Ukkalin san Interview
Django Festival Tokyo 2017
September 18, 2017
An interview with Mr. Ukkalin, founder of the Django Festival Tokyo.
> 王慧思 （Eliza Wong）, Chris Lui
This is the second edition of Django Festival Tokyo. In Japan, gypsy Jazz is by far less popular than mainstream jazz, and the gypsy jazz community in Asia is considerably small. Why did you organize this festival ?
I own a restaurant, and I also play guitar. In the beginning rock music was my favourite style, later on I became fond of Gypsy Jazz. Eight years ago I tried to find the relevant information about gypsy jazz in Japan: since I found nothing, I decided to establish a gypsy jazz website on my own, hoping that there would be more people to understand and enjoy gypsy jazz. That led to the birth of the first edition of the Django Festival Tokyo last year.
I own a restaurant, and I also play guitar. In the beginning rock music was my favourite style, later on I became fond of Gypsy Jazz. Eight years ago I tried to find the relevant information about gypsy jazz in Japan: since I found nothing, I decided to establish a gypsy jazz website on my own, hoping that there would be more people to understand and enjoy gypsy jazz. That led to the birth of the first edition of the Django Festival Tokyo last year.
Is the gypsy Jazz community in Japan the biggest in Asia ?
I think so. Now more and more people became aware of this genre of music and learn to appreciate gypsy jazz. To my knowledge, Dennis Chang, the famous gypsy guitarist, began as well to have his own Gypsy Jazz Festival in Taiwan last year.
I think so. Now more and more people became aware of this genre of music and learn to appreciate gypsy jazz. To my knowledge, Dennis Chang, the famous gypsy guitarist, began as well to have his own Gypsy Jazz Festival in Taiwan last year.
(2016 Django Festival Tokyo)
What’s the biggest challenge in organizing the Django Festival Tokyo？
I have to say that location and budget were the biggest challenges. The first edition of the festival was held at Ueno Park in Tokyo. The place was huge, but not like this year’s, only less than one thousand people joined the festival. Actually I was hoping to have two stages, a main stage and another stage for the jam sessions, because the way I see it, gypsy Jazz is exactly the kind of music that makes people gather around and feel free to play music and dance together whenever they feel like it. This year I’ve found this venue, 3331 art space, which was equipped with all the elements that I had wished for. And I was happy about that. Another task that we had to face was to invite Adrien Moignard to come here, it took me a lot of time and energy to make this possible. I felt truly lucky that he accepted and managed to come to the festival.
I have to say that location and budget were the biggest challenges. The first edition of the festival was held at Ueno Park in Tokyo. The place was huge, but not like this year’s, only less than one thousand people joined the festival. Actually I was hoping to have two stages, a main stage and another stage for the jam sessions, because the way I see it, gypsy Jazz is exactly the kind of music that makes people gather around and feel free to play music and dance together whenever they feel like it. This year I’ve found this venue, 3331 art space, which was equipped with all the elements that I had wished for. And I was happy about that. Another task that we had to face was to invite Adrien Moignard to come here, it took me a lot of time and energy to make this possible. I felt truly lucky that he accepted and managed to come to the festival.
Is also Django Camp one of your projects？ What is it like？
It’s a great activity. The camp is situated in the rural areas of Yamanashi prefecture. Those who participate will live in a big tent like real gypsies. The surrounding field can accommodate about one hundred people that can join the jam sessions. Not to mention the Gypsy Jazz workshops, dances, barbecues, etc… the Gypsy camp will be held next year, and that’s definitely something that you don’t want to miss!
It’s a great activity. The camp is situated in the rural areas of Yamanashi prefecture. Those who participate will live in a big tent like real gypsies. The surrounding field can accommodate about one hundred people that can join the jam sessions. Not to mention the Gypsy Jazz workshops, dances, barbecues, etc… the Gypsy camp will be held next year, and that’s definitely something that you don’t want to miss!
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Jazzespresso is a jazz magazine, but also a website, a network, a hub wishing to connect the different souls of the jazz world: American, European, Asian, Australian and African. A multicultural reference point in English, Chinese and Spanish language for the lovers of this music in every Country, who want to be updated about what is happening all around the world… Stay tuned.
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ABOUT US / 關於我們 / 关于我们 / NOSOTROS
Jazzespresso es una revista de jazz y también un sitio web, una red, un centro que desea conectar las diferentes almas del mundo del jazz: americano, europeo, asiático, australiano y africano. Un punto de referencia multicultural en lengua inglesa, china y en castellano para los amantes de esta música en todos los países que quieren estar al tanto de lo que está ocurriendo en todo el mundo. Manténganse informados!
Jazzespresso is a jazz magazine, but also a website, a network, a hub wishing to connect the different souls of the jazz world: American, European, Asian, Australian and African. A multicultural reference point in English, Chinese and Spanish language for the lovers of this music in every Country, who want to be updated about what is happening all around the world… Stay tuned.
Jazzespresso 不只是一個爵士樂雜誌，也是一個能將擁有各種不同精髓的世界爵士樂，包括美洲、歐洲、亞洲、澳洲及非洲各地，互相連結起來的網站及交流站。以中文及英文寫成的內容將是一個新的多元文化交流的參考點，為各地的爵士音樂愛好者提供來自全世界最新的消息。請持續關注！
JazzEspresso 不只是一个爵士乐杂誌，也是一个能将拥有各种不同精髓的世界爵士乐，包括美洲、欧洲、亚洲、澳洲及非洲各地，互相连结起来的网站及交流站。以中文及英文写成的内容将是一个新的多元文化交流的参考点，为各地的爵士音乐爱好者提供来自全世界最新的消息。请持续关注！
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