Yoko Kanno Comes To New York City! Maybe?

Earlier in the week, when talking about local (and awesome) band HAPPYFUNSMILE, I mentioned that the site of their most recent gig, a Japanese piano bar inside a Chinese restaurant, listed "Yoko Kanno" as an upcoming performer, and that this confused me complexly, as Yoko Kanno is -- simply put -- a goddess to anime fans. She's easily the most well-known, respected, revered, and worshipped composer in the anime realm and responsible for the aural side of animations including Cowboy Bebop, Escaflowne, Macross Plus, and Ghost in the Shell: STAND ALONE COMPLEX. So, why, I asked, would she be in NYC? And, why, I further posed, would she be singing at a Japanese piano bar inside a Chinese restaurant?

The answer was pretty obvious: It wasn't the Yoko Kanno. It was just a Yoko Kanno. It was just another performer who just happened to be named Yoko Kanno. But, I couldn't be sure, and I had to hope it was the goddess. As such, I called the Japanese piano bar inside the Chinese restaurant that just happens to be called Aruba to make things even more surreal and sent over a few e-mails.

What did I hear back? Yes, it is the goddess. Yes, it is the Yoko Kanno.

Now, to be honest, even after speaking to Aruba, I'm not entirely sure it's the real Yoko. Again, why would she be in NYC? Again, why would she be singing at a Japanese piano bar inside a Chinese restaurant? But, hey, maybe Aruba's owner, Shige Kajiwara, is friends with Yoko. Maybe he's got some pull in the Japanese music industry. Maybe I've got to become his friend.

Whether or not she's the real Yoko Kanno, I'll be at Aruba at 100 Park Avenue at 9:30 PM on Thursday, March 20. And, yes, if she is the real Yoko I'm going to try to steal her for the New York Anime Festival. Hell, even if she isn't, if she's good, I may steal her for NYAF.

If you want to talk to Aruba to double check, confirm, or deny my story, you can reach the Mr. Kajiwara at skajiwara@nyc.rr.com. Let me know what you hear back!