Once again the Cuban-born pianist and keyboard player showcases his uniquely magical kind of music to Japanese audiences. Born in 1965, Sosa went to the USA after studying music in Havana, and later relocated to Spain, where he is still based today. Changing his backing band for every concert tour, this time he introduces an outfit that is set to take a mix of African and electronic elements and transform it into something cosmic. The lineup consists of four formidable musicians on sax, trumpet, bass and drums, with Sosa himself adding piano, Fender Rhodes and electronics to the dynamic brew of extraordinary, spiritual music. Look forward to something as far out there as jazz can get.

This double feature of singer-songwriters from Brazil should be the greatest program of Brazilian pop (MPB) in Japan this summer. As usual around this time of year, top female MPB artist and dyed-in-the-wool Carioca ("native of Rio de Janeiro") Joyce comes again for a string of concerts, this time bringing along fellow singer-songwriter Celso Fonseca as special guest. Fonseca was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1956, and as a singer, guitarist and producer he is one leading figure of the current bossa nova scene. Sit back and enjoy the richly flavored musical dish of standards and new songs that Joyce and her trio (p, b, dr) serve this time.