The links above detail the history part of this painting,
but the memory is what I've never talked about.
My late husband Akio was with me,
and our (at that time) young son, Michio.
We decided to take a walk in the cool
October night, all three of us...
That was rare, as I often had singing gigs at night,
and Akio was mostly away teaching his music students.
I remember how Halloween was only an inkling
of a notion in Tokyo, then.
The wide-open rice field held recently
harvested and neatly arranged and hung bundles-
I still remember the earth-y scent of it.
In time that would be replaced with apartment buildings, etc...
But that night in late October, 1995,
we 3 walked and laughed together,
and that as well as
the moon and beautiful scenery,
is what inspired me to paint this,
the next day, from memory-
To capture that wondrous night and time together,
as a family, through this work.
It's also the day my family arrived in Japan, all those years ago,
and, it's also the anniversary of the day Akio and I got married, in NYC's City Hall...
My husband, Michio's dad, tenor sax player, composer, and professor of music,
Akio Ueda, has passed away on December 10th.
I haven't been able to speak about it much publicly,
and even now, I can't give Akio all the due
his career in music deserves.
I'm just remembering him on this day, our anniversary...
In the New Year, I hope to post music we recorded together,
music from my first CD, with "The Akio Ueda Jazz Quintet".
Thank you to all my dear loved ones, you know who you are,
for all the support and kindness shown, at this time.
"Say It (Over And Over Again)"
( F. Loesser / J. McHugh )
John Coltrane, ts
McCoy Tyner, pf
Jimmy Garrison, b
Elvin Jones, ds
Photo: Michio Yves Ueda
