Taro Hakase to Make Rare U.S. Appearance at The Blue Note NYC 9/6
On Monday, September, 6, Japanese violinist Taro Hakase will make a rare U.S. appearance at The Blue Note in New York City. One of the most highly-respected musicians in Japan, Taro Hakase is a multi-faceted artist best known for his collaboration with Celine Dion as a solo violinist. This Blue Note program - which has two showtimes, at 8:00 PM and 10:30 PM - offers audiences an opportunity to hear a grand collection of Hakase's most celebrated pop-classical work, including his hits "Etupirka", "Another Sky", "Joundetsu Tairiku (Passionate Continent)" and Celine Dion's "To Love You More". Hakase performs with an electric band, which comprises cellist Hiroki Kashiwagi, pianist Maciej Janas, guitarist Masaaki Nakayama, bassist Toru Nishijima, and percussionist Saori Sendo.
About Taro HakaseHakase graduated from Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku, the most highly respected music conservatory in Japan, and shortly thereafter formed the group Kryzler & Kompany in 1990. Their unique style met with critical acclaim, and the group released a total of 11 albums. In 1995, Celine Dion asked the group to record what would become one of her greatest chart-topping hits, "To Love You More". In 1996, Taro Hakase was featured as a guest soloist on Dion's Falling into You Tour, appearing in over 100 concerts worldwide. This broad exposure effectively extended Hakase's popularity internationally. In addition to being a talented musician, he is an established painter and writer, appears regularly as a host on radio and television, and has even worked as an environmental producer on public works projects. His seven solo albums have met with critical acclaim and strong commercial success, and his compositions "Etupirka" and "Jonetsu Tairiku" have become smash crossover hits in Japan. His collaborations with International Artists such as Polish jazz singer Basia, French bossa-nova singer Clementine and Argentinean ensemble Forever Tango Orchestra have reinforced his position as a diverse artist who utilizes his violin to bridge genres.Videos