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SINGAPORE: For jazz saxophonist Sadao Watanabe, music is, has been, and always will be, his life.
So much so that even as the leading statesman of Japan's jazz scene swings cheerfully into his 70s, he doesn't plan to stop any time soon.
"I was performing last night. I'm going to rehearsal after this. That's what I do every day. I don't know when I will stop," the 74-year-old told today in a recent phone interview from Fukuoka, Japan. "I just love to play the saxophone."
Watanabe and his group are in town to perform in a one-night only concert on 26 November, as part of his Asian tour and the Esplanade's Mosaic music programme.
It's been a long road for Watanabe, who started his craft back in the 1950s.
He attended Boston's renowned Berklee College of Music in 1962 and cut his teeth by performing with big acts of the time such as Gary McFarland and Chico Hamilton.
Upon his return to Japan in 1965, he formed his own band and had a major part to play in breaking the bossa nova and bebop scene in Japan.
For his active contribution to music both in Japan (where he conducts regular workshops and started several annual music events) and abroad (he's been very active in the Brazilian jazz scene), he received the Imperial Purple Ribbon Medal from the emperor of Japan in 1995. Ten years later, he received the prestigious Order of Rising Sun.
Throughout his life, he's played with some of the top musicians from all over the world. So, how does he keep it up?
A lot of his energy, he said, comes from the fact that these days, he's playing with musicians much younger than him.
"My musicians are young, but I can see their progress. I want something from them … I need energy from the young musicians!" he said with a chuckle.
His band currently comprises Akira Onozuka on keyboards, Jun Kajiwara on guitar, Koichi Osamu on bass, Masaharu Ishikawa on drums and African percussionist N'diasse Niang.
All of them are in their 30s and 40s.
However, his recent collaborators have been a lot younger - mostly children and teenagers - and have crossed more geographical and cultural barriers.
It all began with his involvement in 2005 with Japan Day and Japan Week.
"I brought together percussion players from five countries - Senegal, Portugal, Brazil, Japan and the United States. And in the show, we also had about 300 children singing my songs. It was a great moment for me," he said, citing that as one of his most memorable experiences.
He has also brought this concept overseas.
"This year, I did the Java Jazz International Festival in Indonesia with some Japanese percussion players as well as players from Bali, Bandung, Aceh and Jakarta.
"We had international school children from India, Korea, Germany and Japan in this group concert. It was beautiful to hear the children's angelic voices, and the audience all cried."
Next year, he plans to do the same in Spain and Brazil.
But for now, Watanabe is concentrating on his current tour and his preparations for his concert here.
"I haven't performed in Singapore for several years. I am really looking forward to performing here again," he said.
When will he take a break?
"Oh, I will rest after the tour, when I'm going back to Tokyo. I have three days open, so that will be a relaxing time for me."
WHAT: Sadao Watanabe
WHERE: Esplanade Concert Hall
WHEN: TONIGHT at 7.30pm
tickets at S$58 and S$48 from sistic
- TODAY/ym
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