Dances of Vice: Deco Japan & the Heart of the Modern Girl

May 5, 2012
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Special Events past event

Dances of Vice, NYC’s premier promoter of anachronistic parties, along with The Art Deco Society of New York presents an evening with the Modern Girl, or Moga, and her kaleidoscopic world of dancing, drinking and late night revelry. Learn a new step on the dance floor, sip an intoxicating tonic and take in the sultry sounds of live prewar jazz by the Kuni Mikami Jazz Quintet featuring vocalist Mari Koga. Watch fashionable flirtation come to life as real Mogas wearing Deco-style fashion designed by Mutsumi Gee of Allure Original Styles shimmy through the halls of Japan Society’s exhibition Deco Japan: Shaping Art and Culture, 1920-1945.

Period attire strongly encouraged!

Special exhibition tour by Gallery Director Joe Earle, 7:15-8 PM.

Part of the Open House Weekend, May 5-6, 2012.

ADMISSION

$15 advance/$20 door; advance tickets available from Dances of Vice

Buy tickets online.

KUNI MIKAMI
Born and raised in Japan, Kuni studied classical piano from ages 6 to 15. He came to New York in 1974 to pursue a jazz career. In 1991, Kuni was invited to be the pianist in jazz legend Lionel Hampton’s Band. Since then, he has traveled and played mainstream jazz all over the U.S. and Europe with this orchestra. He has been a regular performer at the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival which is held at Univ. of Idaho in February each year. Kuni has performed in several
major New York jazz clubs (Sweet Basil, Village Gate, Blue Note, Yardbird Suite and Birdland) and New York concert halls (Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall and Town Hall).

Besides performing with Lionel Hampton and directing his own trio, Kuni has played with various other talented professionals–such as saxophonist Illinois Jacquet and vocalists Dakota Staton, Melba Joyce and Queen Esther Marrow. He has also shared the stage with highly esteemed musicians like Elvin Jones, Dizzy Gillespie and Little Jimmy Scott. He was a pianist for Duke Ellington Orchestra in the ’97 Europe Tour and the ’98 Japan Tour. Kuni has been performing at Birdland Jazz Club in NYC the every Tuesday with the Ellington Orchestra for these past 8 years. Kuni is also performing and touring with the Cab Calloway Orchestra.

MARI KOGA
"Mari Koga! Take a note of that name….
Superb rhythm and musicality make her a treat for all of us….
And those around who like jazz will especially get a boot out of her scat work, like a horn." Mark Murphy – Jazz Vocalist

古賀マリ (ボーカリスト)

”古賀マリ!この名前は覚えておいて。

彼女の最高のリズム感とミュージシャンとしての素質は、

私たちにとってスペシャルな楽しみだ。

特に彼女のホーンのようなスキャットワークに、

ジャズファンはぶっ飛ばされるだろう!”

ー マーク マーフィー (ジャズボーカリスト)

大阪府大阪市出身.米国ニューヨーク州在住

関西大学在学中に、大阪を拠点にジャズクラブ等で歌い始める。

第10回ホテル日航大阪ジェットストリーム専属歌手オーディション優勝。

その後本格的にプロエッショナルとして音楽活動を開始。

1994年に渡米後、ニューヨーク市立大学シティカレッジをへてクイーンズカレッジ

大学院にて、ジャズパフォーマンスを専攻.在学中は数々のアワードを受賞する。

同時にライブ活動開始。マンハッタンを中心に数々のジャズライブを繰り広げる。

2010年より,アフロキューバンジャズバンド、”Afronaughtica"を結成し、ラテンジャズの分野でも注目され、北米のラテンジャズのコミュニティーサイト、”Latin
Jazz Corner"にて、2011年度の”ベスト次世代アーチスト”、そして”ベストラテンジャズボーカリスト”にノミネートされる。

またTVコマーシャルも数々こなし、彼女の歌声は全米で放映されている。

その個性的な存在、ハスキーで心もほどく感性豊かなボイスに、ダイナミックなインプ

ロビゼーションは、ニューヨークの聴衆を魅了し続けるとともに、各方面より高い評価

を受けている。

MUTSUMI GEE
Mutsumi Gee, creator of Allure Original Styles, specializes in making vintage style and reproduction clothing from the late 1930s to early 1940s. She has over 15 years of experience in creating custom clothing for clients worldwide, from Europe, Australia, Japan, and across the USA. Mutsumi uses vintage patterns to create her clothing, and usually uses vintage fabric, buttons and thread and other materials whenever possible to preserve a look of authenticity.

Mutsumi’s love for vintage fashion and lifestyle can be seen in the way she curates her personal style: she is often seen wearing vintage clothing from the early century, or clothing she has made herself with love and attention to details of historical authenticity. She can be contacted for custom orders at [email protected].

  • Saturday, May 5, 2012
  • 7:00 pm