Feb 22, 2014

The Living Room Trio (Snekkestad, Strønen, Kjærgaard) with Makigami Koichi Japan Tour 2014



Makigami Koichi has organized a Japan tour of a European improvisation group called The Living Room Trio in April this year. This is the first time they ever play in Japan.

The Living Room Trio is formed in 2009 and consisted of Toben Snekkestad on saxophones, Thomas Strønen on drums, and Søren Kjærgaard on piano and synthesizer.

From their site:

Norwegian saxophone wizard Torben Snekkestad formed a new project for the Copenhagen Jazzfestival in 2009 called “The Living Room”. The trio consist of some very exiting musicians from the Nordic new music/ jazz/improv/electronica scene. The ensemble has now toured in Scandinavia and have developed into a powerful unit, with a unique sound, based on improvisation and compositional frameworks. The trio have also played concerts in Norway with the japanese vocal master Koichi Makigami.

These three young talented musicians are armed with strong individual improvisations, subtle structures, highly-charged grooves and interactive curiosity!

Makigami has been playing with the trio on and off for years, and at last, we will come to know how they actually sound like. Of course, Makigami will sit in all the gigs, and some dates will have a guest, Janmah Shimamura on guitar. Also, the tour includes the two double-bill gigs with Hikashu.


The tour dates:

April 23 Shinjuku Pit-Inn @ Shinjuku, Tokyo
April 24 Valentine Drive @ Nagoya
April 25 Sakuraza @ Kofu (with Hikashu)
April 26 La Mama @ Shibuya, Tokyo (with Hikashu)
April 28 Air-Gin @ Kannai, Yokohama





April 23, 2014
@ Shinjuku Pit-Inn
Shinjuku, Tokyo
open 19:30 - start 20:00
www.pit-inn.com

Shinjuku Pit-Inn, Shinjuku, Tokyo

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April 24, 2014
@ Valentine Drive
Nagoya
Guest: Janmah Shimamura on guitar
open 18:30 - start 19:30
valentinedrive.com

Valentine Drive, Nagoya

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April 25, 2014
@ Sakuraza
Kofu, Yamanashi
Other Act: Hikashu
open 19:00 - start 19:30
adv 4,000 yen - at door 4,500 yen
www.sakuraza.jp

Sakuraza, Kofu, Yamanashi

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April 26, 2014
@ La Mama
Shibuya, Tokyo
Other Act: Hikashu
open 18:00 - start 18:30
adv 3,600 yen - at door 4,000 yen
(one drink order minimum)
lamama.net

La Mama, Shibuya, Tokyo

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April 28, 2014
@ Air-Gin
Kannai, Yokohama
Guest: Janmah Shimamura on guitar
open 19:00 - start 19:30
yokohama-airegin.com

Air-Gin, Kannai, Yokohama

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Makigami's Spring Party at Yugawara on March 9



On March 9, Makigami Koichi will hold an intimate concert at his hometown, Yugawara.

Originally he was scheduled to play that day in Kyzyl, the capital city of Tuva Republic, but the event was postponed to October. Having already booked musicians, he decided to play with them at his hometown instead.

The musicians are: Makigami on voice and shakuhachi, Shika Udai on cello, Yanagiya Koharu on vocals and shamisen, and Sato Masaharu on percussion. You can expect a lot of music - from khoomei, siberian mouthharp to traditional popular songs of 18-19th centuries Japan (Edo period - wikipedia).

And if you live in Tokyo, Yugawara (or its neighboring town, Atami) is definitively worth to pay a visit.

Being famous for hot springs, Yugawara is one of the most popular spa resort in the greater Tokyo area, and it takes an hour and half from central Tokyo via train.

March of Yugawara is a high season for its famous ume (Japanese apricot) trees and people gather to see the splendid scenery.


March 9 is Sunday. So it's a nice way to spend a holiday to visit a beautiful place, take a traditional bath (there are lots of them), then enjoy a special concert. Moreover, the gig is admission free (donations welcome!). Let's have a nostalgia trip with great music.

Yugawara, Kanagawa - wikipedia

Hakone, Yugawara - GoJapanGo.com




March 9, 2014
"Yugawara Ume Trees Party - Musical Journey from Edo to Siberia"
@ Atami-City Izumi Community Center (Atami-Shi Izumi Kominkan)
open 14:00, concert 14:30-16:00
admission free (donations welcome!)
musicians:
Makigami Koichi - voice and shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute)
Shika Udai - cello
Yanagiya Koharu - vocals and shamisen
Sato Masaharu - percussion


Atami-City Izumi Community Center, Atami, Kanagawa

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Kyushu Okinawa Tour 2014



Starting late this month, Hikashu will tour the southern islands of Japan, Kyushu and Okinawa. Especially the Okinawa gig is noteworthy because this is the first time for them to play the beautiful isle. The first time in 36 years!


Tour dates:

February 28 - At Hall, Oita
March 1 - Navaro, Kumamoto
March 2 - Space Terra, Fukuoka
March 4 - Output, Okinawa



February 28, 2014
@ At Hall
Oita
Other acts: the Lunarians and others
open 19:00 - start 19:30
adv 3,000 yen - at door 3,500 yen
for inquiries, call the venue at 097-535-2567 or mail info@athall.com

At Hall, Oita

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March 1, 2014
@ Navaro
Kumamoto
Other act: Doit Science
open 19:30 - start 20:00
3,000 yen
(one drink order minimum)
tel 096-352-1200
sound.jp/navaro

Navaro, Kumamoto

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March 2, 2014
@ Space Terra
Fukuoka
open 17:30 - start 18:00
adv 3,000 yen - at door 3,500 yen
www.spaceterra.net 

Space Terra, Fukuoka

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March 4, 2014
@ Output
Okinawa
adv 3,000 yen - at door 3,500 yen
(one drink order minimum)
outputop.com
Ticket now available via Lawson Ticket

Output, Okinawa

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Feb 10, 2014

"Chakra Biraki" lyrics and its translation


Hikashu in NYC, May 2013.

Here's a translation of the words on "Chakra Biraki." The original pronounciations follows.


1. Tengoku Wo Nozokitai [Glimpse into Heaven]

Major thoughts and huge prayers fell into decline,
And everybody just hung their socks.
The practices of Inuits , the places to die in for African elephants,
and the muscles of Indians, all filled the socks.
Would you tell me the way how I should pray?
I want to glimpse into heaven,
Maybe even if it's disappointing.

There's such a mess in the heads.
The gum I'm chewing is also a mess.
Henzel and Gredel ate cakes and were taken in.
Even such perils have no meaning for such insensible people.
If there's Santa Claus, I wonder he let me know the way
How I should hung the socks in my room?
I want to glimpse into heaven,
Maybe even if it's disappointing.

Seeing the invisibles,
Please teach me such an enjoyment.
Hiding the visibles,
Please don't waste your life for doing as such.
An alley of Christmas, a carcass of Santa Claus.
The socks in my room has a lot of holes which someone unknown made.
Please let me know the way how I should spent the day?
I want to glimpse into heaven,
Maybe even if it's disappointing.


2. Mosura No Uta [The Song of Mothra]

introduction:
Welcome, everyone.
We are living in the atomic age.
But people, does that mean there are no mysteries of life?
Have all of its wonders become obsolete?
No! Life is not without its mysteries! Let's go up front.
This mystery is not a dream.
Tonight you will see the original life, the original mystery...
It is what I've discovered in my journey to the South Pacific.
I hope you enjoy the two lovely fairies.


Mothra oh Mothra
With thy everlasting
Mistic life
Respond to prayers of
Thy humble servants

Now resurrect Mothra
Gain a powerful life
Take us under your wing
Protect the peace
The peace is a way to lead us
Everlasting prosperity


3. Damekana?! [No Good?!]

No good?
No good?
No good?

No good.


4. Chakra Biraki [Chakra Opening]

Let me open your chakra.
Let me open your chakra.
Let me open your chakra.

Be here without a name.
Be here without a name.
Be here without a name.

A full of difficulties ahead.


5. Kibanda Bandana [Yellowish Bandana]

Bandana turned yellowish, bandana turned yellowish,
Bandana turned yellowish, bandana turned yellowish.
The heyday of youth has been over.
Mandara appeared, mandara appeared,
Mandara appeared, mandara appeared.
That's respectable.

It's hard to lead a social life.
Space and existence are just out of understanding.

Soap bubbles burst, soap bubbles burst,
Soap bubbles burst, soap bubbles burst.
That's a miscalcuration.
Infrastructure is shaky, nfrastructure is shaky,
Infrastructure is shaky, nfrastructure is shaky.
There's a supposition.

World economy is a mess.
The situation are still recognized superficially.

Tenioha and nǐ hǎo, Tenioha and nǐ hǎo,
Tenioha and nǐ hǎo, Tenioha and nǐ hǎo.
Wondering if the spirit of language is working.
The master refused, the master refused,
The master refused, the master refused.
The humorousness is irritating.

Bandana turned yellowish.


Note: Tenioha are particle words in Japanese grammar. It's actually consisted of four words - te, ni, o, and ha. They may be used as one word. Nǐ hǎo (你好) is "hello" in Chinese. See wiktionary for details.


1. Tengoku wo Nozokitai [Glimpse into Heaven]

Sekai wo kugiru ookina shisou mo inori mo chiniochite
Christmas no kutsushita wo tada burasageru hitobakari
Esukimou no fuushuu mo Africa no zou no shinibasho mo
Indian no kinniku mo sono kutsushita ni haraippai
do do donnafuu ni inoreba iinoka chikotto oshiete kurenaika
te te tengoku wo nozokini ikitai
gakutto surukamo shirenai kedone

atama no naka wa gucha gucha
kannderu gum wa kucha kucha
Henzel mo Gredel mo okashi wo tabete damasareta
donkan na yatsura niwa sonna kiken mo imiga nai
Santa Claus ga irunonara boku no heya nimo kutsushita wo
do do donnafuu ni inoreba iinoka
chikotto oshiete kurenaika
te te tengoku wo nozokini ikitai
gakutto surukamo shirenai kedone

mienai mono wo miru koto
sonna tanoshimi wakete kure
mieteru koto ni futa wo suru
sonna ikikata yamete kure
Christmas no uradoori Santa Claus no henshitai
boku no heya no kutsushita wa dare ga aketaka anadarake
do do donnafuu ni inoreba iinoka
chikotto oshiete kurenaika
te te tengoku wo nozokini ikitai
gakutto surukamo shirenai kedone


2. Mosura No Uta [The Song of Mothra]

introduction:
minasan yoku irasshai mashita
ima wa genshiryoku no jidai ni narimashita
demo minasan, kiseki wa mukashi no koto de shouka
soshite shinpi wa kotoba dake no mono de shouka
iie kiseki wa imademo arimasu
shinpi mo yume deha arimasen
dewa tadaima yori gendai no kiseki gendai no
shinpi
watashi ga nankai no kotou de hakken itashimashita
kawaii yousei wo goshoukai shimasu


Mothra Ya Mothra
Dengan Kesaktian Hidupmu
Restuilah Doa Hamba-Hambamu Yang Rendah
Bangunlah Dan Tunjukkanlah Kesaktianmu

Mothra Ya Mothra
Dengan Hidupmu Yang Gemilang
Lindungilah Kami Dan Jadilah Pelindung
Perdamaian

Perdamaian Adalah Hanya Jalan Yang
Tinggal Bagi Kami
Yang Dapat Membawa Kami ke Kemakmuran
Yang Abadi


3. Damekana?! [No Good?!]

damekana?
damekana?
damekana?

damekana


4. Chakra Biraki [Chakra Opening]

omae no chakra wo aketeyaru
omae no chakra wo aketeyaru
omae no chakra wo aketeyaru

namae no naimama sokoni iro
namae no naimama sokoni iro
namae no naimama sokoni iro

zento tanan


5. Kibanda Bandana [Yellowish Bandana]

bandana kibandana bandana kibandana
bandana kibandana bandana kibandana
seishun owatta na
mandara ukandana mandara ukandana
mandara ukandana mandara ukandana
sonkei shichatta na

shakai seikatsu mamanaranu
uchuu sonzai wakaranai

shabondama shibondana shabondama shibondana
shabondama shibondana shabondama shibondana
keisan kuruttana
infra fuandana infra fuandana
infra fuandana infra fuandana
soutei morattana

sekai keizai mama naranu
amai ninshiki kawaranai

tenioha de nǐ hǎo tenioha de nǐ hǎo
tenioha de nǐ hǎo tenioha de nǐ hǎo
kotodama todokukana
dan'na ga kobanda na dan'na ga kobanda na
dan'na ga kobanda na dan'na ga kobanda na
hyoukin sawatta na

bandana kibandana