Page 44 - ION Indie Magazine_JulyAug 2021

Marty Haviik: How many years has the band been together? How many albums and the title
of the albums?

Koko Matsumoto: Welp, long story long…around 2000, Bryan and I were both freelancing, taking
any gigs as side players. One of the bands we were in started to play at Sakura (local restaurant/bar)
5-6 days a week. The drummer, the head of the band left, and all of sudden we became responsible
for keeping the band going. We ran to buy a PA and called any drummers who were available. We
played with so many, but somehow, Ralph Gilmore took a liking to us and he stuck with us. We
were doing all kinds of covers, but that's around the time we started to play Bryan's originals. So,
I'd guess our prototype was forming around 2002-3. Our first album is called ‘Pink Elephant,’ second
is ‘Sobriety Checkpoint,’ the third is a live recording album called ‘Live at The Boondocks.’

MH: You sang a beautiful song in your language. What is the name of song and the meaning
to you?

KM: The song I did in Japanese is called ‘Ue wo muite arukou,’ that's so inappropriately nicknamed
‘Sukiyaki’ in U.S. To be honest, I started to sing that song out of necessity when we played at Sakura
(Japanese restaurant). I was always a player, not much of a singer, but Bryan needed some vocal
breaks, so I picked the song -- the only Japanese song that was known in the U.S. as well. Some
older people tell me they used to love that song when they were young. I've always felt like some
people would groan at this ‘foreign language song’ but more people tell me they enjoy it…and in
these days of live streaming, I feel like I'm singing to my family and friends in Japan as well.

MH: Describe the band’s style. What genre do you classify BDT?

KM: If we have to pick one genre, I'd say blues. What I think makes BDT unique is that our desire
to be unique. Since we are in Arizona, we are not bound by Memphis blues, Texas blues, Chicago
blues, etc., so we just enjoy the freedom to make our own. Like a jazz band, everyone improvises
solo almost every other song. Many of our originals have flavors like reggae and old school funk.
Our latest song ‘Rusty’ turned into cumbia. Speaking of Rusty, our one-eyed cat…we have lots of
songs about our love for animals. We just did a benefit for (Arizona) Humane Society at the Club
Congress (local venue) playing only pet-related songs. And dooms...lots of impending doom songs
in the mix!

MH: Well, alright. Thank you, Koko, for all that grand info.

Bryan Dean Trio…a fantastic blues/jazz group and they are always looking for gigs. Definitely one
of Arizona’s hardest working bands!

Website: https://www.bryandeantrio.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BDTAZ
Bryan Dean Trio “(It Won’t Be Long) And I’ll Be Hating You": https://youtu.be/EeW2suiMmJw
Bryan Dean Trio at Rockabilly Grill: https://youtu.be/TCNEKfSf36g