Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, I have been working on a memoir that reflects upon my experiences as a community worker and musician. A recurring theme is the lessons I have learned through my various personal and working relationships over the decades. I have begun to share these stories informally through a series of chapbooks. What follows are a few of the chapbook entries that explore how various influences have shaped my thoughts about a career—or rather, a life—as an independent artist.
The first entry was read as part of a panel presentation with Jon Jang and Dr. Loren Kajikawa at the “Asian American Jazz: Past, Present, and Future” symposium. It discusses how I began my career under Jon's tutelage. The rest of the vignettes concern our development of Asian Improv Records and my experiences with dear friends, such as dance artist Sachiko Nakamura, pianist-composer Glenn Horiuchi,...
