Main Stage

at Wesley United Methodist Church


Opening Address and Prayer (2:20pm)


Wesley Jazz Ensemble (2:30pm)

WESLEY JAZZ ENSEMBLE originally started in 1996 and was comprised mainly of Scouts and a few adult leaders from Troop 201. The Band’s first performance was for Reverend Chen’s Retirement Party at the Scottish Rites Temple in San Jose at which time the Band consisted of three violins, one tuba, three horns, one guitar, and a drum machine. With the addition of new Scouts, the Band became a full stage band with five saxophones, nine brass, and full rhythm section with six players. However, as the Scouts completed their Scouting careers and moved on to college, the adults were the only remaining players. Over the past years, the Band has evolved with the addition of new musicians, and is now made up of seven horns, a full rhythm section (five players), and four vocalists together with a master of ceremonies.

The Band’s music encompasses a variety of songs including the big band hits of the swing era, jazz, blues, Dixieland, Latin, rock and roll, J-pop hits, Motown and today’s popular tunes, as our purpose is to provide a range of music to reach people of all ages.

Wayne Adachi, Director/Trombone
Len Fujita, Tenor Sax
Ted Hasegawa, Trumpet/Vocalist
Michael Yoshihara, Alto/Soprano/Bari Sax
Marilyn Hasegawa, Keyboard
Peter Horikoshi, Guitar, Vocalist
Grant Shimizu, Guitar
Darryl Noda, Vocalist, Guitar
Shizuko Adachi, Vocalist
Dave Brown, Trombone
Duane Takahashi, Alto/Tenor Sax, Flute
Wendy Horikoshi, Flute, Vocalist
Ichiro Bakoshi, Bass
Todd Soo Hoo, Drums
Jeff Leap, Vocalist

Masaru Koga and Friends (3:25pm)

Award-winning, multi-instrumentalist, MASARU KOGA considers himself a product of the Japanese corporate globalization movement of the 1970's. Born in Chiba, Japan, his childhood and teenage years were spent in Japan, the U.S. and West Germany. At a very young age, Masaru took deep interest in jazz music, listening to legends like Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong and Sadao Watanabe.

Masaru has a BA degree in Improvised Music Studies from San Jose State University. He has traveled, recorded, and performed nationally with artists such as Hafez Modirzadeh, Francis Wong, Anthony Brown, Royal Hartigan, John Carlos Perea, Wayne Wallace, Kat Parra, and Fred Ho. In 2010, Masaru received the "The Latin Jazz Corner Best Of 2010 Awards" in the "Latin Jazz Flautist Of The Year" category.

Masaru's goal is to create music that respects traditions and goes beyond styles and idioms, to ultimately help diminish all forms of social boundaries.

Masaru Koga, Sax/Flute/Shakuhachi/Percussions
Kirk Tamura, Piano
Satoru Tagawa, Bass
Kirk Abe, Drums

Report from 2014 Tohoku Visit (4:20pm)

Wesley United Methodist Church Youth Team

Ayako Hosokawa (4:45pm)

AYAKO HOSOKAWA is a well-known performing artist in the Bay Area Japanese American community thanks to her generous commitments to benefit community organizations as well as her prominence in the international jazz music scene.

At the age of 14, she was already performing in the American military clubs in Japan, picking up the English language by singing international pop songs of that time. She moved to the United States and was discovered by Earl "Fatha" Hines. She developed a following of enthusiastic American fans by touring San Francisco, Las Vegas, Montreal and throughout California, performing in clubs, at local radio stations and on television. Also, due to her recordings for the legendary Japanese jazz music label, Three Blind Mice, she became one of the best-known pop and jazz singers throughout Japan. In the '80s, she started a roving life between the United States and Japan. She continues to tour Japan twice a year where she plays in jazz festivals and club dates.

Ayako Hosokawa, Vocals
Shota Osabe, Piano
Noriyuki "Ken" Okada, Bass
Akira Tana, Drums