Profile
A recent photograph
With 21 overseas friends, on the 40th Anniversary Concert
1961 New Orleans Rascals started.
1963 George Lewis visited Japan for the first time, with his New Orleans All Stars. The Rascals experienced a jam session with them at American Cultural Center in Osaka.
1966 First visit to the United States and Canada. Received the Honorary Citizenship of New Orleans.
1970 Appeared at New Suntory 5, a Jazz pub in Osaka in celebration of the opening.
1971 Second American tour.
1973 Were dispatched to the Japan Fair in South Carolina,U.S. as a cultural mission.
Began to appear regularly at New Suntory 5 every Saturday. Keep playing there still now.
Released the first major label LP "YOU RASCAL YOU".
1975 15th anniversary concert. Invited Don Ewell (piano) as a special guest to the concert. After that, exchanges with musicians from overseas have increased.
1976 Invited Alton Purnell who had been a piano player of the George Lewis' band. The session with him was recorded to a 2LPs album (is re-issued as CD now).
1979 Clarinetist Tom Sharpsteen's first visit to Japan. A concert with the Rascals YMCA Hall, Osaka (recorded on LP).
1980 Geoff Bull's(trumpeter from Sydney) first visit to Japan.
Appeared at the New Orleans Jazz Festival.
1981 Appeared at the Sacramento Dixieland Jubilee, U.S.
20th anniversary concert at Osaka SAB Hall. Special guests: Tom Sharpsteen(cl.) and Mike Fay(sbs.).
Ryoichi Kawai opened his Mahogany Hall in his office building. It becomes a sacred place for New Orleans jazz.
1982 Vocalist Carol Leigh's first visit to Japan. She appeared at "Michigan Jazz Cruise" on the Lake Biwa.
Kobe Jazz Street. Since then, the Rascals have continued to appear at this festival every year.
1984 Appeared at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
1985 First Satsukiyama Church (in a suburb of Osaka) Concert. The Rascals like to play at this hall, as their "second home ground".
1986 25th anniversary concert at Shimanouchi Church, Osaka.
1989 Visited New Orleans (to make a TV commercial).
1990 R.kawai, K.Shiga, Y.Ozaki and N.Ishida appeared at the Santa Rosa Dixie Jazz Festival, U.S.
1991 Appeared at the Festa New Orleans Music Ascona, Switzerland (the first visit to Europe).
30th anniversary concert at Recital Hall. Special guests: Tom Sharpsteen, Bob Green, Carol Leigh, Geoff Bull and Butch Thompson(p.cl.).
1992 Jon Marks' (pianist from Germany) first visit to Japan. A Concert at Satsukiyama Church with the Rascals.
Visited Australia with Jon Marks for celebration of Geoff Bull's 50th birthday.
1993 Visited Belgium (a trombonist Yoichi Yamada substituted for Fukuda).
1994 Visited Norway and Sweden.
1995 Invited vocalist Topsy Chapman from New Orleans as the special guest of the concert at Itami Aiphonic Hall.
1996 8th American tour.
35th anniversary concert at Osaka Phoenix Hall. Special guest: Butch Thompson.
1997 Held the first concert in Tokyo (at Tokyoyamate Church).
1998 Held a concert at Changchun Methodist Church, Seoul, Korea.
2000 George Lewis Discography Concert at Mahogany Hall (in celebration of his 100th birthday).
2001 40th Anniversary Concert. 21 guest musicians visited for celebration from all over the world.
2003 Held a concert at Ensemble Hall inviting Jon Marks (his third visit).
Appeared at the San Diego Thanksgiving Dixieland Jazz Festival,U.S.
2004 A concert with Lee Gunness (vocal from Sydney, Australia) at Shimanouchi Church (her second visit).
2005 Held a concert at The Industry Club Of Japan, Tokyo.
A poster of the Rascals' tour in 1966, exhibited by the New Orleans Jazz Museum
Photographed by Akira Hori