Yoko on the music she listened to growing up

Yoko on the music she listened to growing up

listening

I always loved music. My mother was already playing music for me when I was in the womb. She would play Bach, Debussy and Tchaikovsky. She played all kinds of music around the house in my early years. She would play Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, sing along with Sammy Davis Jr. — she could sing every word even though she had no idea what she was saying! I remember the first times I heard live music I literally felt this chill down my spine. I didn’t know what it was at the time but it still happens to this day when I hear some music that really speaks to me.

Growing up in Japan, I heard a lot of Japanese popular music (we call it J-POP). It’s like pop music in the US in that it follows a formula but there are even fewer variations. One of my American friends once asked me what some J-POP lyrics were about. I said they were about love. Every J-POP song is about love. Isn’t it the same in America?

Maybe everyone thinks their generation was more valid but I really think the popular music in Japan was better when I grew up than it is now. There surely was more melody. My parents listened to a lot of Enka which is traditional Japanese popular music. Think of it like the country music of Japan.

I don’t think any of the music I’ve mentioned so far had much influence on the music I play now. That came instead from my older sister. She was way ahead of me already, listening to music from America. She not only listened to the popular American music of her generation but also a lot of music from the 60’s and 70’s. I remember she would make cassette tapes for me. She turned me onto The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Velvet Underground, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell … the list goes on.

I’ve actually covered songs I first heard on those tapes. Of course I’ve transformed them into a jazz piano trio setting.

composing

Through my study of classical piano, I listened to a lot of Chopin and Beethoven. I think that had some influence on my playing, but more so in my original compositions. When I began studying with Minoru Ozone he put me on a strict listening diet of Red Garland, Wynton Kelly, Oscar Peterson, Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan, and Bill Evans. Shortly after, I discovered Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner. That was still just the tip of the iceberg. The music of these masters has been, and continues to be, a source of great inspiration. If I can generate the incredible feeling that any of them emanate when they play music — even if only for a moment — then my purpose in this life has been well served.

5 Responses

  1. John T. says:

    Now you gave me a lot to think about. I admire Japan today because it has a great respect for its elders and the people that have come before the younger generations. In Japan there is great reverence and respect for the ideas and experiences of older people and what they did. That respect for parents, grandparents and ancestors is something that used to exist in the United States but sadly in the last 20 years that respect for older generations has disappeared and my country has suffered. I am American born and bred and I will always be here, but I wish we were more like Japan in how we treat our elders.

    It’s funny, I listened to all of the same music that you did except for Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, Velvet Underground. Over the weekend, I listened to my favorite jazz album of all time “Miles Davis: Kind of Blue” and then followed that up by listening to your “Live at Scullers ” CD. I love listening to Scott on Drums on that recording.

  2. Yoko Miwa says:

    I know what you mean John. That respect is also disappearing in Japan and the culture is suffering because of it. I’m glad to hear you still listen to my CD! I’ll let Scott know, he’ll be happy to hear that.

  3. John T. says:

    ..Oh, I still listen to it a few times a month. It never gets old. I actually find it still very moving every time I listen to it.

  4. Yoko Miwa says:

    Thank you John! You are the best 🙂

  5. Raphael says:

    It’s wonderful that you are getting ideas from this piece of writing as
    well as from our dialogue made at this time.

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