Yuko Kishimoto is a jazz pianist and member of the Capital Region’s jazz family. She’s provided a funky backdrop to Sunday brunches at Justin’s on Lark Street and written original compositions and arrangements for Keith Pray’s Big Soul Ensemble, a standard at Tess’ Lark Tavern and now the Van Dyck in Schenectady.
And now, the Japanese native is setting her sights on Saratoga, scheduled to perform at Max London’s on Broadway on May 14, June 11 and July 9 during the restaurant’s new Saturday jazz nights.
But those three gigs could be her last.
`If nothing comes up, I have to go back to Japan. I don’t have a choice,` said Kishimoto.
Since 2003, she had a full-time job teaching piano at a private music school in Albany. But when she suddenly lost that job out of nowhere in August 2010, she also lost the work visa she’d been staying in the U.S. on.
`When I lost the job, I lost the visa, so after that I have to pursue a different type of visa to stay in the country,` said Kishimoto.
The easiest route was to apply for a tourist visa, which she’s already had to extend once. Now, without a full-time employer willing to go through the paperwork to secure her a new work visa, she’ll be forced to return to Japan on Sept.3 when her tourist visa expires.
`I have to have employment that sponsors me for a visa. I have to have a boss, I have to work for somebody,` said Kishimoto.
That means she can’t stay in the country as a freelance jazz performer. She has to supplement her passion with a professional job in her area of college study, in this case a piano degree, which means a job teaching piano.
`I’ve looked around here and everywhere in the country and I’m still looking,` said Kishimoto, who has a bachelors and masters from Michigan State. `It could be a college job or a job at a private music school.`
She doesn’t want to leave the area because she’s come to love the performance opportunities and musicians she’ll be playing with at Max London’s. So in the meantime, she’s trying to record a CD before her possible departure. That way, at least a part of her will remain behind.
`I’ve been thinking about it for the last couple of years because people have been asking me if I have a CD or plans to make one,` said Kishimoto. `The big thing was the funding, the money part.`
She’s hoping to raise $5,000 to record the CD. Through the website www.kickstarter.com, she can set a target amount and people can donate toward that goal. There’s a time limit, though, so if she doesn’t reach $5,000 by the afternoon of May 22, she gets none of the money raised and it’s all returned to the donors.
She has 22 original compositions she could record, although she’s looking to pick about eight. She would feature other local musicians like Lee Russo on saxophone, Conor Meehan on drums and Mike Lawrence and Lou Smaldone on bass, all of whom will most likely make an appearance at Max London’s some Saturday night.
The restaurant and bar on Broadway in Saratoga Springs hosted its first Saturday jazz night on April 23 and bookings coordinator and drummer Dave Berger expects it to continue.
`It was a great success and I’m booking all the Saturday nights,` said Berger, who grew up in Saratoga, lived in New York City and just recently moved back home. `It’s a great venue where the jazz community can go and do their thing.`
After 10 years away from the area, Berger wanted a way for all his friends`who just happen to be jazz musicians`to get together and jam. That’s where Max London’s came in.
`You can’t get 30 people in a room but we can rotate people around,` said Berger. `We love to play together. I wanted to make it a relaxed atmosphere where we’re playing great music that’s familiar to us and where we can get a chance to all play together. Max London’s was a great restaurant with an established reputation and they were very excited about it.`
With her impending departure looming, Kishimoto said she’s focusing on making the most of the time she has left.
`It makes sense that I stay here and keep pursuing what I do,` said Kishimoto, who’s been here 21 years. `But if I have to go back, then I have to go back, and I’ll figure it out. If I had a choice though, I’d stay.`
For more information about Max London’s visit www.maxlondons.com. In addition to jazz on Saturdays, there will be acoustic bands on Friday nights.
To help Kishimoto record her CD, visit www.kickstarter.com and search for her name.
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