In May, Japanese jazz pianist Yuko Kishimoto was scrambling to record her first CD before being forced back to Japan because of visa complications.
In just three weeks this spring, friends, supporters and strangers stepped up to help her raise the $5,000 needed to record the CD through a donation site, kickstarter.com.
Now, the album (“Songbook—Compositions by Yuko Kishimoto”) is complete and she’s holding an album release party on Wednesday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m. at the First Reformed Church of Schenectady.
“I not only reached the goal but I reached it very quickly. I was very shocked. I was really touched that they were very supportive and I have to say that a lot of contributions came from people I didn’t expect,” said Kishimoto. “People I went to school with that I hadn’t seen in years and a few names I didn’t even recognize.”
The recording process was rushed and she didn’t get to enjoy recording the nine original tracks quite as much as she would have had she not been on the clock, but it was still memorable and satisfying.
“I had to push the whole process forward so it was rather stressful and I really wish I had more time to enjoy the process of it but it was interesting and the musicians that are on the album … they’re the perfect people for what I want to do,” said Kishimoto. “It was really wonderful to have all these guys.”
Local jazz favorites Lee Russo (saxophone), John Menegon (bass), Conor Meehan (drums) and Keith Pray (producer) made Kishimoto’s album come together.
“Keith isn’t playing but he was my producer and he worked so hard to make it a good album. I was happy that I was able to do this project with people that I admire and respect and love working with,” said Kishimoto.
She hasn’t held the finished product in her hands yet, so it hasn’t completely sunk in.
“I think it’s going to become a little more real when I have it,” said Kishimoto. “Right now I’m focusing on getting this done and that done. I’m relieved more than excited, mainly because of the time.”
Speaking of time, it’s ticking by fast. The album release is on the last day of August and just three days later, Saturday, Sept. 3, she’ll be gone.
“I’ll figure things out when I get there [Japan],” said Kishimoto.
Kishimoto’s troubles began when she unexpectedly lost her full-time teaching job at a local private music school exactly one year ago this month.
“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 in a previous article.
Her tourist visa is only good for so long and without a full-time job and an employer willing to do the paperwork for a work visa, the only option is leaving.
Her departure isn’t what she wants to focus on, though. She is insistent that the album release party be a celebration of her music, and more importantly, those that helped her record happen.
“It was made possible because of those supporters so I feel like as much as I wanted to make the CD, I had people that wanted me to do this so I felt responsible that I had this done and did it well,” said Kishimoto. “Reaching that goal is sort of a big relief.”
The album is more than an independent project. Kishimoto was able to get it released on a semi-local record label, Planet Arts, which is an organization that promotes jazz in the area and New York City.
She’s still ironing out the details of the release party but what’s for certain in her time of uncertainty is that it will happen. The First Reformed Church of Schenectady is at 8 Church St. in Schenectady. Admission is $10 for the general public and $5 for Kickstarter.com contributors and children under 15.
More information is online at www.yukokishimoto.com and her Facebook page.