Tokyo Record Style started as a confluence of several things. The first and foremost is an amalgamation of the past several decades of working as a writer and a photographer, primarily portraiture, and all the experiences that have come along with that. The 2nd inspiration, which can’t be understated, is my dear and talented friend John Sypal’s brilliant project, Tokyo Camera Style, where he essentially documents (read: celebrates) the state of photography in Tokyo (and really around the world considering how Tokyo is a sorta Mecca for photography lovers) by way of photographing the cameras of people he meets on the streets, or at exhibitions, and so on. I’ve long admired and respected this project as the daily practice that is seems to be, as the fuel that drives, and the passion that compliments John’s formidable artistic work which far eclipses Tokyo Camera Style. The 3rd component that sparked this project to life is a short little spotlight I wrote about this new interesting records shop “Tent”, a “Share Shelf” space where individuals essentially rent little cube shelves in the shop and each sell their own records, a record store or record stores. I was so impressed, that I wrote about it knowing it would also impress others, which it did. Then it occurred to me to document more stores, more Tokyo record culture, and more music-loving people, and, as they say, the rest in history.
So I paid a visit to Tent again a week or so back and ran into a music-loving FAMILY – Dad Miori, Mom Ayaka, and little baby Uta. Dad is an engineer, Mom is a piano teacher (get in touch if you need lessons in the Nishiogikubo area) and little baby Uta (which by the way means “Song) in Japanese has been listening to records since en utero. Miori mentioned to me that I didn’t quite catch in Japanese but that the interesting record selection they made today at Tent was for little baby Uta’s listening pleasure, maybe she’s already a big Sarah Vaughan fan. I wouldn’t be surprised.
Ok, guys! Thanks for the smiles. More Tokyo Record Style on the way!
Heavenly Gospel Singers – Heavenly Gospel Singers
Label: Heritage – HT 305, Gospel Heritage – HT 305
Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Reissue
Country: UK
Released: 1984
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Gospel
https://www.discogs.com/release/4437110-Heavenly-Gospel-Singers-Heavenly-Gospel-Singers
Sarah Vaughan – Sarah Vaughan
Label: EmArcy – MG-36004
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Country: US
Released: Apr 1955
Genre: Jazz
Style: Vocal
https://www.discogs.com/release/3050687-Sarah-Vaughan-Sarah-Vaughan
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