Lisa Ono

I bought her debut album "Catupiry" shortly after its release in 1989. For various reasons, I'd been prevented from going to her live performances many times, but after 26 years, my wish finally came true on this day. I carefully planned everything from the moment I bought the ticket, and the seat I got was in the very front row, so I was already fully prepared to be moved. In the opening MC, she announced, "Today's live performance will be in two parts. The first half will feature Japanese songs, and the second half will feature songs from Brazil, America, and other countries." It was clear that she considered the diverse musical tastes of the audience, which consisted mostly of older people and those not used to live performances. The first half featured a relaxed development where her gentle singing voice harmonized with the sound played by a quartet consisting of piano, drums, upright bass, and Lisa's acoustic guitar. Her trademark style of singing where the endings of words seem to melt away makes even up-tempo songs sound calm and comfortable. Hearing that live made a shiver of emotion run down my spine. The second half, which started after an intermission, featured a three-person horn section, with flutes, saxophones, trumpets, trombones, etc., adding depth and color to the sound. They also played lively up-tempo songs, and coupled with the fact that these songs are generally well-known, it was fun to see more and more people in the audience swaying their bodies and clapping along to the rhythm. Yes, even without a wild commotion, a classy and enjoyable live performance like this is just as satisfying. After the show, which I greatly enjoyed, I participated in a meet-and-greet. My long-standing unrequited love turned into a wonderful experience that more than made up for it. I had a great time.