"We have to go to the real thing."
Jazz guitarist Yu Ooka performed at the pregame for the Dodgers vs. Giants game at Dodgers Stadium in July 2024. Originally from Osaka, Yu graduated from a music school in Kobe and moved to Los Angeles alone at the age of 20.
"I was already in Los Angeles six months after graduating. I came to America simply because I felt that I had to go to the home of jazz, blues and R&B. At first, I considered going to the East Coast. My alma mater was affiliated with Berklee College of Music in Boston, and I had heard that if I used the credits I had earned at my Japanese school, I could graduate from Berklee in as little as two and a half years. But, to be honest, I had already learned a lot at Japanese music schools, so I wondered what would happen if I went abroad to study. So I turned my attention to the West Coast, where my favorite guitarists, such as Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour, were based, and decided on Los Angeles as my destination.
But in the end, I enrolled in the Musicians Institute for six months to get a visa. The good thing about that school was that I could use the studio 24 hours a day. I went to school in the evening, went to the studio, and went home in the morning when other students were going to school (laughs)."
The turning point came unexpectedly quickly.
"When I started appearing at jazz sessions, I was introduced to Billy Mitchell, a famous jazz pianist. He wanted to make music with young musicians, so I was able to join the Billy Mitchell Group. This was the year after I moved to the United States, so it was very early on. Billy played until last year when he retired, so excluding the pandemic, we've been working together for about 15 years. During that time, I had a lot of different experiences, including recording and appearing on TV and festivals, and most importantly, I was blessed with the opportunity to play with veteran musicians who were connected to Billy."
America has plenty of options
Yu was quickly integrated into the jazz mainstream and had no time to even consider the option of returning to Japan.
"I think America was a good fit for me. To tell the truth, I can't drink alcohol. But in America, just because we drink together doesn't mean we work together. In fact, when we finish playing, we go home right away without drinking. I don't think this is limited to music. When I finish playing and put my guitar away, I look around and there's no one there (laughs). So I feel like the straightforward American way of doing things - work is work - suits my personality."
On the other hand, how does Japan appear to Yu, who has lived in the United States for 20 years?
"America is said to be a free country, and there are many options available. However, in Japan, the options seem to be very limited. In terms of music, even jazz musicians have a very wide range of skills. And the level of their skills is by no means shallow; it is quite deep.
Of course, there are good things about Japan, such as people being polite and skillful. However, they are not very good at communicating. I have a story about failure in that regard too. 20 years ago, when I was playing with Billy and a big drummer from Motown, I was so excited to give it my all, but they laughed at me. They said, "We're trying to play simple blues, but you're playing white notes. You have to play soul music." In other words, you have to play with your heart, not with technique. I was lucky to realize that at an early age."
Jazz, Hip Hop and Shamisen
Yu says that the experience of continuing to work in the music home that he aspires to be is what has helped him grow so much.
"I think a big thing for me was getting in touch with the roots of the music I love. If I had stayed in Japan, I would have spent my time knowing nothing. Plus, people from all over the world gather in Los Angeles. By interacting with different people, you can see new things, things you didn't know before. That's why I want Japanese people to get out and get out there and not just stay in Japan. No matter how much you can learn about different things on the Internet, you should feel the real atmosphere and not just stay inside a small screen."
Now, Yu-san is involved in several projects. One is being an MC for a radio show, the other is developing an apparel business with a concept that connects hip-hop and jazz, and the last is recording music that incorporates shamisen performances into jazz and hip-hop. Yu-san is also a shamisen master.
"It's an idea that someone who has only played the shamisen would never come up with - blending the shamisen with black music. I'm not interested in imitating anyone else, and I want to use what I've learned so far to create my own music."
During the interview, Yu-san repeatedly used the word "real." Coming to the real America and accumulating real experiences, he is sure to elevate his ongoing project to something real.
Ooka Yu-san related site
© 2024 Keiko Fukuda
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