Greetings and welcome to my April/May newsletter.

I have many new and exciting announcements to share with you. Before I do, let me first advertise the most important public shows I have coming up:

***Thurs. April 17th at "Bar Bar Bar" in Kannai, Yokohama
Tel: 045-662-0493(6868) Fax: 045-662-4470
http://www.barbarbar.jp/ email: muso@yhb.att.ne.jp
A short walk from Kannai station, near the YMCA, a good restaurant too.
Featuring: "CJQ" (Collaboration Jazz Quartet): Chako-guitar, Hiroshi Tanaka-piano,
Yasuhiro Hasegawa-bass, Taro Koyama-drums. CD Release party! "Everybody`s Got a Name"

Sat April 12th at Body and Soul in Aoyama
6-13-9 Minamiaoyama Minato-ku Tokyo
info@bodyandsoul.co.jp
http://www.bodyandsoul.co.jp
Tel: 5466-3348,
w/Tommy Campbell`s "Organ SESSION BAND"
Featuring: Daisuke Kawai: B-3 organ, Greg Chako: guitar, Tommy Campbell: drums

Tues June 17th at "Bar Bar Bar" in Kannai, Yokohama
Tel: 045-662-0493(6868) Fax:045-662-4470
http://www.barbarbar.jp/ email: muso@yhb.att.ne.jp
A short walk from Kannai station, near the YMCA, a good restaurant too.
Featuring: "CJQ" (Collaboration Jazz Quartet): Chako-guitar, Hiroshi Tanaka-piano,
Brent Nussey-bass, Gene Jackson-drums.

****Thurs. June 19th at "JZ Brat" in Shibuya, Tokyo (Cerelean Towers)
〒150-0031　東京都渋谷区桜丘町26-1 セルリアンタワー東急ホテル2F
JZ Brat（ジェージーブラット）TEL: 03-5728-0168
E-mail：info@jzbrat.com
A short walk from Shibuya station.
Featuring: "CJQ" (Collaboration Jazz Quartet): Chako-guitar, Hiroshi Tanaka-piano,
Brent Nussey-bass, Gene Jackson-drums.

And, as always, every Friday night at the Imperial Hotels` Aqua Lounge, adjacent to Hibiya Park - "The Imperial Duo" with Greg Chako and Hiroshi Tanaka (or Jonathan Katz) on piano.

While all the above shows are guaranteed to be exciting, I hope you`ll make a special effort to come to the June 19th show at JZ Brat, because I need at least 50 people coming to make it a success with the venue! We will be really geared up for a dynamic performance!
That show too will feature the veteran jazz drummer, Gene Jackson, who has played for years with the Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Dave Holland bands, among many, many others, all over the world. His time in Japan is limited, so this show is a "must see" if there ever was one.

Now for the exciting news:

My song "With Full Heart and Teary Eyes", from the 2007 CD, "Paint a Picture, Tell a Story", has won a Finalist Prize in the 2007 Session II John Lennon Songwriting Contest (www.jlsc.com). I am very happy and proud to have been selected for such a prestigious award, and the prizes including a new version of the music notation program Sibelius 4, will come in quite handy!

The official USA release of my newest CD, "Everybody`s Got a Name", occurs in May, and will be accompanied by paid ads in the US-based magazines JazzTimes, Jazz Improv, and Just Jazz Guitar, as well as in the Japan-based magazine Jazzlife. Reviews are expected too. I have included a sampling of some review clips that have come in already for the new CD at the end of this email. Preliminary feedback looks great!

The buy now page of my website has been updated (including new discount prices) and improved, and the one-sheet advertisement for the new CD which includes an informative profile of me has been translated into Japanese and put up on the site to be downloaded in either language. Now from links on my site you can buy individual songs of mine for .99 cents each, or an MP3 of an entire CD with liner notes for $10.97. Check out the changes!

On a more personal note, I have been avoiding eating meat since Feb. this year, and have reduced food intake dramatically, especially at night.
I`ve also stopped drinking alcohol except for very special occasions, and have been dedicating at least one hour a day to spiritual yogic practices.
I`d like to encourage any of you who desire more peace of mind, more mental alertness, less sleep and less stress, to investigate the programs of Guru Amritanandamaya, also known as the hugging saint, or, the Holy Mother of Heavenly Bliss, AMMA. SHE is coming to Japan in May. www.amma.jp
http://www.amma.jp/web/IAM/iam_new.html

New CD review clips:

“In a Wes Montgomery-esque musical vernacular, jazz guitarist Greg Chako asserts strong talent with compelling, challenging, & attractive originals. Adding viable craft & artistry to our beloved jazz idiom, Chako`s exceptional in his ability to understate his approach to melody & harmony, yielding an animated but very cool guitar playing style. Chako plus group, deliver their music in a very unique, melodic, very emotional & precisely executed manner. Contrast, accurate, athletic, sultry, etc... are words that apply here. Great work guys!” - George W Carroll The Musicians' Ombudsman - March 05, 2008

“Guitarist/composer Greg Chako is the consummate musician who, despite personal hardships in his life, dedicates himself to the art of jazz with every fiber of his being, producing one fine album after another. With only three standards on the program, the majority of the music presented on Everybody's Got a Name features original compositions and arrangements. As good as past recordings were, this work is perhaps Chako's best release yet. Just one listen to this album is enough to know what you've heard is nothing less than outstanding! Chako's Collaboration Jazz Quartet pairs two Americans and two Japanese musicians forming a tight combo that play well off each other. ...sophisticated, cool guitar work in combination with a superb cast of unheralded players, Simply marvelous?regardless of “name” recognition.” - Edward Blanco, March 23, 2008 on AAJ (All ABout Jazz)

“The jazz guitar man comes through again with a smart set that`s keeping the jazz scene on it’s toes! Chako reaches for some outside material this time around and cooks up a nice stew along side his originals. Everyone’s on the same page and this is some sprightly and zesty guitar jazz.” - Chris Spector, Midwest Record Recap

“Nice, smooth, fluid jazz played with integrity and style. Chako's ninth full-length release is a keeper. This CD features eleven classy, reserved compositions that really showcase this guy's skills on the guitar. His intricate playing recalls some of the jazz greats from the 50s and 60s and his backing musicians provide the perfect rhythmic backdrop. There are so many self-released CDs that just don't cut it. Everybody's Got a Name is clearly an exception to the rule. Well done! (Rating: 5) - http://www.lmnop.com/2008-April-LMNOP-Reviews.html#anchor78414

“Greg Chako is a fabulous jazz guitarist. When you listen to his new CD you hear elements of jazz guitar greats such as Herb Ellis, Howard Roberts, Barney Kessel, Tony Mottola and Tal Farlow, to name a few. The guitar of Chako, drums of Derose, and upright bass of Hasegawa play as one unit, and the piano work of Hiroshi Tanaka really stands out. It's an exceptional jazz CD and recommended listening.” - Metro Spirit - AUGUSTA, GA 4/2/08 BY RICH MCCRACKEN II

“Going back and forth between a trio and quartet lineups, guitarist Greg Chako has returned once again with a great album called Everybody's Got A Name. What I liked about him before was his sense of character, giving each song a voice (or a metaphorical "face") and having it become the reason you want to hear the entire song. Chako is in good company as he plays his heart and soul out with material that benefits his style of playing, especially in songs like "Bop-N-Swing Thing", "Blues For Redd", "Yamanashi Snow" and the Latin-flavored title track, which doesn't let go of its energy during the song's 10 minute duration. The music feels good, you listen to it and can't help but smile throughout, and it seems that these guys may have been doing it the same way in the studio. It works, and I think this guy is going to and will continue to record music that people will find hard to resist.” - John Book, The Run-Off Groove

“Greg Chako is a very fine guitar player. Everybody's Got A Name is his ninth album as a leader and a true showcase of his skills. Chako has a full, rich tone and his phrasing shows his commitment to preserving the mainstream genre. Whether playing single note lines or chordal passages, his solos are very well crafted. There is never a doubt as to the harmony that he is hearing as he improvises. Chako mentions that with the title track he wanted to create a composition that would verify the musicianship of the players. He certainly accomplishes his goal! Chako is joined by fine accompanists and soloists who match Chako’s style perfectly. The album is comprised of mostly original material penned by Chako. His compositions are always melodic and solid in their harmonic movement. They are interesting, yet traditional enough to please fans of any jazz style. Chako says that there are not-so-famous players that definitely deserve a broader audience. In the case of Everybody's Got A Name, Chako is definitely correct.” - Vince Lewis, April 5, 2008