On Friday
2nd May 2006, I stepped off the plane in
CKS Airport in Taiwan with my band. I had never been to Taiwan.
I went to Taiwan at the invitation of my friend in Taiwan Ronald
Shum. Ronald and his band came to Hong Kong two years ago for
a show at the Ko Shan Theatre and through the introduction of
an intermediary, Ronald and his band did a show at 48th Street
Chicago Blues. We met only once in Hong Kong. I liked his music
and I could feel his passion for music and I knew in my heart
he is a serious musician; I could tell he is a young man full
of heart and soul. It was so kind of him to arrange for me to
perform in Taiwan on the strength of just one meeting between
us. Looking at the tour schedule, I would be playing in Sunchuk,
Taipei and Taichung. These are substantial distances between the
venues. It was a considerable undertaking as complicated as some
of my tours in Japan. But I could have not found a better host,
Ronald had everything neatly arranged, took care of everything
down to the smallest detail. I am most grateful to him. Without
Ronald, this tour simple would not have happened. I could not
have managed to travel those distances on my own, not to mention
all the gear my and my band members were carrying. |
Ronald Shum
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Ronald Shum& Shinning
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When you walk
on stage, you always want your band to play
their best; that is the best way of saying thank you to the audience
who came to the show. Whether you can play your best depends on
a number of things : equipment, stage experience, physical and
mental condition and the condition of each member. You want the
audience to see you at your best and you want to make it happen
when you walk on stage, we did not make it this time. But one
thing I know experience, every time I go on the stage I make new
friends. In the short span of a few days, Ronald and I have become
close friends. We travelled long distances everyday. We would
get in the van in the early afternoon and travel to the venue
in Roanld's van for sound check. After the shows we would travel
back to our base in Taoyuen in the early hours. On average, Roanld
was driving at least 4 hour a day. It must have been very tiring
for Ronald. Ronald's girlfriend Shinning, a keyboard player in
Ronald's band was with us all the way to give us support. Trevelling
together everyday, eating together everyday, hanging out everyday
we became close friends. Not only did we share our experiences
in music, we also shared our experiences in life. There was a
great sense of comardarie between Ronald and I. |
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Through
the introduction of Masato san in Osaka,
I met Aki san and Mr. DC Rapier. DC Rapier is the Chairman of
the Taiwn Blues Society. Aki san is the guitarist in the band.
Both of them came to see me at the first show in the Living Room
in Taipei. They are Blues brothers, we talk the same language
and we were instantly long lost brothers. I alwasy believe that
people who are into Blues belong to the same brotherhood. At my
last show, Mr. DC Rapier, Aki turned up with Isao san and Testsuihiro
san. Isao san is also a Blues guitarist. After the trio set, I
invited them up to stage for a jam. We had instant communication
and got the music rolling in no time. We all enjoyed playing together
for the first time. The owner of The Riverside Cafe, also a Blues
gutiarist come up to join us as well. I really enjoyed myself
playing with fellow Blues musicians.
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Aki san
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Mr. DC Rapier |
Isao san |
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