Vermillion Passion 朱へ Concert on Wed. Feb. 17 2010 at
The Old Church (Portland, OR) was a full house event! Thank you for coming!
The PSU Center for Japanese Studies presented ”朱へ” （Vermillion Passion）, a concert featuring Japanese Koto
master Mitsuki Dazai and International Harmonica Virtuoso Joe Powers, performing for the first time in the United States the concert theme "朱へ” （akae
= Vermillion Passion), composed by Hikaru Sawai, former rock star． Joining
them as special guest artists were the NY based Shakuhachi grand master James Nyoraku Schlefer and Tokyo based Tango pianist Naoko Aoki.
2/21/2009 Beall Hall, University of Oregon, Eugene
2/25/2009
The Old Church, Portland, OR
"TANGO PASSION: Music &
Dance" was performed by the international harmonica virtuoso, Joe Powers, accompanied by the special guest pianist from Tokyo, Naoko Aoki.
8/22/2008 Watch Joe's "AM
Northwest" TV appearance here.
Online purchase of advance tickets for this event is no longer available. Please call Shogun's Gallery at (503) 224-0328.
Kazue Sawai
of Tokyo is considered one of the best Koto performers of all time. Ten professional musicians are coming from Japan
and other parts of the United States to share the stage with Sawai on her single concert in Portland,
OR. In addition to her solo performance of Rokudan, a Koto classic, she will perform a duet with Peter Hill who is the
first foreigner to win the New King of Shakuhachi competition in Japan in 2002. There are several koto ensemble pieces
planned for the evening.
Joe Powers, young international harmonica sensation, from Portland has recently returned
from his 4th European concert tour. He will perform "Dosei" the voices of the earth, composed by Kazue's
son Hikaru Sawai, a former Rock star, with this event's producer/director Mitsuki Dazai from Eugene on her bass koto.
Joe is currently nominated as "the Best Male Artist of the Year" along with Curtis Salgado and Renato
Caranto for Portland Music Awards sponsored by the Music Spectator magazine.
This will be an AMAZING concert!
“Kazue Sawai is a Vladimir Horowitz of the Koto!” -Michael Hoppé, Grammy nominee
The 
