Neil Billington (from New Zealand) with ZZ'Z

Neil Billington Japan Tour 2017

The veteran Kiwi harmonica player/singer, Neil Billington, will be back in Japan this November for the 4th time—following last year’s Live Magic festival (hosted by Mr. Peter Barakan) appearance! Please come see him live and enjoy his absolutely awesome performances.

He will play 5 shows in the Kanto area. This year he is playing with the world-famous blues guitarist, Shun Kikuta (former Koko Taylor Band), and the emerging boogie-woogie pianist, Ms. Lee, twice, at the Bright Brown in Nakano on Saturday the 18th and at the Hideaway in Minami-Rinkan.

On the 21st, Neil will play with Tokyo's best pro support blues band, ZZ'Z. 

Also, this year he is having a rare jazz show with Japanese pro jazz musicians at the Sweet Rain in Nakano on Saturday the 25th. For the complete schedule, please see the flyer.    

■ Neil Billington has shown he is one of the leading exponents of the harmonica to come out of New Zealand, and combines a rare capacity for the traditional blues harmonica and the less typical chromatic harmonica. He is equally at home whether playing in the ‘Chicago-style’ of Little Walter, or the more sophisticated jazz sensibilities of the Belgian jazz great, Jean ‘Toots’ Thielemans. Neil has appeared with everyone from NZ jazz maestro Rodger Fox's big band, through to jazz combos and electric blues bands, and folk and roots groups. Neil's own band, The Neil Billington Band, is a regular favourite in NZ's capital city, Wellington. Billington covers a range of genres, from old-time pre-war blues, through all the great Chicago blues harp masters, to the ballads of the American song-book and the jazz standards of Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. His is a remarkable versatility on a demanding instrument, showing at times a formidable virtuosity with a deep soulfulness that comes from playing the music he loves. The most typical response he draws from fans at his performances is – “I didn’t know the harmonica could sound like that!” ■

For more details, please see the following Facebook page:

  https://www.facebook.com/mikeandneiljapan2015?ref=aymt_homepage_panel