O. Perry Walker musicians reciprocate kindness to generous benefactor from overseas
8th August 2011 · 0 Comments
By Kelly Parker
Contributing Writer
Yoshio Toyama, Known as 'The Satchmo of Japan' performs with O. Perry Walker senior Brandon Diggs.
Rebuilding after experiencing devastation is something else the two, unfortunately, now have in common.
The celebrated group from overseas has served almost as a guardian angel to students studying music in the New Orleans area. Since 1994, Toyama’s Wonderful of World of Jazz Foundation has given over 750 new or refurbished instruments to local students, mainly with the hope that our youth would turn to their culture of music and not one of violence. In the months following Katrina, the Toyama’s fund-raisers brought more than $80,000 of aid to professional musicians, and in August 2006, they donated three horns and $1,000 to To Be Continued Brass (TBC) Band to replace the instruments lost in the storm.
This year, the act of generosity and love was reciprocated. On Thursday, Walker high school students, administrators and members of the Algiers community crescendo to an April fundraiser was a to hold a tribute to Toyama called “For My Friend,” held at the school’s campus band room.
It was lagniappe for the noted musician, known as the Satchmo of Japan, and the Dixie Saints who made their first trip back to New Orleans since the devastating earthquake and resulting tsunami that ravaged their homeland to celebrate and perform at Satchmo Summerfest.
“When our students heard about what happened in Japan, they immediately wanted to help,” says Tarence Davis, Walker School Administration Manager said. “Our children said ‘We don’t have much, but we have our music.’”
They decided to give back to their friends in need by way of Jammin’ for Japan; the April 12th benefit and jam session at which The Roots of Music Kids, The Rebirth Brass Band, TBC Brass Band, and many others, performed. Proceeds from the event will help The Swing Dolphins, the kids’ jazz ensemble in Japan, to replace instruments and rebuild rehearsal space.
On Thursday, the Algiers high school gave the group a preview of those performances.
The Jackson Five classic, “I’ll be There” was performed by the Walker Concert Choir which was followed by the school’s dance group’ — Rhythms Dance Company’s tribute performance to “I need an Angel.”
“We dedicate this dance to you, for allowing us to be an angel in your time of need.” Karen Davis-Jones, artistic director of the Rhythms Dance Company, told Toyama and his group.
Wilbert Rawlings, O. Perry Walker’s Director of Instrumental Music presented Toyama and his wife, Keiko, with the proceeds from the April fundraiser, along with a stringed instrument, which are popular in the Japanese music culture, and a video of the fundraiser.
“In all the times we brought instruments here, I never thought there would come a time when we’d receive instruments from you,” an emotional Toyama stated.
“One of the reasons why you see bands and choirs here is because one of my first years here, we didn’t have a lot of instruments and you brought me 42 instruments and we were able to put together a marching band,” Rawlings told the trumpeter, affectionately known as “Yoshi.” “And from that, came the jazz ensemble. Once this happened, I believe that faculty, staff and administration really began to realize the power of the arts. Some of these children, who became jazz ensemble members, saw their grades shoot up through the roof; because they started to think about music in a different way. I personally want to thank you for helping us create what is considered to be one of the best arts departments in the city of New Orleans. I promise to continue to strive and make things even better.”
The friendship began between the two while Rawlings was band director at Carver High School, and Toyama’s foundation brought 39 instruments to the Ninth Ward school.
Assistant Principal Mark Bailey now associates the beginning of a new school year with the smell of fresh paint, excitement from students and a visit from Yoshio Toyama and the Wonderful World of Jazz Foundation.
Bailey welcomed and thanked the musician for his friendship and commitment, but also for his appreciation and love of the city’s musical culture.
“We have people who live in this city their entire lives, and have never fully appreciated the rich culture that you’ve appreciated and add to. We feel blessed to have you in our lives,” Bailey said.
Walker, in turn has begun to donate instruments to area middle school music programs.
Nolan Grady, Walker Leadership Team Chairman, told the musicians, “We have a saying here — A Walker Charger never walks alone. You are part of our family, and when (the devastation in Japan) occurred, we wanted you to know that you are not alone in this walk.”
Toyama, despite being the honored guest, paid tribute to what Louis Armstrong and jazz music have meant to him and Japan.
“All of the people that are here from Japan were influenced greatly by the jazz music that was born in this city,” he told the audience. “This city gave birth to the most fantastic art the 20th century has even presented to the world.”
Toyama and his wife Keiko lived in the Crescent City from 1968 to 1973. It was then, his love for jazz and Louis Armstrong began.
In keeping with the upcoming celebration of Satchmo Summerfest, Toyama did his best impression of his idol, with a rendition of “What a Wonderful World” and “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
The musical finale included a jam session with the Walker jazz ensemble members and the Dixie Saints; which, in typical Big Easy fashion, led to an impromptu second line.
“20,000 people died — washed away by the Tsunami,” Tomaya said. “But Japan will be back to swing again; like New Orleans jazz swings.”
This article was originally published in the August 8, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper
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