Band Information for Festival Directors
The music you are hearing in the background is "At The Jazzband Ball."
Miyoko and Her Tokyo Traditional Jazz Band
[As of March 2006]
Traditional Jazz Band
Miyoko’s Trad Band plays Dixieland music in the New Orleans style. They also are well versed in swing style and up-tempo blues. Their playbook is comprised of over 250 songs. They easily add to their book upon request at the time of booking. The band has played for listening audiences in concert, as well as, dance music.
The band’s typical style of play is to mix tempos and keys, allowing the audience to experience the broad range of style and ability of the musicians.
Jazz Banjo
Miyoko is an accomplished solo performer. Her repertoire follows the styles of such banjo notables as Cynthia Sayer, Elmer Snowden, and Harry Reser. She has been a popular performer at many banjo festivals. She is becoming more popular as she travels abroad performing for appreciative audiences. When at home in Tokyo, Miyoko can most often be found fronting her traditional band, and taking many banjo leads.
Booking Information
Information on booking Miyoko and/or her band can be obtained by using the contact information found below. When booking, precise dates are expected due to a very busy performance schedule. Your budget must include transportation costs, meals, and lodging for all members of the band, and support personnel. In addition, per set salaries should be included for each musician. The musician salaries are usually based upon union scale where the band will be booked.
Support personnel usually consists of one of two individuals who take care of local transportation details and lodging negotiations while on site. These individuals act in the interest of the band and its members. If some translation is necessary, these individuals are equipped to cope with the situation.
Preliminary negotiations for possible booking of the band or of Miyoko (as a solo performer) in the United States are normally handled by an experienced support person. Detailed negotiations will be directed to Miyoko and her selected support person.
At this time, Mr. Ray Miller is Ms. Onishi’s representative in her absence in the United States. If an offer of a booking is ready to be presented, Mr. Miller can accept the offer on the contingency that it be finalized and approved by Ms. Onishi.
We believe you will find booking this band or Miyoko a rather simple matter. However, you should understand that the finances of booking an International musician or band will involve discussions covering that aspect of booking in great detail.
We sincerely hope that you enjoy Miyoko and her trad band very much and that you give consideration to booking her and/or her band into your festival, or recommend us to your festival Board.
Questions related to booking arrangements may be directed to Mr. Ray Miller. Anything he is unable to respond to will be discussed with Miyoko as soon as feasible. We pride ourselves in responding within 24 hours to most questions.
Contact Information
You may write directly to Miyoko Onishi via Postal Service:
Miyoko Onishi, 2-3-8, Mita, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan 153-0062
- or by sending email to:
[You may visit Miyoko's Web Page in Japan by clicking on this line]
Faster responses can be expected by writing to:
Ray Miller, 5403 Paulson Circle, Boise, ID 83704
- or by sending email to:
-or calling:
208-794-0323
Personnel
A current roster of band members is included below. At this time, there are 6 members of Miyoko and Her Tokyo Traditional Jazz Band. The instrumentation of the band is banjo, piano, trumpet, clarinet, tuba, and drums. Miyoko is the leader of the band. The arranger for the band is Kyoji Yamashiro, Miyoko’s husband. The U. S. contact for the band is Ray Miller. Mr. Miller also is the U. S. distributor of Miyoko’s CDs.
Profiles of the Band and Personnel
This subject can be the most difficult part of keeping a packet like this one up-to-date. Personnel changes are an integral part of maintaining a band roster. Most bands have principle players for most of their engagements. However, schedules being what they are, it sometimes happens that not all principle players can make every engagement.
We endeavor to keep this part of our packet current, but some last minute changes or substitutions prevent our maintaing currency. Please bear with us as we scramble to provide you with bios and photos of those players that will be contracted for your event.
Currently, the profiles for Miyoko and Her Tokyo Traditional Jazz Band and each member are on the following few pages. Each has a photo and bio for your review.
Profile: Miyoko and Her Tokyo Traditional Jazz Band
In 1997, after a 10-year hiatus, Miyoko resumed playing the banjo by virtue of a request. She had to form a band that would perform regularly at the club. During the eight intervening years, the members of the band changed, resulting in the current band roster.
This band has played together for a few years now, playing the Kobe Jazz Street (a large festival in Japan) and releasing the CD, "I Love Banjo More!" Each of the members have a full schedule of music in addition to playing with this band. They enjoy reputations as fine, respected musicians. Miyoko also respects her musicians and close friendships have developed between all band members. They thoroughly enjoy the fun of playing good music together.
With their wealth of experience and their keen interest in traditional jazz, they promise to entertain all audiences. Centering on New Orleans style trad, the band has a broad repertoire delighting their listening audiences. Venturing from traditional jazz to a bit of swing and up-tempo blues, audiences enjoy dancing to their rhythms.
The Wine Country Vintage Jazz Festival, Rohnert Park, California - - Labor Day Weekend, September 2 - 5, 2005. This festival is held in the heart of the Sonoma wine country, 25 miles north of San Francisco, on Interstate 101. Our band played 2 full sets on Friday, 3 on Saturday, and 2 on Sunday. The six members of the band who played at the Vintage Jazz Festival are shown above and they are Miyoko Onishi (banjo,leader), Masa’aki Suzuki (trumpet), Takashi Ohashi (piano), Takeshi ‘Sabao’ Watanabe (drums), Ken’ichi Igeta (tuba), and Koji Shiraishi (clarinet, saxaphone). Every set had a special appearance by Keiko Mase (vocals) and Asuka Yoshida (viola, vocals). Because Vintage was the debut of the band in the USA, Keiko and Asuka came along to share some of the Japanese culture with Vintage audiences, who responded with interest and enthusiasm.
The above pictures are of the last set at the Vintage Jazz Festival. Thanks to Don Abel for making his pictures available. You may view his Vintage site to see most of the bands who participated by linking to Vintage Jazz Pictures.
Full Band - U. S. Engagements in 2006:
Due to a busy schedule in Japan, Miyoko will not be returning to the U. S. this year. Keep an eye on this site for dates in 2007 and 2008.
Profile: Miyoko Onishi (Banjo)
Raised near Kobe, Japan, Miyoko had a smattering of musical training in junior high school. Miyoko started playing banjo when she was in college in 1977. She did not intend on becoming a jazz player but since banjo players made more money than wait-staff, it was an easy decision.
She began her performing as a
tenor banjoist for Shakey’s Pizza in Kobe.
With the assistance of a good trumpet player, Miyoko learned to play well enough
to be a member of the Shakey’s band. Within a year, a new Shakey’s Pizza opened
in Tokyo, and the Kobe
band moved there. While there, she learned more about banjo music from another
banjoist 
private instruction.
Since those early days, she has played at Tokyo Disneyland, and many venues around Japan. She has played with some of the best Dixieland players in Japan and has formed her own band.
During her formative years as a jazz banjoist, Miyoko took 10 years off to raise a son. Because of her interest in jazz, she took up the banjo once again and has been more focused than ever, playing dozens of venues in the United States, Holland, and elsewhere. Thanks to Mr. Charlie Tagawa, a well known and premier banjoist, Miyoko has shared top billing with other talented banjo players at many banjo festivals and shows mainly along the West Coast of the United States.
Solo Banjo - U. S. Engagements in 2005:
The 23rd Annual Circle the Wagons Banjo Gatherin', Caldwell, Idaho - - June 2 - 4, 2005. This could well have been the last of its kind in Southern Idaho. The event was well attended and it gave Miyoko a chance to join Desert Swing for a week. There she met World Renown Banjo Artist, Dave Marty. They formed a duo and played some of the most beautiful banjo music heard in these parts in recent years. Below are pictures of Miyoko with Desert Swing (including a short video segment between the two photographs) and on stage with Dave in the Jewett Auditorium at Albertson College. All in all, it was a superb endeavor and enjoyed by all who took part.
Solo Banjo - U. S. Engagements in 2006:
The 24th Annual Circle the Wagons Banjo Gatherin', Caldwell, Idaho - - June 8 - 10, 2006. Miyoko likes attending this event and is making a special effort to attend this year's Gatherin'. The big difference for her in 2006 is that she will have bookings in Boise preceding and following the Gatherin'. She will be backed up by Boise musicians for her 3 bookings at Satchel's Grill in downtown Boise. Others bookings are in the offing and will be posted here when they are set.
Solo Banjo - U. S. Engagements in 2007:
Boise Area Performances will include the following locations:
Satchel's Grill - Miyoko will be performing on the Patio Stage with Jonah Shue and Rob Hill Thurs, 6/7 & Fri. 6/8 7:30-8:30pm and 11-2 Sat. 6/9.
Satchel's Grill - Miyoko will be performing with Jonah Shue, Rob Hill, and Ray Miller, Saturday noon - 1pm.
Jewett Auditorium - Miyoko will be performing with her trio on stage at approximately 8pm on Sat. 6/9.
Satchel's Grill - Miyoko will be performing with Jonah Shue and Rob Hill Sun.6/10 2pm
Profile:
Masa’aki Suzuki (Trumpet)
Born in 1960, he had little music training until reaching a university. He started to play the trumpet while a university student.
After Masa’aki graduated from the university, he joined the Tokyo Disneyland Band.
Since then, he has been playing the trumpet mainly as a member of a television show orchestra. In addition, he plays with a big band, a modern jazz band and a Dixieland jazz band at clubs or in concert.
He has played aboard cruise ships with a touring show. Ports of Call included San Francisco and various cities in Canada.
Recently, he visited Korea and Indonesia to play with a touring jazz band.
Profile: Koji Shiraishi (clarinet)
Born in Ehime prefecture, Koji did not start playing until he reached the university. As a student there, he started to play the clarinet as a member of the university big band.
After graduating from the university, he became a professional musician, joining some big bands in Tokyo. This led him to the “Tokyo Disneyland Band” in 1986. He was enchanted by the wonderland of Dixieland jazz there.
Now he belongs to “The Dixie Kings” which is the most famous of the Dixieland jazz bands in Japan. He also plays with “The Sweet Fantasia Orchestra,” and his band, “Swingin’ Bodies”.
Profile:
Takashi Ohashi (Jazz Pianist)
Takashi was born in Osaka west of Tokyo, Japan. He learned to play piano through school as he was growing up.
He has played at clubs and was involved in many concerts around Japan as a member of “Nobuo Tanabe & the East Winds Jazz Band,” and as leader of his own band.
His talent has provided him many opportunities to play abroad; for example U.S.A., Russia, Taiwan, and China. Most recently, he has played with American jazz musicians in Seattle, Washington.
His piano technique is very strong especially with stride and boogie woogie styles. He likes most to play music stemming from New Orleans Jazz, Dixieland Jazz, and Swing up to and including Modern Jazz.
When not touring, he can be found teaching jazz piano at the “Jam Music School” in Yokohama, Japan.
Profile: Takeshi ‘Sabao’ Watanabe (Drums)
Takeshi Watanabe was born in Tokyo, Japan June 7, 1952. He started playing drums while attending Aoyama-Gakuin University. Takeshi learned techniques from Motohiko Hino, Billy Hart, Jimmy Smith, Alan Dawson, and others.
Takeshi joined with bassist Yoshio Ikeda’s band in 1973 and remained with him until ‘79. From then until 1981, he played with many groups in Tokyo. In ’81, he joined Eiji Kitamura’s band with whom he played until 1998.
Mr. Watanabe played at several jazz festivals, including the Monterey Jazz Festival (’89 & ’91-’94 ), the Mt, Hood Jazz Festival (1991), the LA Jazz Party (1992 – ‘95 ), the Sweet & Hot Music Festival in Los Angeles (’99 during Yoshio Toyama’s Band tour), and others.
Some of the many jazz notables
Takeshi played with include Teddy Wilson, Marshall Royal, Hank Jones, Buddy De
Franco, Wild Bill Davison, Carl Fontana, Ralph Sutton, Nat Pierce, Bill Berry,
Steve Jordan, Scott Hamilton, Andy Simpkins, and John Clayton.
Takeshi also backed Teddy Wilson in Japan on two of Wilson’s albums. He is credited on other recordings with many Japanese artists, including Miyoko Onishi in 2003.
Profile: Ken’ichi Igeta [Tuba]
Ken started playing tuba when he was 12-years old.
He studied music and the tuba at the Nihon Art University. He graduated with a music degree and superb talent on the tuba.
As a member of Miyoko’s Jazz Band in 2001 and 2002, he has played at the Kobe Jazz Street Festival, and many other venues. These days, he plays at many clubs, events, concerts, and cruising with a variety of other Dixieland jazz bands; for example, “Dixie Jive,” and ”Dixie Castle” in Tokyo.
Recordings
Miyoko has recorded two CDs. The first CD, “I Love Banjo,” gives you a well rounded listening experience. The flavor of the CD centers on New Orleans style Dixieland Jazz with varieties of swing and blues thrown in for good measure.
Her second CD, “I Love Banjo More,” is more of the same, but with the current roster of musicians doing the honors. The variety of musical styles is refreshing.
The CD covers and tune lists are shown below (click on ABBREVIATED NAME to hear excerpt from that song):
Song List:
Honeysuckle Rose – These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You – The Girl From Ipanema – Basic St. Blues – The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise – Willow Weep For Me – My Favorite Things – St. Louis Blues – The Five Pennies – Summertime – On The Sunny Side Of The Street – Georgia On My Mind – It Don’t Mean A Thing – Amazing Grace
HONEYROSE GEORGIA MEANTHING APPLETIME AVALON TRUEDIXIE
Song List:
Anytime – El Condor Pasa – The Old Rugged Cross – The Third Man Theme – The Bridal Doll - Appleblossom Time – Avalon – Home – Is It True What They Say About Dixie – Red Shoes – Linger Awhile – At The Jazzband Ball – Nobody Knows De Trouble I’se Seen – Bei Mir Bist Du Schon – Get Out And Get Under The Moon
Advertising and Promotion
We make up whatever promotional posters we find best advertises our band. We always request permission to use logos and designs unique to your event. In addition, we supply biographical material and photographs for use in your promotional material. Your needs for such material should be spelled out rather explicitly to avoid duplication of effort and unnecessary waste.
Below are two examples of what we do to publicize our band and your event. These were posted where ever Miyoko played leading up to the event, in this example, The Wine Country Vintage Jazz Festival, in California. The logo (yellow banner) was used by permission of Vintage Productions, Incorporated.
Local Transportation
One of the problems encountered by any International band is not knowing what local transportation is available. Will you provide transportation to the band getting from venue to venue? Can you arrange for transportation from and to local airports? These are the items that are problematic to visiting bands, especially non-English speaking groups.
Your advice and counsil is sought in overcoming local transportation problems associated with your event. Such things as whether or not the hotel has a free shuttle available is valuable information. Also, what modes of commercial transportation are available and what are the schedules of operation and related costs? Anything you can provide can make our band feel welcome which translates in to a deeper appreciation of your event and staff.
Links of interest?
Dave Marty's Site Ray Miller's Music Site Satchel's Grill in Boise, Idaho
John Mumford's Jazz Banjo Magazine & Jazz Banjo Interview with Miyoko
Copyright 2006 © TekEd of Boise (R. Miller)
Questions/comments on this site? mailto:mrraymiller@hotmail.com