Live at the Blue Note Tokyo: Dave Grusin & Lee Ritenour (2022)

LIVE AT THE BLUE NOTE TOKYO: DAVE GRUSIN & LEE RITENOUR
Music composed by Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour & others
Piano & keyboard solos by Dave Grusin
Guitar solos by Lee Ritenour
Bass by Melvin Davis
Drums performed by Wesley Ritenour
October 2, 2022
Blue Note Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan

PART 1: CONCERT REPORT

(this report was originally written on Oct. 2, 2022 – just after the concert)

Having only found out days ago that this concert was happening, I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn’t be able to go as tickets were long gone. Even more disappointing was the fact that I thought I had forever lost my chance to see Dave Grusin, the legendary composer behind the score to THE GOONIES, perform live on stage. See, at 88 years old, I was pretty sure he was winding up his performing days much like many of his contemporaries.

But how wrong was I.

As chance would have it, I was checking tickets late last night and saw one available on the Blue Note website – needless to say, I immediately pounced on the ticket and less than 24 hours later, I’m walking out of the Blue Note Tokyo smiling ear to ear having seen and heard the great man himself!

For those that aren’t so familiar with Dave Grusin, he is the film composer responsible for a string of iconic scores from the 60s to 90s like THE GRADUATE, THE GOONIES, THE YAKUZA, THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER, THE FIRM, HEAVEN CAN WAIT, FALLING IN LOVE, HAVANA, and so many more.

Tonight’s concert was really more to showcase his non-film jazz-fusion music, which has a huge following in Japan and abroad.

From where I was sitting, I had a perfect view of Grusin at the piano from behind, so I could clearly see his fingers glide delicately over the piano keys. At 88 years young, this guy is incredible. Every solo was confident, complex and just dripping with cool.

Grusin captivated the crowd with one special solo piece at the Steinway, a tender performance of his main theme from the film RANDOM HEARTS. Just before his fingers hit the keys, I could hear him jokingly say, “I hope I can remember what key this is in.” What a champ!

Lee Ritenour, who I honestly had never heard of prior to this concert, was incredible. His quiet, unassuming and pleasant exterior – much like that friendly uncle you chat to at parties – are at complete odds with the reality that he is one of the greatest guitarists I have ever seen live. Bouncing through various styles, he truly makes it all look effortless… his fingers just glide over the guitar at breakneck speed while he never appears to even work up a sweat. Incredible!

It was a fantastic night to be sure and my very first trip to the Blue Note Tokyo- it certainly won’t be my last.

Here’s to Dave Grusin and another decade of good health and fine music!

PART 2: A GRUSIN/RITENOUR COCKTAIL

When musicians do shows at the Tokyo Blue Note, they often have an original cocktail on the menu. For this show, the cocktail was “The Captain’s Bombay.” It tasted like… Christmas!

PART 3: OVER TO YOU

Did you also go to this concert? How did you like it?

And what did you think of my report? Feel free to comment below or reach out to me directly in the “Contact Me” section.