Minidoka Swing Band

Minidoka Swing Band
2014 Sherwood Camellia Festival

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

One (1) more day - PDX to NRT!!!!!

 
 
Our dedicated leader



The Rhythm Section

 



Yuzuriha Family




                                Brothers
                                         
 

Rick


Mother and Son



Trombone Section


Husband and wife
 
 
Yuzuriha Family
Manager & Assistant Manager

 




Friday, October 30, 2015

The time is getting closer! Only 7 more days! Thank you to everyone who has supported our tour to Japan, to share our mission of remembering WWII Japanese American Incarceration. If you would still like to donate to help our volunteer musicians please go to http://mkt.com/minidokaswingband


Thursday, October 22, 2015

 
Only 17 more days - November 8, 2015 - Our first gig will be the Tama University School Festival in Fujisawa Japan! Here's their flyer:  https://sites.google.com/site/msb2015sgs/
 
日系アメリカ人市民同盟ミニドカスイングバンド
音楽で伝えよう日米の遺産と文化:ミニドカ・スウィング・バンド日本ツアー」特別公演

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Countdown continues!  Only 17 more days to liftoff - PDX to Narita Airport in Japan. Making our lists and checking them twice!  November 6, 2015 through November 16, 2015.  Our Schedule:

. . . November 8, 2015, Tama University International Studies, 1pm to 2:30pm | Fuchikawa, Japan

. . . November 10, 2015, Roppongi Chapel Center, 7pm to 9pm | Tokyo, Japan

. . . November 14, 2015, Minamisoma JAZ Mall, 2:30pm to 4:30pm  | Minamisoma, Japan

. . . November 15, 2015, Gotemba Civic Center, 2pm to 4pm | Gotemba, Japan

If you are in Japan on these dates, come see one of our concerts!  Email me at lcbaxter@frontier.com if you want more details, such as address.  :) 

Saturday, October 17, 2015

COUNT DOWN TO JAPAN

The count down for PDX lift off  with a landing at Narita Airport, Japan is coming soon for the Minidoka Swing Band!  Donate Now

We'll be sharing the history of WWII Japanese American Incarceration through narration, pictures and music of the era. We will receive no monetary compensation, all venues are being donated and admission if FREE for everyone!  But we do have costs such as equipment rental while in Japan, air fare, transportation, food and lodging.  Luckily we have received a $24,000 grant from Japan World Exposition 1970 Commemorative Fund, Kansai Osaka 21st Century Association (JEC Fund).  plus we have fund raised another $26,000 over the past 1 1/2 years.  Thank you to everyone who has made a tax-deductible donation to help fund our historical and educational band tour to Japan.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Countdown:  24 days until lift off from PDX to Narita Airport in Japan! 

Friday, October 9, 2015

Count Down is on!

Count down for the Minidoka Swing Band from PDX to Narita airport Japan28 days! Looking forward to a fantastic goodwill tour "Sharing Our Heritage and Culture to Japan" in honor of the 70th Anniversary of the end of WWII, Nov. 6-16, 2015.

Thank you to everyone who has donated funds to help our volunteer musicians with their expenses.  We will be receiving no monetary compensation for our performances, all venues are being donated and the concerts are free to everyone.  But we do have expenses for air fare, equipment rental, transportation, lodging and meals. If you have not donated and would like to, please visit our Minidoka Swing Band Store . . . DONATE HERE.  We are a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible, Portland JACL, EIN 20-1119931. Thank you everyone for your wonderful support!

Wednesday, September 23, 2015



Join us for an elegant fundraiser and concert at an elegant venue . . . The Adrianna Hill Grand Ballroom in downtown Portland.

Check out www.tickettomato.com for ticket information!  Hope to see you there!

Thursday, August 6, 2015

The Minidoka Swing Band's venues are set!

Nov. 8, 2015 - Tama University in Fujisawa

Nov. 10, 2015 - Franciscan Chapel Center in Roppongi

Nov. 13, 2015 - Lecture/Question/Answer Session in Minimisoma

Nov. 14, 2015 - AM-Jazz Seminar at civic center

Nov. 14, 2015 - PM-Performance at shopping mall in Miniamisoma

Nov. 15, 2015 - AM-meet with members of Osaka Grant Committee

Nov. 15, 2015 - PM-Performance at Civic Hall in Gotemba.


Help us get to Japan. Click HERE donate online. Thank You!

Saturday, April 25, 2015

A "Sentimental Journey":                        Help us get to Japan.  Click HERE to  donate online.  Thank You!

In observance of the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII, the all-volunteer and not-for-profit Minidoka Swing Band will be performing a concert tour in Japan during November 2015. We will be sharing an important part of Japanese American history through educational narration, pictures and music to interested schools and communities.

Based in Portland, Oregon, the Minidoka Swing Band educates and preserves an important period of Japanese American history by reaching out to groups and organizations interested in what the Japanese Americans endured during WWII.

The Minidoka Swing  Band  consists  of 18 musicians and 4 vocalists  who  play  and sing  such big band tunes as “Boogie  Woogie Bugle  Boy,” “Sentimental Journey,”  “Moonlight  Serenade,” “American  Patrol,” “Tuxedo Junction,”  “All of Me,” "New York New York," and many  more.  The Band  has been recognized by TV, magazine and newspaper organizations and articles, including the Wall Street Journal (New York), an Emmy-nominated story by KING TV5 Evening Program  (Seattle, Washington), the Pacific Citizen Magazine (San  Francisco, California), and many  more local newspapers around  the Portland-Metro area. Two of the Minidoka Swing Band’s  musical recordings were  used  in the nationally-broadcasted documentary, “Searchlight Serenade,” produced by KEET TV Public Broadcasting (Eureka,  California).We would love  to perform  our historical concert  at your  local  event  or venue. The not-for- profit Minidoka Swing  Band  operates solely on grants  and donations and performs  frequently at major cultural  events, conferences, parks  and schools  throughout America’s  Pacific Northwest. 

If interested in Sponsoring or contributing to the Minidoka Swing Band for this trip or hosting a concert, please contact:
Laura Baxter, Minidoka Swing Band Manager--1968 SE Bush St. Hilllsboro OR 97123--Phone: 503-640-0120--Email: laura@minidokaswingband.com or for Japanese speaking representative, contact Yasuyo Strassmaier, Assistant Manager--Phone:  971-300-2162--Email: ykstrass@gmail.com

Thank you to Kokichi Tagawa, our Bass player for creating a Japanese language web site.  Check it out. http://minidokaj.blogspot.com/ 

Minidoka Swing Band is an affiliate of the Portland JACL, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.  
Send donations to: MSB Japan Trip, P.O. Box 86310, Portland, OR  97286. 
Donations in support of MSB Japan Trip are tax deductible.
Help us get to Japan.  Click HERE to  donate online.  Thank You!

Thursday, April 23, 2015

This is a new blog to post information about out Japan Tour "Sharing Our Heritage & Culture".  Follow the Minidoka Swing Band on it's journey.