Pocus.


Ovall is:
Shingo Suzuki, mabanua, Shingo Sekiguchi

Shingo is also the band leader for Ovall a spiritual jazz/hip hop band based in Tokyo. The band's approach to hip hop with it's fusion for live instrumentation and sampling has really transformed listeners to hear a new style that Shingo dubs "Absolute Mixture". Ovall is the result of this new style. Take a listen: http://www.myspace.com/ovallmusicdesign

Living Colour this Friday!

We can not miss this. Living Colour is one of those legendary bands that still hold all the keys to the bus headed towards Freakville. Yeah I am freaking out a bit. I don't even remember the last time they were in town. I do however remember the first time I heard them and my jaw dropped. There was nothing like it. You also add Fishbone as the other band on the bill and yeah, freaking out.

They are currently embarking on a US and European tour that won't see them back at home until the end of December. Their latest release "The Chair In The Doorway" is now available so go pick up your copy.

Idle Warship killed it.

Ok, so maybe they should have played the Mezzanine instead of Yoshi's since this was not a tables-and-chairs type of set, but I must say there was something nice about experiencing Talib, Graph, Res, Daru (drums), Louis (bass), Yuki (keys) and Chris (guitar) at point blank range in café mode. For those of you plugged into that NY scene, yes this essentially was the Cypher band backing Idle Warship. Dooooope.

The afterparty with Brooklyn Circus was the perfect follow up. The highlight being Talib Kweli hopping on the decks and doing his best West Coast thing. The man had that crowd figured out.

Idle Warship @ Yoshi's SF

Talib Kweli, Graph Nobel, and singer Res on the stage with Daru Jones on drums. We can not miss this!!! This is their San Francisco debut and we all have been waiting patiently here in the bay.

Also can't wait to see this man on the drums...DARU FO LIFE!

A few albums we've been bumping here at MONO studios...

1. Passion Pit - Manners


This album totally hits the spot. When I want something electronic, but not fully with a base around non-digital instruments...this is what we've been listening to. I can't find anything wrong with 'Manners'. It's one of those albums that we have been listening on repeat...skipping songs on this album is a NONO. Shame on us if we ever press the >> button.

2. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix


WOW...I thought 'It's Been Like That' was a great album! Then these guys bust out a 2009 topper. 'Alphabetical' was also a ridiculously solid album by these French rockers, but their latest efforts really put them on the map here in the States. For fans of Phoenix, definitely check out other awesome French bands like Tahiti 80 and Rhesus.

3. As Tall As Lions - You Can't Take It With You


Seriously highly anticipated by the MONO crew. This is truly a beautifully written album. The only way I can explain it is that it's so versatile. Dynamics on this album are awesome, it can get dark at times but not melancholy. There's always a nicely understated beauty that comes through.

Victor Wooten gives a shout out!

Victor Wooten and Mono Bass Case from Thump Music on Vimeo.

Special thanks goes out to Thump Music, our Australian distributors who have picked up our products. Victor was on a rampage clinic tour in the land down under and Thump was there to catch all the action.



Victor's Master Class Workshops were a huge success and featured 4 dates that left the audience with a complete understanding of the teachings of Victor Wooten. I've heard time after time how people have been literally changed because of his classes and workshops. We are so glad that Thump was able to host this and we hope it will become a yearly event.

AKAI Pro to feature the 365!!!

We have joined forces.

www.akaipro.com/mono365b

On tour in Portugal: Jonathan Auerbach

Jonathan Auerbach is on his way to Portugal on a 15+ show acoustic tour. Auerbach will be hitting some of the best clubs and spots during his 1 month stint including targeted gigs on the Island of Madeira and a finale at Lisbon's Hard Rock Cafe. Let's just say this is a tune up for Jonathan and his upcoming album that he will probably be unveiling for folks over in Portugal. Too bad we all don't have plane tickets over there!

Here are a few dates and places...

Friday, September 11th, 2009
Perlimpimpim
PM
Agora a Rua Principal
Praia de Vagueira
Portugal

Kickin' off the tour at this "in" artsy-cool club/restaurant/gallery on the beach in Praia de Vagueira, Jonathan's soul-stirrin' home base in Portugal

Friday, September 18th, 2009
Tertúlia Castalense
PM
Rua Augusto Nogueira da Silva, n779
Castelo da Maia -- Maia -- Porto
Portugal
22 982 94 25
Price: 6 Euros

Killer live music club in Porto, check it out online!

Friday, October 2nd, 2009
Estúdio de Artes Performativas
Moonlight Misterioso - PM
Teatro Avenida Largo Do Mercado, 1
Aveiro 3900-223
Portugal
Telef. (351) 234 192 331
Price: 5 Euros

Clubbin' it at "Estúdio de Artes Performativas" in Aveiro (the "Venice" of Portugal). Viva!


Jonathan’s Portugal team is:

Tour Manager: Sebastião Salguero (Porto, Portugal).
Promoter Rep for The New 7 Wonders of the World Festival – 2007 (featuring Jennifer Lopez, José Carreras, Joaquim Cortez, among others, and hosted by Hillary Swank and Ben Kingsley). Promoter Rep for the Marés Vivas Festival 2009. Producer of shows by American artists of note such as Charlie Musselwhite and Allen Toussaint, as well as many of the top Portuguese Pop-Rock acts.

Booking agent: Miguel Bello of BrainMusic, www.brainmusic.biz (Porto, Portugal)

Bazan

Dave Bazan is about to embark on a tour that will shake the nations. What better place to start it than San Francisco. This outing will last a very good part of 2 months. His latest album "Curse Your Branches" is currently available as it was released the first of this month.

Check those dates and grab a seat: www.davidbazan.com/shows/

Doublecheck Your Head...

Download this here.

Tannone is up to all good once AGAIN! We all wish MCA with a quick and full recovery. The man needs to beat this illness. Max promptly did what comes natural to him...mash-ups. All samples and elements come straight from "Check Your Head". So in essence the Boys aren't spitting over alien material.

Max notes that the inspiration of doing this was out of sheer appreciation when the reissue hit the stores.

If you'd like to follow Max do it here:

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jaydiohead.