Recording: Masahiro Takahashi

Artist: Masahiro Takahashi

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Allan Gardens Children's Conservatory (Music Gallery presents), November 9, 2024.

Masahiro Takahashi - unknown

This off-site Music Gallery show took place in one of the less-familiar wings of the Allan Gardens conservatory — not alongside the turtles or under the tropical plants but in the smaller children's conservatory space which was, at least at the moment, cleared out of plant life and serving more as an event space. (Although, to be sure, there were plants aplenty — and for sale — in the adjoining space.) Still a visually appealing (if someone sonically impure) spot for a show, and it felt like a cozy spot to lean in and listen to a couple of contrasting sets.

The night began with a trio, led by bedroom laptopist Masahiro Takahashi, here joined by Joseph Shabason (sax and fx) and Bram Gielen (fretless bass), adding lush textures to his gently-drifting pieces, creating a greenhouse-ready chill-out zone.

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!

Recording: Masahiro Takahashi with Karen Ng & Sandro Perri

Artist: Masahiro Takahashi with Karen Ng & Sandro Perri

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Cha-no-yu), July 19, 2024.

Masahiro Takahashi with Karen Ng & Sandro Perri - unknown

Cha-no-yu, Masahiro Takahashi's "bedroom producer" residency, is named after the Japanese tea ceremony, although the show is more of a friendly meeting than a formal ritual. The shows bring in fellow-travelling guest performers to open, but also give Takahashi an opportunity to expand the instrumental palette of his own material by inviting in local improvisers to add some different vibes. This night saw Karen Ng (saxophone) and Sendro Perri (guitar) on board, the former adding sympathetic warbles while the latter added subtle swells and chimes.

[Cha-no-yu will be back in the Southern Cross tonight (Friday, August 16th), with Masahiro Takahashi being joined by Ryan Driver and Grace Scheele as well as an opening set from Slow Attack Ensemble.]

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!

Recording: Masahiro Takahashi

Artist: Masahiro Takahashi

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at The Tranzac's Main Hall (Tranzac Fundraiser I), April 20, 2024.

Masahiro Takahashi - unknown

As part of an effort to find and maintain a stable financial footing, The Tranzac has announced a series of quarterly fundraising concerts, drawing on the starpower of some its regular denizens to fill the Main Hall. Leading off this first event, producer/electronicist Masahiro Takahashi took the opportunity to draw on the Tranzac community to expand his sounds with a backing trio that included Kurt Newman (lap steel), Ryan Driver (piano) and Michael Davidson (vibes). That put his "bedroom producer" aesthetic on a bigger canvas, with mostly-gentle grooves that moved somewhere in cozy amble-along/bubble bath sonic zones.

[Masahiro Takahashi's Cha-no-yu residency ("a gathering of music producers, improvisers, and listeners") begins on Friday (May 17th) with performances from C.R. Gillespie and Nick Storring & Masahiro Takahashi — and will continue on every third Friday of the month. The second Tranzac fundraiser will be taking place on Friday, June 14th with sets from U.S. Girls, Eucalyptus, and Cots.]

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!