Cherry Blossom Cabaret presents Aloha for Haiti
at the Mercury Bar
Friday, January 29th, 2010
Doors 9pm, show 10pm
$10 suggested donation
21+

featuring performances by Cherry Blossom Cabaret, Willow Chang, Samba Axe, Bridget Gray, Dakini Dance Company, Jason Tom, Laughtrack Theater, DJ Jetboy and DJ Rolando de la Vega.

100% of proceeds to benefit Doctors Without Borders (http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org)

My first televised interview premiered on Olelo 52 and streamed live on Olelo.org this past Friday, October 16th at midnight (Hawaiian Standard Time). It will re-air and re-stream three more Fridays at the same time. You can watch it here on my AliveNotDead blog entry in its YouTube version (broken in 3 parts).

Shaka Talk episode 5 part 1 (of 3)

I provided live beatbox (off screen) for the background music of the Shaka Talk theme song, and I end it with a beatbox freestyle (impromptu) on screen. I describe the origin of the term "human beatbox," and explained the lesser known element of Hiphop. Part 1 (of 3) ends with a video clip of a performance I did for the Chinese New Year Festival at the Chinatown Cultural Plaza. I performed, "yŏu zhĭ qiāo zī diē luò shuĭ."

Shaka Talk episode 5 part 2 (of 3)

I get more into my Chinese roots, and story. Part 2 ends with a video clip of one of my live performances at the Word of Life Christian Center that includes "Listen Carefully (one of my beatbox originals)," the moonwalk, and my popular cover routine of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean."

Shaka Talk episode 5 part 3 (of 3)

This one I talked about Michael Jackson's musical influence in what I do. I demonstrated one of my earliest self-taught beatbox techniques where I utilize my Adam's apple to produce the vocal bass sound, and I also performed a snippet of a song from Michael Jackson's 1991 album Dangerous called, "Who Is It." I later talk about my encounter with Jin the MC, Far East Movement, my attendance at the ISA SF 09 and the ISA LA 09 concerts. I then capped the show off with a live performance.

Thank you for watching!

Lately, I've sort of stayed away from the spotlight and worked in the recording studio with producers and other artists on their projects offering my "beatbox"/producer skills. Prior to that I generated a buzz when I opened for MTV's America's Best Dance Crew (ABDC) season 3 winners Quest Crew for the Movement event in Honolulu.

I gotta say the 2009 ISA Concert was not one to be missed for me. I flew all the way from Honolulu and missed two days of college classes before our spring break to make it.

MEETING ONLINE FRIENDS and NEW FRIENDS in person:
I also met a lot of my online friends I've kept in touch with for more than several years and a bunch of new friends in person for the first time at the ISA concert as well. As a people person I enjoy meeting people at the rate of snapping fingers to a heartbeat. I do my very best to remember each individual I meet even though I often remix names like beats.

MEETING JIN THE MC:
It was also wonderful to finally meet Jin the MC in person... prior to this he knew of me as a beatboxer from Hawaii through MySpace where he seen my beatbox YouTube videos. When he spotted me from afar in person he acknowledged me as a full name basis as most artists do and that was a true honor from one artist to another. He also gave me a live shout out on stage after his killer ISA SF concert set. He's truly a humble individual even after his major success as an independent artist. There were others that I was also meaning to meet that I didn't find though. :(

MEETING FM:
It was also an major honor to meet FM (Prohgress, J-Spliff, Kev Nish, DJ Virman). I've been aware of FM for quite a while as well and loved their production on Jin's ABC Cantonese rap album. I also knew that they can put on a high octane energy type of show.

Wong Fu are cool dudes as well. ISA SF concert was a killer show! What an awesome way to showcase the new generation of Asian American talent. Yeah I'm not great with words when reviewing events, but bare with me. :)

JasonTom.com PHOTOBLOG:
I'll be working on a http://www.jasontom.com or http://blog.jasontom.com PhotoBlog about the 2009 ISA concert and my trip in the Bay Area as soon as I figure out where I left my digital camera connector thing to upload my photos as well photos uploaded by friends.

Stay tuned!

OTHER NEWS:
* My last performance with Pimpbot (http://www.pimpbotmusic.com) on "40 Patrol" at Sand Island R&B this past Friday night was off the hook. I really enjoyed getting down and being able to channel the kind of "high" energy that I admit was lacking during my most recent live gigs (something I'm hugely aware of and it sucks when the sound system does not compliment what I continuously aim for). I'm constantly working on consistency. :)

* New photos coming soon at JasonTom.com and a new PhotoBlog entry:
http://www.jasontom.com/media

* I'm now featured on the main page of:
http://www.asiantalentonline.com

* I also Twitter so that you may follow me:
http://www.twitter.com/jasontomdotcom

* I'm also on ReverbNation, add yourself to my mailing list, be a fan and a part of my street team:
http://www.reverbnation.com/jasontom

* As most of you may not know I am also the first on AliveNotDead.com to be a Featured Official Artist listed under the "beatboxer" category introducing a new category for AnD artists:
http://www.alivenotdead.com/jasontom

* I forget what else I wanted to type about (possible 2010 ISA Concert in HNL??).... oh well. I want to thank everyone on AnD for his or her support! I can't be doing this "human beatbox" thing without you and you and you.

Mahalo nui,
Jason Tom
http://www.jasontom.com