Live Music / Concerts

MOUNTAIN VIEW — The Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) at Finn Center in Mountain View will present a classical flute concert with Yoko Owada on Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m.

This special cultural event, offered free of charge in CSMA’s Tateuchi Hall, is part of the school’s commitment to provide the community with high-quality, cross-cultural programs and events. Event supporters include the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, the Japan Foundation, and the Japan Society of Northern California.

SACRAMENTO — “Japan Meets the West,” a free concert featuring mezzo-soprano Yukako Tatsumi-Margaritoff and Dr. John Cozza on piano, will be held on Monday, Oct. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Cosumnes River College Recital Hall, 8401 Center Parkway in Sacramento.

Tatsumi-Margaritoff will sing Japanese songs and European songs in six languages. Her repertoire includes Western composers Schubert, Brahms, Offenbach, Bizet, Rossini, Barber, Tchaikovsky and Hajiev as well as Japanese composers Hirai, Yamada, Okano, Bekku, Takagi, Dan, Tanimura and Nakada.

Keoki Kahumoku and Herb Ohta Jr. will perform contemporary Hawaiian music with a touch of blues on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s Jazz Club, 1330 Fillmore St. at Eddy in San Francisco’s Fillmore Heritage Center.

Two of Hawaii’s favorite sons, Kahumoku and Ohta are carrying on their musical legacies of their fathers, slack key guitar master George Kahumoku Jr. and ukulele master Herb “Ohta-san” Ohta. The next-generation musicians honor their heritage, yet add their own flair to each performance.

The Tokyo String Quartet, One of the world’s premier chamber ensembles, returns to San Francisco Performances for a recital with clarinetist Sabine Meyer on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 8 p.m. at the Herbst Theatre, located inside the War Memorial Veterans Building, at 401 Van Ness Ave. at McAllister Street.

The quartet will perform Beethoven’s String Quartet in G Major, Opus 18, No. 2, Bartók’s String Quartet No. 5, and, on the second half of the program, Brahms’ Quintet in B minor for Clarinet and Strings, Opus 115 with Meyer.

Hiroshima, a musical group merging jazz, R&B, and world music with an awesome array of Japanese percussion and other native instruments, will be at The Rrazz Room, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. in San Francisco, from Oct. 8 to 11.

Showtimes are Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 8-9, at 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10-11, at 7 and 9:30 p.m.

Tickets are $40 to $47.50 and can be purchased at www.therrazzroom.com or directly through www.ticketweb.com or (866) 468 3399.

SAN JOSE — Daniel Ho will be the headliner at the second annual Spirit of Japantown festival, to be held Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

He will perform at 2 p.m. on the entertainment stage, located near 4th and Jackson streets.

From his modest upbringing in Honolulu, Ho has learned to wear many hats over the years — musician, producer, singer/songwriter, arranger, composer, engineer, record company owner.

He has won three consecutive Grammy Awards as a producer and featured slack-key guitarist in the Best Hawaiian Music Album category.

Japanese pianist Hiromi has created quite a buzz over the last few years. Mentored by keyboard giants like Ahmad Jamal and Chick Corea, she has a unique musical world-view and dynamic piano style.

The diversity of her music runs the gamut of rock, jazz, and classical, creating a cross-cultural experience.

She returns to Yoshi’s San Francisco to perform her original compositions and new music from her forthcoming CD.

Kimochi, Inc. will celebrate the 25th anniversary of “Sansei Live!” at the San Francisco Presidio Officers’ Club on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight.

“Sansei Live!” began as a way to introduce younger generations to Kimochi’s senior services and to promote philanthropy among young people.

Two of today’s most recognizable Hawaiian music talents come together for their third California tour to celebrate the release of their latest CD. “2-3 Feet,” their third in a collection of “Ukuleles in Paradise” collaborations.

Herb Ohta Jr. and Daniel Ho bring to life the sound of just two ukuleles and combine melodic harmonies, original melodies and both traditional Hawaiian originals as well their own compositions, all influenced by the sounds of acoustic, contemporary jazz, R&B, and world music.

by J.K. YAMAMOTO
Hokubei Mainichi

Musician and composer Anthony Brown, who will celebrate the 10th anniversary of his Asian American Orchestra on Thursday, Sept. 11, at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s San Francisco, has a new way of looking at 9/11.