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	<< Back "DAWN" Newsletter of The DAWN CENTER < Interview > SPEAKING TO THE WORLD THROUGH JAZZ Saxophone Player MASA Appeals for Womyn's Liberalization, Abolition of Capital Punishment, Human Rights and Pacifism. An ever-increasing number of Japanese womyn* are playing an active role in the world classical and jazz music scenes. Saxophonist MASA is one of them. Since her professional debut, she has been giving performances and shuttling between Osaka and New York. Haneko Inoue interviewed MASA while she was in Osaka. MASA's Profile: Began to learn the saxophone at 12. In 1987, financially backed by supporters, went to New York to study jazz.Gave performances at Birdland, a famous jazz club, while studying at New School Jazz & Contemporary. In March,1996, appeared on the stage of "Womyn in Jazz" in Iowa as a guest musician and a panelist. Received an Artist Visa in 1997, and obtained the permanent residency status in the US in 1999. Her CDs include "Don't Kill - Looking Up at The Morning Star" and "Swing MASA Band." Inoue: You gave a joint concert with a world-renowned jazz pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi in September, 2000. In March, 2002, you performed at the International Womyn's Jazz Festival. Both of these events were held at the Dawn Center, which publishes this newsletter. How did these two events take place? MASA: I first met Ms. Akiyoshi when I studied the saxophone and music theory at a music college in New York. She was invited to our college event and gave a performance for the students. I was very much moved by her music. After the concert, I left the college hall, but I couldn't resist my desire to tell her how impressed I was, so I went back to the hall and visited her in her dressing room. Then she invited me to dinner and that was the beginning. When I went to New York in the 1980s, there were many Japanese. But when Ms. Akiyoshi went to the United States back in the 1950s, there were few Japanese around her and she struggled all by herself. Of course, she is an excellent performer. But she also has a keen interest in social problems. I have sincere respect for her. I have long wanted to hold a jazz festival for womyn by womyn since I took part in the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival in the US in 1992. At the 2002 festival in Osaka, all the players and staff were womyn. There were a lot of things that could have been improved, but I am satisfied with the results. Inoue: You spent some fruitful years studying jazz in New York, didn't you? MASA: es. When I just went to Harlem with the saxophone in my hand, people gave me a warm welcome. Then, when I played the saxophone a little bit, they applauded enthusiastically. At college, teachers tried to cultivate my good points. I tend to get depressed when someone points out my faults. But in New York, people praised me and made me relaxed, which also enabled me to directly face my faults. I feel that people in New York have a great talent for fostering young artists as well as deep affection for them. Inoue: What do you try to express as a jazz musician? MASA: I took interest in social problems and politics when I was a high-school student. Since then I have joined various kinds of campaigns and movements. It was around 1979 when I learned about womyn's liberalization movements. But an important incident occurred when I was in elementary school. I was a fat bullied child. When I was in the 6th grade, my teacher encouraged me to run for president of the school council and I was elected. Actively involved in many things, I came to appreciate myself. People around me also came to respect me. It made me realize the importance of self-esteem. I was in New York on September 11, 2001. While watching the news of "terrorism" and retaliation, I strongly felt that now is the time to express the concept of "pacifism" and "don't kill." Expression of the idea is closely related to society. When you play jazz, how you face yourself and society is evident to the audience regardless of your technical skills. There is a difference between the jazz which men want to express and the jazz which womyn want to express. I will continue to express, through my saxophone, my images and feelings based on my self-esteem as a womyn.   womyn*: Feminists in the United States use the word "womyn" instead of "women" to describe themselves and to make it clear that they are feminists. Page Top Copyright (C) 2007 DawnCenter. All Rights Reserved.