The Nippon Club Summer Festival 2026 “It’s Showtime.”
The Nippon Club’s annual Summer Festival will be held this year on Wednesday, July 22, at The Penn Club of New York in Midtown, under the theme “It’s Showtime.”
The Penn Club is a membership club established for graduates and faculty of the University of Pennsylvania. The University of Pennsylvania is one of the eight Ivy Leagues on the East Coast. It is also known as President Trump’s alma mater. The library at the back of the lobby is named after Benjamin Franklin, the founder of the university.
The first part of the evening features a reception at the historic Penn Club, where you can enjoy a buffet dinner, socialize with fellow members, and listen to live band music. For the second part—”It’s Showtime”—we invite you to experience a performance by New York-based physical comedian Mariko Iwasa, followed by “Ryo Sasaki Quintet + One” led by New York-based jazz trumpeter Ryo Sasaki.
We invite you to join us for an extraordinary evening of entertainment that brings a touch of magic to a summer night with laughter and exhilarating music. We look forward to seeing you there!
【Date & Time】
Wednesday, July 22
6:00 ～ 9:00 PM（EDT）
【Venue】
The Penn Club of New York
（30 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036）
【Participation Fee】
Members $180 / Non-members $220
（including dinner, drinks, tax and service fee）
【Dress code】
Business casual
【Capacity】
80 Guests
*Please note that the registration will be closed as soon as it reaches the capacity.
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, July 15, 2026
＜Cancellation Policy＞
Nippon Club Members/Family Members
Cancellation up to 24 hours before the event: Full refund
Cancellation within 24 hours of the event: No refund
Non-members
Cancellation up to 48 hours before the event: Full refund
Cancellation within 48 hours of the event: No refund
5:30 pm Venue open / Check-in begins
6:00 – 6:20 pm Dinner (Buffet-style)
7:20 – 7:30 pm Opening remarks
7:30 – 8:30 pm Showtime
8:30 – 9:00 pm Raffle drawing/Prize presentations
9:00 pm Closing
（※The timing may vary slightly depending on how things progress.）
Clown and Physical Comedian
Neither street performance nor theater, this New York-based physical comedian entertains and amuses audiences with a unique style that incorporates “physical comedy”—featuring tap dancing and singing. She was a member of the world-famous “Ringling Brothers Circus,” where she performed as a clown for about four years. She toured across the United States and Mexico, captivating audiences along the way. In 2018, her performance as Snoopy in the stage production “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” staged in Syracuse, New York, was recognized at the Syracuse Area Live Theater Awards, where she won the Best Supporting Actress Award. Currently based in New York and Tokyo, she appears in a wide range of stage productions, including theater, orchestral performances, live music shows, and children’s events. She creates unique performances that blend classical tap, juggling, and slapstick comedy, aiming to bring the joy of circus arts and vaudeville to audiences of all ages.
Instagram @onlythismarikoiwasa717
Ryo Sasaki
Trumpet
Born in Tokyo in 1976. He began playing the trumpet upon entering high school. He moved to the United States in 1996 and attended Berklee College of Music in Boston until 2000. He studied under Tiger Okoshi, Charles Lewis, and Darren Barrett, and graduated with honors from the Jazz Performance program. After returning to Japan in 2000, he performed at jazz clubs throughout the country and dedicated himself to mentoring the next generation of musicians. In 2006, he obtained U.S. permanent residency and moved his base of operations to New York. Since then, he has performed at numerous iconic New York jazz clubs and live music venues, including The Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club, The Birdland, B.B. King’s, The Cotton Club, Smalls, Mezzrow, Minton’s Playhouse, Smoke, St. Nick’s Pub, St. Peter’s Church, Midnight Blue, The Garage, The Carlyle, and Rue B. To date, he has performed with many renowned musicians, including Bill Crow, Charlie Persip, Ed Cherry, Billy Kaye, Dennis Davis, Tadataka Unno, Joe Cohn, Ron McClure, Montez Coleman, Amina Figarova, Fukushi Tainaka, Toru Dodo, Michael Kanan, Grant Stewart, Jon De Martino, Greg Bandy, Neal Miner, and Ron Affif. In 2015, Japanese TV’s program featured a special segment on his activities and life in New York, which generated a huge response. He currently leads a quartet with Bill Crow, Steve Ash, and Steve Little, and has been performing every Sunday since the spring of 2023 as the regular house band at Smalls. He continues to perform energetically at the forefront of the New York jazz scene. His albums as a leader include “Ryo’s Trio”, “Joy Spring”, and “Pure Imagination”, as well as the trio albums with Bill Crow, “Two for the Road” and “Here & Now”. He has also appeared on numerous recordings as a sideman. In recent years, he has contributed to albums such as Maria Nives Riggio’s “Where Daffodils Have Their Fun” (2026) and Colin Heshmat’s “Elastic Groove” (2026). He has also been dedicated to mentoring the next generation, regularly posting instructional videos on his YouTube channel about jazz trumpet and improvisation.
Instagram @jazzparkrangers
Dan Block
Saxophone/Clarinet
Dan Block has a dual reputation in the jazz world. He is a mainstream player, yet is known as a specialist in traditional jazz. He is also very diverse, fitting like a chameleon in a host of musical genres on a host of instruments. He has worked as a sideman with Toshiko Akiyoshi, Maria Schneider, Ken Peplowski, Frank Wess, Tom Harold, and Wynton Marsalis (Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra). He is currently a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. In the more traditional jazz vein, he has worked frequently with Vince Giordano, Terry Waldo, and Marty Grosz. Quite a bit of his work has been with singers, working and recording with Michael Feinstein, Paul Simon, Tony Bennett, Linda Ronstadt, Rosemary Clooney, and Catherine Russell. Dan is a regular on the jazz party circuit playing every year at Chautauqua the past three years at Norwich as well as the Atlanta, Wilmington and San Diego parties. Block‘s clarinet and saxophone has been heard in a number of motion pictures, including The Aviator, The Good Shepherd, Revolutionary Road and Boardwalk Empire. He has also played on countless radio and television commercials. He has recorded for Atlantic, Arbors, concord and Music Minus One. His CD “Duology” received four stars in Downbeat. In the jazz world, there is a sadly a tendency to specialize on one genre pf music, one bag so to speak. We have the bebop camp, the traditional jazz camp, the pop-fusion camp and the avant-garde. Block is an exception to this rule primarily because he has such a passion for music. He chooses his own path and extends that passion to the audience. “Dan Block always sounds good whatever the call I’ve had the pleasure of hearing him in jam sessions and have worked with him as a member of Jerry Dodgion’s “Joy of Sax” and and he has performed with my Nonette at Dizzy‘s Coca-Cola room. He’s always on the case. Please don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy Dan Block” -Frank Wess
Gabrielle Stravelli
Vocal
“Ms. Stravelli’s emotional intelligence coincides with a phenomenal voice that she wielded with an easygoing confidence and impeccable taste.” – The New York Times Vocalist & songwriter Gabrielle Stravelli brings to every performance soulful swing, sharp lyricism, and a deep connection to the American Songbook and jazz repertoire. Her career has been defined by highly individual choices and a genuine connection with audiences.
Gabrielle recently made debut appearances in the Royal Albert Hall’s Late Night Jazz series, at Carnegie Hall, with the New York Pops, and made her headlining debut at Dizzy’s Jazz Club in NYC. She will appear at the 2026 Lewiston Jazz Festival in New York and at the 2026 COTA Jazz Festival at the Deer Head Inn. Last year she headlined the 2025 Battersea Jazz Festival in London, toured South America, performing and teaching, and held her fifth month-long residency at Birdland Jazz Club in New York. Gabrielle has collaborated with world-renowned jazz pianist Fred Hersch three times, most recently recording his song cycle “Suspended In Time.” She toured the U.S. premiering “Abyssinian” with Wynton Marsalis and as a U.S. State Department “Jazz Ambassador” since 2015, she has performed and taught throughout Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and South America.
Lumanyano Mzi
Drums
Lumanyano Mzi is a South African-born, New York-based award-winning drummer, composer, producer, and bandleader. Born in Cape Town, Lumanyano’s musical journey began at the age of six when his curiosity led him to sneak out of his home to watch his father’s reggae band rehearse. That night, fate intervened when he stepped in for the missing drummer, impressing his father with his natural talent. From that moment, his passion for music flourished, shaped by the sounds of reggae, jazz, African music, and gospel, which deeply influenced his self-taught drumming style. He went on to formalize his training at the University of Cape Town’s South African College of Music, where he graduated in 2017. Seeking to expand his musical horizons, he moved to the United States in 2021 to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, where he graduated in 2024. With an extensive performance history alongside renowned local and international artists, Lumanyano continues to push creative boundaries. Whether on stage or in the studio, he remains a dynamic and collaborative force in the global music scene, dedicated to innovation and artistic growth. Released in 2025, iThemba Elitsha (A New Hope) his debut solo album and third as a bandleader, is a rich and unique sonic tapestry that inspires infinite hope for a better future. In a world riddled with existential angst, contradictions, and uncertainty, this musical offering serves as a welcome tonic. Through this project, Lumanyano captures the complexity of his personal journey while reflecting on a world that is constantly changing amidst an unrelenting search for meaning and healing. ARTISTS WORKED WITH INCLUDE: Larry Klien, Sona Jobarteh, Terry Lyne Carrington, Kris Davis, Freshly Ground, Mandisi Dyantyis, Elena Pinderhughes, Sibongile Khumalo, McCoy Mrubata, Judith Sephuma, Ruth Tafebe, Luciano, Eric Donaldson, Half pint, Everton Blender, Nando Mitchelin, Gloria Bosman, Turbulance, Jah Mason, Tyron Downie, Drie Manskap, Micheal Bester, Cedric “Congo” Myton, N8N, Meta & The Cornerstones, Pam Hall, to name a few.
Steve Ash
Piano
New York City pianist Steve Ash is a favorite of those in the know – the ultimate sideman, and an extremely fine trio pianist as well. In his 40 years on the scene, he has appeared with Frank Wess, Jon Hendricks, Kurt Elling, Lew Tabackin, Chuck Israels, Sheila Jordan, Jimmy Cobb, Louis Hayes, Eddie Harris, Warren Vache, Harry Allen, Joe Magnarelli, Annie Ross, Mel Lewis and Vernell Fournier, just to name a few. He has performed in many New York City jazz clubs, including: The Blue Note, Village Vanguard, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Birdland, Smoke Jazz and Supper Club, Smalls, Mezzrow, Jazz Gallery, Iridium, Django, 55 Bar, Zinc Bar, and the 75 Club. Steve was honored to be selected by The Kennedy Center and The U.S. State Department to tour West Africa and France as part of The Jazz Ambassadors in 2004. His touring experience also includes performing at The Bern Jazz Festival with Warren Vache’s All Stars in 2001, The Caesarea Jazz Festival in Israel with The Harry Allen Quartet in 2006, The New Mexico Jazz Festival with Jon Hendricks in 2012, Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai in 2018 with The Bruce Harris Quintet. His recordings include: Steve Ash, “You and the Night” (2024), Steve Ash, “Once I Loved” (2014), Hendrik Meurkins, “The Jazz Meurkengers” (2024), Gary Smulyan and Frank Basile, “Boss Baritones” (2024), Ian Clever “Yarn” (2025), Pureum Jin, The Empress, “Square One” (2025), Warren Vache’s “Swingtime” (2001) The Metropolitan Bopera-House, “Still Comin’ On Up” (1986) Barbara Lea with The Loren Schoenberg Big Band, “Black Butterfly” (2006) The Neal Miner Sextet, “The Evening Sound” (2006) Fabien Mary, “Conception” (2013) Steve’s piano can be heard in the movie “Evening” (2007), accompanying Claire Danes on “Time After Time” as well as on the movie’s soundtrack recording, playing a solo version of “Pretend”.
Website: steveashpiano.com
Tony Depaolis
Bass
Bassist and composer Tony DePaolis, a Pittsburgh native, is known for his unique voice in both songwriting and arranging. He began his career performing with Horace Silver alum, drummer Roger Humphries, and went on to collaborate with vocalist Sandy Staley and guitarist Jimmy Ponder. In the late 2000s, DePaolis played extensively with rising trumpet star Sean Jones. In 2009, DePaolis released his ambitious debut album *The Contemporary Dynamic*, a two-disc project featuring over thirty-six artists. His compositions and arrangements have been featured on recordings by Charles “Poogie” Bell, Francesco Lo Castro, and others. DePaolis studied Film Studies at Johns Hopkins University and participated in the 2008 Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program. He currently resides in Brooklyn, NY.
Saori Goda
Actress/Voice Actor
