AIRMW is back with a beautiful night of improvisation featuring long time collaborators Drazek/Fuscaldo (ex Mako Sika) w/ special guests Tatsu Aoki and percussionist George Marich.

It will be a great night of music. First set at 8pm!

Artist Bios

Drazek Fuscaldo (formerly Mako Sica) is the dynamic, freeform duo Przemyslaw Krys Drazek (electric trumpet, mandolin, electric guitar) and Brent Fuscaldo (vocals, electric bass, harmonica, thumb piano, gong, percussion).  Since they formed in early 2007, they have appeared on releases by Feeding Tube Records, Astral Spirits, Instant Classic, La Société Expéditionnaire, Permanent, BLW BCK, Slow Knife, Plus Tapes, as well as National Public Radio’s syndicated program, Radio M.

Their collaborations with various instrumentalists include master percussionist Hamid Drake, Tatsu Aoki, Mark Shippy (US Maple), Thymme Jones (Cheer Accident), Grażyna Auguścik, Mark Feldman, Tyler Damon, Jacob Fawcett, Michael Kendrick, Chaetan Newell, Marcin Dymiter, Maciej Morus, George Marich, Charles Rumback, and Ben Baker Billington.

Drazek Fuscaldo’s entrancing and improvisational sound weaves moody guitars with primal vocals evoking meditative and transcendental vibes that won their Ronda LP a spot in Downbeat Magazine’s 2018 top-rated albums.

It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine had this to say after their Ourania release:  “There’s mystery and there’s magic encrypted in these five long tracks.”

Tatsu Aoki is a leading advocate for the Asian American community, as well as a prolific composer, a performer of traditional and experimental music forms, a filmmaker, and an educator. He was born in 1958 into the Toyoakimoto artisan family, and performing by the age of four. In the early 1970s, Aoki was active in Tokyo’s underground arts movement with experimental arts and music. In 1977, Aoki left Tokyo and is now one of the most in-demand performers of bass, shamisen, and taiko, contributing to more than ninety recording projects and touring internationally over the last 35 years. He is noted for being the longest associated bassist for the late Chicago legend Fred Anderson. Aoki is a Founder and Artistic Director of Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival, which celebrates its silver anniversary in 2020. His sustained and intensified endeavors have resulted in many awards from multiple cultural and musical organizations for his cross-cultural collaborations. Of note, in 2007 he received the Milestone Award by the Asian American Institute. In 2010, he received the Chicago’s Cultural Achievement Award from the Japan America Society. And in 2014 he received the “Living in our Culture” Award from the Japanese American Service Committee. In addition to receiving the Illinois Arts Council Ethnic and Folk Arts Master Apprentice Grant for the XX years, he has received the Illinois Secretary of State Community Service Award by Asian American Advisory Council and also a Commendation for Promotion of Japanese Culture by the Foreign Ministry of Japan in 2017.

His Miyumi Project ensemble was chosen as the official musical presenters for the groundbreaking and unveiling of Yoko Ono’s installation, “SKYLANDING” in Chicago’s own Jackson Park; which also resulted in the group recording the album “SKYLANDING”, produced by Yoko Ono. And in 2017, the group contributed their unique vibe to the soundtrack of the Japanese American Incarceration film documentary: “And Then They Came for Us”, and released the corresponding album. In May of 2018, Aoki was honored as the first recipient of the “George Award”, for his years of support, recording, and performance with renowned American Jazz and soul guitarist George Freeman.

In 2019 Aoki was also awarded the Community Service award from the Asian American Coalition of Chicago for his continued leadership and contribution to the community. In 2020, he received the United States Artists Fellowship for Traditional Arts and also the Illinois Arts Council Fellowship Award for Ethnic and Cultural Arts, and continues to be active on all fronts.

$15 – Tickets Available at the Door