Jubilante Restaurant
August 20, 2005

Jeff Kashiwa is an international artist, traveling worldwide with the Rippingtons in past years, before becoming a solo artist.  But occasionally he plays a home town gig with his local band, the Northwest All Star Band.  This show was a fundraiser for the Asian Counseling Referral Service (www.acrs.org), a local charity organization providing services to the Asian community.  It was a fun, energetic show.  I always enjoy seeing Jeff play with the local musicians; they have a certain rapport that you just don't see on the road.  They obviously know each other well and have fun playing together.  They started the set with "Around the World," which Jeff dedicated to his young daughter, Catalina, whom he and his wife adopted from China last year.  Jeff is really enjoying fatherhood and told us a story of chasing his daughter around the house with his saxophone and feeling very unlike a serious musician on those days.  He played several tunes from his solo CDs including, "Peace of Mind;" "Show Me Love" which he says was influenced by Al Jarreau; "A Quiet Goodbye," a beautiful song which he dedicated to the Jubilante owner who just lost her mother the week of the show; "Coastal Access;" "Ecstasy" and a fabulous cover of the Steeley Dan song "Do it Again" which may show up on his next CD.  He also played a song he plays on the road with the Sax Pack called "Bump."  Jeff commented that it definitely was not smooth jazz, but rough jazz, and that's the way he liked it. I agree, it's great fun to see these smooth jazz artists occasionally "rock out" with some of their favorite rock tunes.  Jeff ended the set with the crowd favorite, "Hyde Park," also known as the "ah, oooh song," which left a smile on everyone's face. 

Jeff is a very talented saxophone player and always enjoyable to see live, whether in a solo show or with the Sax Pack.  I hope you get a chance to see him play soon.

- Barb White