Tag Archives: TAKE YOUR PICK

Tak Matsumoto News

As of today, the details about Larry Carlton’s and Tak Matsumoto’s DVD release of their “TAKE YOUR PICK” tour in Blue Note Tokyo have been released. The DVD contains all the songs performed live, so if you have the setlist memorized, you’re going to know what’s coming at you. Just to be sure, here’s the setlist again:

*Update* Cover for the DVD release has been released.

01. Nite Crawler 2010
02. Islands of Japan
03. THE WAY WE WERE
04. Tokyo Night
05. East West Stroll
06. Easy Mystery
07. hotalu
08. ao
09. Take Your Pick
10. Neon Blue
11. A girl from China
12. JAZZY BULLETS
13. Room 335
14. #1090

Total runtime of the DVD is about 86 minutes, and it will be priced at 5250 Yen (1050 Yen less compared to B’z “Ain’t no Magic” release). Unfortunately there will be no extras such as backstage videos, interviews, etc. on the disc. So all you get is the raw performance, which is amazing as it is.

On an other related note, in addition to the live performance in Taipei on October 17th, another live performance has been scheduled. But this time, it’s in Hong Kong. Larry and Tak are going to perform in the Hong Kong Cultural Center on October 19th. If you’re in Hong Kong and want to check out the show, you can get more information here: http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/000001f5.html

Tak Matsumoto News

Having released TAKE YOUR PICK and toured throughout Japan, Larry Carlton and Tak Matsumoto are delighted to announce that they will be performing at the Tokyo Jazz Festival 2010. While it is the 3rd time for Larry Carlton(2006, 2008 and 2010) to perform at the Tokyo Jazz Festival, it’s the first time ever that Tak Matsumoto gets the chance to perform on stage.

As a lot of fans weren’t able to see Tak playing on stage due to the fact that Larry and Tak performed in small clubs and the amount of tickets was limited. Therefore, as we previously reported, additional live performances have been scheduled so that fans, who weren’t able to enjoy the show, still get a chance to see Larry and Tak grooving the stage. In addition to that, fans get one more chance – at the Tokyo Jazz Festival 2010.

Larry Carlton says: “I’m delighted to be able to perform the songs that I’ve written and recorded with Tak one more time in Japan. In my past career I’ve had the chance to play at the Tokyo Jazz Festival numerous times. But this time, I’m going to be on stage with my friend Tak, performing our songs, and while watching the smiles in your faces, I hope you’ll be able to enjoy the show as much as we do. It’s going to be something very special, so please come see our show!”

Tak adds “I am happy that I can play again because sadly our “TAKE YOUR PICK” tour ended so abruptly. On top of that, getting the opportunity to play at the Tokyo Jazz Festival in my musical career is a great honor for me. I’m grateful from the bottom of my heart for this chance to experience and learn a lot of new things. Please enjoy our show!”

The Tokyo Jazz Festival was first held in 2002 and this year will be the 9th time it is held in Tokyo. The Tokyo Jazz Festival will be held from September 3rd, 2010 to September 5th, 2010 in the Tokyo Kokusai Forum Hall A. Larry Carlton and Tak Matsumoto will perform on September 4th, 2010.

Sources: Barks.jp, Tokyo Jazz Festival 2010

Tak Matsumoto News

As I haven’t posted the Setlist for the “TAKE YOUR PICK” tour yet, here it is.

01. Nite Crawler 2010
02. Islands Of Japan
03. THE WAY WE WERE
04. Tokyo Night
05. East West Stroll
06. Easy Mystery
07. hotalu
08. ao
09. Take Your Pick
10. Neon Blue
11. A girl from China
12. JAZZY BULLETS
-ENCORE-
13. Room 335
14. #1090[千夢一夜](#1090 [sen mu ichiya])

The Band

Guitar ： Larry Carlton
Guitar ： Tak Matsumoto
Bass ： Michael Rhodes
Drums ： John Ferraro
Key ： Billy Steinway

Tak Matsumoto News

Additional live performances have just been announced for Larry Carlton’s & Tak Matsumoto’s “TAKE YOUR PICK” tour in Japan.

September 1st – Zepp SAPPORO
September 2nd – Zepp SENDAI
September 6th – BLUE NOTE TOKYO
September 7th – BLUE NOTE TOKYO

And here’s a little video of Larry and Tak performing together in Blue Note Tokyo:

Tak Matsumoto News

Yes, you’re reading this right. Larry Carlton’s and Tak Matsumoto’s “TAKE YOUR PICK” is going to be in stores in the United States and Europe on June 15th, 2010! A tour has yet to be announced for Europe, but we will keep our hopes up! There has been no word on pricing, by the way. However, the distributor for Europe is going to be in-akustik.

As for Japan’s tour, the support members have been announced! Which means that from June 12th onwards, these fine people will be accompanying Tak and Larry during their tour:

Bass : Michael Rhodes
Drums : John Ferraro
Keybord : Billy Steinway

Tak Matsumoto News

This is what we’ve all been waiting for! Larry Carlton and Tak Matsumoto have announced today, that their collaboration album, “TAKE YOUR PICK”, is going to be released in Japan on June 2nd, 2010. It’s going retail at a price of 3,059 Yen (approx. $32 / 24€).

While this is a pretty hefty price tag for an album that doesn’t contain additional content such as a DVD, I’m sure we’ll all forget about the price once we get to listen to all 12 quality tracks, half of them arranged and written by Tak Matsumoto, half of them arranged and written by Larry Carlton. Seeing as how the album is evenly split among songs by Tak Matsumoto and Larry Carlton, “TAKE YOUR PICK” seems as fitting for such an album as a title will ever be. Die-hard fans would even say that this album is the compilation of the best music from the west, and the best music from the far east. Larry Carlton’s style is pretty bluesy, too, and thus it was only a matter of time until these two great musicians met.

Taking a look at the cover of this album, it becomes clear that this is indeed a mixture of American music and Japanese music, illustrated by 2 guitar picks with their respective national flags on it. It has got a lot of meaning to it, if you closely analyze the cover. It is very simplistic and yet gets the message across. A lot of cover artists fail to do so nowadays.

The track listing, no doubt, reveals a very blues, jazz oriented album, that, I bet, does not fail to have the fan listen to the best of the best, when it comes to Larry Carlton’s works as well as Tak Matsumoto’s works.

Overseas fans, unfortunately, will probably have to wait a little longer to get their hands on this masterpiece as this press release by Larry Carlton & Tak Matsumoto does not illustrate whether the album will be internationally available, or not. Stay tuned for more news!

“TAKE YOUR PICK” Track listing:

01. JAZZY BULLETS
02. Nite Crawler 2010
03. THE WAY WE WERE
04. Islands of Japan
05. Neon Blue
06. Tokyo Night
07. hotalu
08. East West Stroll
09. Easy Mystery
10. ao
11. Take Your Pick
12. A girl from China

Tracks arranged and written by Larry Carlton: 02, 04, 05, 08, 09, 11
Tracks arranged and written by Tak Matsumoto: 01, 03, 06, 07, 10, 12

Price: 3,059 Yen