Francesco returned to Japan on tour in September 2009 for a series of performances including participation in the Kansai Music Conference (KMC) Showcase. Francesco played music from his latest CD release “KURAMA”, recorded live in Japan in October 2008. He was joined by the finest musicians from Kansai, Japan.

Show schedule:

Sep 15 2009 - Kyoto - Live Spot Rag
Sep 16 2009 - Amagasaki - M Cuatro
Sep 17 2009 - Namba - Jazz Spot 845

SPECIAL LIVE VIDEO TAPING SESSION - UPCOMING DVD RELEASE PROJECT
Sep 18 2009 - Shin-Osaka - Wazz

Special performance: Kansai Music Conference:
Sep 20 2009 - Osaka - Jazz On Top Act III

Japan reviews

The band:

Larry Marshall
drums

Eric Weigmann
drums & world percussion

Japanzine Magazine

(PDF format)

Kansai Music Conference Official site:

For details, visit Francesco's Japan Promotion site:

Kyoto - Sep 15

The trio in action at Live Spot Rag. First night, getting used to the material. Great energy from a young audience.

Highlight of the evening: enjoying okonomiyaki, a traditional Japanese pancake prepared at the table with all kinds of stuffing (in the photo: shrimp and kim chee).

Amagasaki - Sep 16

Playing at an intimate club near Kobe. Best owner/manager of the tour.

The trio had a lot of fun playing at MCuatro, and was joined by an old friend, vocalist Chiaki who had performed with Francesco the year before during the first visit to Japan.

Left, an inspired Yasushi Gonjo on bass. At 24, his musical maturity is way beyond his actual age.

Namba - Sep 17

Playing a white piano in a humid basement club, need I say more? Not our favorite gig.

Eric Weigmann chanting the Vajrasattva improvisation and playing the Tibetan temple bells.

Shin-Osaka - Live Video Performance at Wazz - Sep 18

Wazz is a premier jazz club North of Osaka, truly a first class experience, also the backdrop of our live video recording. The full quartet was assembled for this performance.

The quartet during sound check, an extensive process to calibrate audio and video.

In the picture: Aaron Walker, our charismatic video director, looking intense.

More moments outside the club and during the performance.

The great Larry Marshall during a solo, and the multi-talented Eric Weigmann chanting the original Vajrasattva improvisation for video.0

Kansai Music Conference - Osaka - Jazz On Top Act III - Sep 20

During the KMC festival, special guest Karlex Antoine, playing a blend of Jazz and Afro Groove.

Francesco, the band and Karlex sharing the stage on mostly improvised material.

The Japan Tour 2009 came to an end on a high note after creating new music and sharing diverse experiences..

Tour posters

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