YEAR END GREETINGS
Talullah Calderwood Pratt
2024 started with word that funding from Mellon Foundation came through for my new initiative, Bloodlines Interwoven, presented by Baryshnikov Arts Center.
I've written about it quite a bit, so I'll keep it brief here, but without a doubt, Bloodlines has been a highlight of my career, a crowning accomplishment that merged so many elements of my professional and personal life. While I am critical of many aspects of my planning and execution of the festival, I also can savor the overwhelming feeling of joy and gratitude I have for the opportunity. We are still in the planning phase of Bloodlines 2025 and beyond, but I want you to know that it is happening, with announcements coming as soon as possible!
Bloodlines Interwoven: Mino Cinelu, Nasheet Waits, me, Susie Ibarra, Maeve Gilchrist, Jeffrey Zeigler, Matt Garrison, Rajna Swaminathan, Martha Redbone, Jen Shyu, Du Yun, Amir ElSaffar, Alicia Hall Moran, Layale Chaker, and Adam O’Farrill
Besides Bloodlines, I performed in projects with such artists as Tomas Fujiwara, Patricia Brenan, Tim Keiper, Adam Rudolph, Stephen Haynes, Alex Marcelo, and a very fun concert with the great Andre 3000, in such locals as Lincoln Center, The Stone, Roulette, BAM, Texas A&M University, and the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN just to name a few.
I'm a co-producer and one of the composers (Fugaku Sanjurokkei) on a recently released Silkroad Ensemble album called American Railroad on Nonesuch Records. Silkroad also went on a ten-city tour in the fall, performing music from this Railroad project.
One project I was involved with that came out this year was an animated film, Ultraman Rising, on Netflix. I've been an Ultraman fan since my relatives sent various manga from Japan when I was a young boy. In the fall of 2023, I went to Tokyo to record music for the soundtrack of the latest addition to the canon. I brought in some long-time collaborators, Semba Kiyohiko and Tsuji Masaru, to record music written by Scot Stafford, using a roomful of beautiful taiko provided by Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten. Big shout out to my good friend Charlene Huang, who pulled me into this project!
My last show of the year was a fun improvised performance with Johnathan Goldberger, Steven Bernstein, and Ben Perowski at my friend Blake Tovin's Symbol Audio studio in Nyack, NY on December 27th.
In 2025, I will turn 50 (!!!) and have played music professionally for 25 years. My theme word for the year is BUNPUKU, or "spreading fortune and joy." I'm developing a few different projects - a new album, new large-scale theatrical works, a small TV appearance, performances in the US, Europe, and Japan, and, of course, Bloodlines Interwoven to, in my small way, try to counter the injustice, the pain and suffering in the world.
As I get older, I'm even more appreciative of the support, guidance, trust, friendship, and opportunities countless people have given me, starting with my parents, partner Yurie, and daughter Shinobu.
Hope to see you all soon in the New Year!
Kaoru Watanabe and Bloodlines
January 10th
Winter Jazzfest
Featuring this ridiculous cast of musicians:
Mino Cinelu / Layale Chaker / Amir Elsaffar / Matthew Garrison / Maeve Gilchrist / Alicia Hall Moran / Nasheet Waits / Martha Redbone / Jeffrey Zeigler
Silkroad Ensemble Percussion
January 25 Fairfax, VA - George Mason University
January 26 Harrisonburg, VA - Forbes Center for the Performing Arts
January 27 Pittsburgh, PA - Byham Theater
Adam Rudolph's Sunrise Quartet
February 19
Copenhagen Jazz Festival
Black Diamond
Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi
March 1, 2, 3
Blue Note Tokyo
Adam Rudolph's Sunrise Quartet
March 29th
Big Ears Festival, Knoxville, TN
