Jean-Michel Serres, Composer-pianist (Apfel Café Music): Website

16 September 201624 August 2023

Timeline of Haruki Murakami

1949 – Haruki Murakami was born in Kyoto, Japan. His parents are both junior high japanese teachers. His father was the son of a Buddhist priest. His mother was the daughter of a merchant of Osaka.

1951 – The family moved to Shukugawa, Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture. Murakami raised in Nishinomiya, Ashiya and Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture (Ashiya is the exclusive residential district of Kansai area next to Kobe, and Kobe is the second largest port town of Japan).

Opposition to his parents’ occupations, Murakami devoted himself to and has been deeply influenced by Western and American literature and culture. He spent his teen years reading ‘World Literature Collection’ and ‘World Literature’.

1968 – Murakami spent a year preparing for the entrance examination, he entered Waseda University (the second best private university in Japan) in Tokyo, where he met his wife, and studied drama and cinema.

1971 – Married with Yoko Takahashi.

1974 – Opened a jazz café (the Japanese unique style of café, coffee shops play Jazz records all day long.) ‘the Peter Cat’ at Kokubunji, suburban Tokyo.

1975 – Graduated Waseda University. His graduate thesis is The Chronicle of Journeys on American Cinema in which he mentioned New Hollywood and Easy Rider.

1977 – Moved the café to Sendagaya, Shibuya, Tokyo.

1978 – Murakami was inspired to write novel while watching a baseball game at the Meiji Jungu Stadium (home stadium of the Sankei Atoms).

1979 – His first novel Hear the Wind Sing recieved the Gunzo Newcomer Literary Prize, then published. And it nominated the Akutagawa Prize, but defeated.

1980 – Pinball, 1973 Again, it nominated the Akutagawa Prize but consequently defeated. Nevertheless some committees (Junnosuke Yoshiyuki, Kenzaburo Oe and Saiichi Maruya) praised.

1981 – Sold the café to a friend and started to write for a living. Moved to Funabashi, Chiba.

1982 – Murakami’s first full-length novel, A Wild Sheep Chase was published and received the Noma Literary Newcomer’s Prize. This novel is full-scale (post-)modern urban adventure, and he began to construct his grand narrative.

1984 – Moved to Fujisawa, Kanagawa.

1985 – Moved to Sendagaya, Shibuya. Murakami’s master-piece Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World received the Tanizaki Prize.

1986 – In February, moved to Ohiso, Kanagawa. From October, stayed Roma and Athens for a time. (Far Drums)

1987 – Norwegian Wood , Murakami’s first love story but out of ordinary love story.

1988 – Dance, Dance, Dance , concluding work of Murakami’s career till that time.

1989 – The first English translation publish internationally of Murakami’s works, A Wild Sheep Chase translated by Alfred Birnbaum, Kodansha International. Then, in 90’s, in the short term, Murakami got a international recognition and reputation.

1991 – January, Went to the US as a associate researcher of Princeton University.

1992 – In January, nominated an associate professor at Princeton University (till August 1993). South of the Border, West of the Sun

1993 – In July, transferred and taught at William Howard Taft University (till May 1995).

1994 – The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle volume 1 and 2

1995 – Returned to Japan. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle volume 3 For The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle , Murakami received the Yomiuri Literary Award (Best Novel).

1997 – The first nonfiction by Murakami, Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche received the Takeo Kuwabara Prize (1999).

1998 – Underground 2: the Place that Was Promised

1999 – Sputnik Sweetheart

2000 – Moved to Ohiso, Kanagawa.

2002 – Kafka on the Shore prized the World Fantasy Award.

2004 – After Dark

2006 – Murakami received the Franz Kafka Prize. For Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman, he received the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award.

2009 – In January, Murakami received the Jerusalem Prize, he made the “wall and egg” speech. 1Q84 received the Mainichi Publishing Culture Prize.

2010 – Film Norwegian Wood , directed by French-Vietnamese director Tran Anh Hung.

2011 – Murakami awarded the International Catalunya Prize. By the speech, he criticized the nuclear policy of Japan and mentioned about the impermanence of Japanese.

2013 – Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

2014 – He awarded the Welt-Literaturpreis.

2016 – He awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award.

2017 – Killing Commendatore

Timeline of Herbie Hancock

1940 On April 12, Herbert Jeffrey Hancock born in wealthy family, Illinois, Chicago, United States. His father was a government inspector and music lover, his mother played piano, his older brother and sister played music.

1947 – Herbie began classical piano lesson.

1950 – Proceed the advanced course and learned writing and read score by Mr. Jordan.

1951 – Co-stared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. (first movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.26 in D Major)

1960 – Left Grinnell College, he studied electrical engineering.

Backed to Chicago and began working with Donald Byrd and Coleman Hawkins.

1961 – On January, moved to New York, was called by Donald Byrd.

1962 – ‘Takin’ Off’, Hancock’s first leader album, includes ‘Watermelon Man’. (Hard Bop, Funky Jazz)

1963 – Provide ‘Watermelon Man’ to Mongo Santamaria, was hit.

1964 – Acquaintance with Miles Davis and he force Hancock to have an audition. Participated in Miles Davis’s ‘second great quintet’ with Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and Tony Williams.

‘Empyrean Isles’ includes ‘Cantaloupe Island’ (Hard Bop, Soul Jazz, New Mainstream)

Sideman of ‘Speak No Evil’ by Wayne Shorter. (New Mainstream)

1965 – ‘Maiden Voyage’ Adopted expanded the mode approach with member of Miles Davis Quintet and Freddie Hubbard. A representative work of New Mainstream Jazz and Herbie Hancock. (New Mainstream)

1966 – ‘Blow-Up’ (Soundtrack)

1967 – ‘Miles Smiles’ by Miles Davis, the musical style declared in this album would be called ‘New Mainstream Jazz’ or ‘Modern Mainstream’. (New Mainstream)

1968 – ‘Speak Like a Child’ Adopted a not common sextet (alto flute, flugelhorn, bass trombone and rhythm section) and treat the horn section as a accompaniment part. (Hard Bop, Post-Bop)

‘Miles in the Sky’ by Miles Davis, in this album Miles force Hancock to play a electric piano. (Post-Bop, Electric Jazz)

Hancock left the Miles Davis’s band.

1969 – ‘Prisoner’ Use uncommon horn sections on the extension of ‘Speak Like a Child’ and practice of electronic piano. (Post-Bop, Electric Jazz, Fusion)

1973 – ‘Head Hunters’, Masterpiece and big hit of Jazz Funk. Boldly adopted Funk sound of James Brown, Sly & the Family Stone and Earth, Wind & Fire. Employ Funk musicians and some of synthesizers. Then Hancock created the music fusion groove of Funk and improvisations of Jazz. (Jazz Funk, Fusion)

1975 – Sideman of ‘Jaco Pastorius’ by Jaco Pastorius. (Fusion)

1976 – ‘VSOP’ A live album of the summing up of the career of Hancock. The VSOP Quintet was supposed to be a special band (but the quintet continued the activity). The member of the VSOP Quintet are Miles Davis quintet without Miles and Freddie Hubbard. This quintet played the music like a revival of New Mainstream Jazz. The second of the records recorded sextet (in ‘Speak Like a Child’) and Jazz Funk aspects of Hancock. Especially cutting guitar plays by Ray Parker Jr. and Wah Wah Watson in ’Hang Up Your Hang Ups’ would be called the ’bible of funk guitar (or cutting guitar)’.

1977 – ‘Herbie Hancock Trio’ Revival of authentic Jazz.

1978 – Sideman of ‘Mingus’ by Joni Mitchell (Folk Jazz, Vocal Jazz)

1982 – ‘Quartet’ Featured an up-and-coming trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. Some of songs of the album were from repertoire of Miles’s the ‘second great quintet’ and the VSOP. (Resurgence of Traditionalism, New Mainstream)

1983 – ‘Future Shock’ was produced by Bill Laswell, and adopted Hip Hop sound and scratching by Grand Mixer DXT. The song of the album ‘Rockit’ made a big hit in worldwide. (Electro Funk, Instrumental Hip Hop)

1986 – ‘Round Midnight’ A soundtrack of Jazz movie. (Soundtrack)

1994 – ‘Dis is da Drum’ A reaction to Acid Jazz by Hancock. (Fusion, Jazz Funk, Instrumental Hip Hop)

1998 – ‘Gershwin’s World’ Featured the songs of George Gershwin. (Traditional Jazz, Orchestra Jazz)

2001 – ‘Future2Future’ Featured Bill Laswell, Carl Craig (Detroit Techno producer and DJ), A Guy Called Gerald (Drum ’n’ Bass and Techno producer), Rob Swift (Hip Hop DJ and turntablist) and Chaka Khan (Soul singer). (Fusion, Electronica)

2007 – ‘River: The Joni Letter’ A tribute album of songs written by Joni Mitchell. Guet vocalists include Lenard Cohen, Tina Turner, Norah Jones and Joni Mitchell. (Vocal Jazz, Folk Jazz, Pops)

References

‘Standard Text of Herbie Hancock’ Jazz Critic Editors, Matsuzaka, 2002

‘Herbie Hancock: Possibilities’ by Herbie Hancock and Lisa Dickey, Viking, 2014

Timeline of Miles Davis

1926 – May 26 Miles Dewey Davis Ⅲ was born in Alton, Illinois, to an African American affluent family. His father was a dentist. His mother was a music lover.

1935 – Got first his trumpet sent by father’s friend.

1939 – His father was present a new trumpet to Miles.

1943 – Began playing professionally at the Elks Club.

1944 – The Billy Eckstine Band visited St. Louis. The members of the band included Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker.

Moved to New York City to study music at the Juilliard School. Got acquainted with Charlie Parker.

1945 – Participated the Charlie Parker Quintet as replacement of Dizzy Gillespie.

‘First Miles’, First Recording on a member of Herbie Fields Sextet.

1947 – First leader recording.

1948 – Miles Davis Nonet, includes J. J. Johnson, Lee Konitz, Gerry Mulligan and Gil Evans, performed at the Royal Roost. (Cool Jazz)

1949 – ‘Birth of the Cool’

First european tour with Tadd Dameron.

1950 – Played together with Art Blakey, witch led Hard Bop style.

1951 – ‘Dig’ with Sonny Rollins and Art Blakey.

1953 – Returned to St. Louis to recover from drug intoxication.

1954 – Came back to New York Jazz scene.

‘Walkin’’ A Peak of Hard Bop style.

‘Bags’ Groove’ with Thelonious Monk and Milt Jackson.

1955 – Formed ‘visionary quintet’ with Sonny Rollins, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones.

Formed ‘first great quintet’ added John Coltrane.

1956 – ‘Marathon Session’ Recording of the ‘Hard Bop bible’: ‘Cookin’, ‘Relaxin’, ‘Workin’ and ‘Steamin’.

Major debut by ‘Round About Midnight’, Columbia Records.

1957 – Discharged John Coltrane and Philly Joe Jones, because of their drug intoxication and the limit of quintet Jazz style.

‘Miles Ahead’ with Gil Evans Orchestra.

1958 – Adopted Modal Jazz, and released ‘Milestones’.

Bill Evans joined Miles’s Sextet.

Cannonball Adderley ‘Somethin’ Else’ Virtually leader album of Miles.

1959 – ‘Kind of Blue’ It was the proclamation and completion of Modal Jazz.

1960 – Miles Davis (with Gil Evans) ’Sketches of Spain’

1964 – Formed the ‘second great quintet’, the members of which are Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and Tony Williams.

1965 – ‘E.S.P.’ A sprout of New Mainstream.

1967 – ‘Miles Smiles’ A masterpiece of New Mainstream.

1968 – Adopted electronic sounds and rhythm of Rock music on his album ‘Miles in the Sky’. In this album Miles made Herbie Hancock play a electronic piano, George Benson play a electric guitar.

1969 – ‘In a Silent Way’ The title track was composed by Joe Zawinul.

1970 – ‘Bitches Brew’, Adopted Rock and Electronic sound earnestly.

1972 – ‘On the Corner’ Adopted Funk sound and folk instruments.

1975 – Stopped his activity.

1981 – Came back music scene. Collaborated with Marcus Miller, Bill Evans (saxophonist) and heavy guitar sound of Mike Stern, and released a live album ‘We Want Miles’.

1985 – ‘Your Under Arrest’ Adopted Pop arrangement and features two pop songs: ‘Time After Time’ by Cyndi Lauper and ‘Human Nature’ by Michael Jackson.

1986 – Miles Davis ‘Tutu’ produced by Marcus Miller and Tommy LiPuma. This album featured Marcus Miller as producer and multi-player. It was like duet of Miles and Miller.

1991 – Died on September 28 by the combined effect of a pneumonia and stroke.

1992 – ‘Doo-Bop’ featured Hip Hop and rap.