A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post about Brent Birckhead’s appearances on NPR’s Tiny Desk concerts. Today, we’re staying in the same format—but heading to the other side of the globe, for the Japanese edition of the iconic concert series.
The latest episode of tiny desk concerts Japan, produced by NHK World, features none other than ASKA — a true legend of Japanese pop music. With a career spanning more than 40 years, ASKA is known not only in Japan but across Asia, with recent tours taking him to Malaysia, Taiwan, and beyond. For this special session filmed at NHK’s Tokyo headquarters, he brought along a powerhouse nine-piece band to deliver an intimate and emotionally charged performance.
Among the musicians on stage: our very own David Negrete on tenor saxophone. Originally from Long Beach, California, David built his musical foundation in San Diego, studying with mentors like Charles McPherson and Kamau Kenyatta. After graduating from Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, he moved to New York to pursue his performance career, eventually settling in Japan where he became an integral part of the local scene.
Over the years, David has played with artists such as David Foster, Miho Hazama, MISIA and, of course, ASKA. Known for his versatility and expressive tone, he performs across genres ranging from jazz to orchestral pop. He joined the Syos roster recently, and we’re proud to see him take part in such a high-profile and beautifully produced concert.
Click on the image to watch the video on YouTube
David plays on a Spark mouthpiece for tenor saxophone from our collection Originals.
