Japan 2019

Welcome back my friends,

I just returned from a 10 day whirlwind tour of Japan. This was a special visit because it included performing in some places where I have never had a chance to perform before. I’d like to share with you some of the highlights.

I began my tour in Gotenba, which is a cute little town right at the foot of Mt. Fuji-san. My dear friends Mikoto-san and her husband Take-san (and their two little adorable children) hosted me for my first 3 days in Japan. Their family has been growing high quality, delicious rice for generations and they also make amazing shoyu, miso and mind boggling amazaki. At the moment their website is only in Japanese, but you can check it out and get a sense of what they are doing there - Website Here

The first event Mikoto-san set up for me was in a Shinto Shrine. At first, when she first told me about it, in my mind, I imagined a small Shrine in the hills and maybe a few local folks (no more than 10) gathered for some prayers and a little music. So basically, a casual, comfortably small event. However, when we arrived at the location and I saw the tremendous scale of the Shrine and all the people beginning to gather, I realized that this was going to be something quite different. As it turned out, there were actually hundreds of people in attendance and I was going to be the first performer (Japanese or Foreigner) who had ever performed during the hour long Ceremony with the many high level Priests who do the chants, fire ceremony and special rites that have been practiced from ancient times…

“Oh my … ” and “Holy … ” my mind jumped in and went in two directions. One direction was, “what??? why me??? a white guy playing indian drums and guitar during this sacred ritual???” And then the other direction was, “WOW, what a tremendous honor to be invited into such an event. I will reach as far inside me as I can to bring out something true for these amazing people and Shrine.” Needless to say, I went with the latter.

It turned out quite beautiful and actually felt quite natural to be a part of something meant to honor a greater reality and stimulate the Spirit within humanity. Much like Indian Classical music, but a bit more formal. Truly a great honor and without a doubt, an experience I will never forget.

The following day a good friend and sarangi player came to Gotenba for a home concert at Mikoto’s place. His name is Yuji Nakagawa and is a Japanese man who moved to Mumbai India many years ago to study and is now performing not only in Japan, but in India with some high level musicians. He is a great example of what can evolve with some dedication and practice. So that afternoon we had a lovely concert and community dinner.

After these events in Gotenba, I traveled up to Tokyo and stayed with my hosts who were presenting the main event which brought me to Japan. Which was the 400 year anniversary of a Buddist Temple, Shougakuji. One of the wonderful surprises of the event was that it was a collaboration between the Temple, the family of Kayama Matazo, who is the famous Japanese painter who did the ceiling Dragons in a couple of Temples in Japan. And some years ago, while living in Kyoto I went to one of those Temples with my wife Ikumi-san and sat under one of his amazing Dragons. (more info here). His other art is also quite amazing. So being a part of this collaboration was yet another great honor.

However, during the three days of rehearsals with the performers for that event, I also had a performance with my dear friend U-zhaan (who is the top and most famous tabla player in Japan - great player) and on that gig just so happened to be Yuji-san playing sarangi (a nice surprise). That was a blast!!! Doing tabla duet material with U-zhaan is a treat because we both study under Zakir Hussain and have similar material and mind set. Yuji-san kicked major butt on sarangi as well that night, packed into the club with standing room only. Great gig!

Then, the following night I had a gig with Taro & Yuriko Terahara (my family in Japan). Taro-san is of course Japan’s premier bansuri (bamboo flute) player, but is also the artist who I collaborated with on my last Tala Records album “Black Swan” (listen here). On this gig, Taro-san decided to play Chartal Ki Sawari which is an 11 beat rhythm. Indeed a beautiful rhythm, but not an easy one to create compositions and tihais (3 part endings) on the fly. It was wonderful to play with him again and from that night forward I stayed at his place in Sakura Chiba.

So on to the big event for the 400 years Temple celebration. During my time with my hosts Jumpei-san & Yoshika-san I was able to spend some one on one time with both of them and really had a special connection with both (called GoEn in Japanese). Yoshika-san is a unique and powerful dancer who has studied many different styles of both traditional and folks styles of dance. It was great to once again get to accompany a gifted dancer. I always feel that dance is the visual end of what us musicians do with sound. And through Jumpei-san, I learn so so much about the ancient style of music in Japan called GaGaKu. It is a system of music with a history of thousands of years and is unlike any music I know. Until it is explained to you, what you are listening to, the music seems abstract and almost random. But Jumpei-san, who is a maestro player of the Sho (one of the main instruments in GaGaKu) kindly and patiently explained to me that each instrument represents an element in the universe. And once you understand what each instruments role is in unveiling the story of the Universe, then the door opens and a vast and mystical world begins to appear. Mind blowing to spend so many years in the world music scene and in all that time, never knowing that right next door, a musical universe exists which is as detailed and vast as classical Indian music. There are most likely many more parallel musical universes out there that I may or may never find the door to discover. Probably Indian music was similar back in the 50’s, before it was discovered by the rest of the world and started spilling out and sharing with the rest of the world. Anyway, it is a fascinating topic and one I hope to play my part in soon with the idea Jumpei-san and I had with creating an album featuring the Sho and some GaGaKu color along with tabla and the Indian world of improvisation. We may bring that project forward in another year or two and I’ll let you know when it is ready!

Now, rather than talk a bunch about the event, I think it best to simply share some photos below and then I’ll write a little more at the end. The first photo will be the poster for the event which includes the artists performing. But you’ll recognize ‘my brother from another mother’ Yutaka Oyama who is in the YO trio - also an album on Tala Records (listen here) and you’ll recognize Taro-san who also happened to be on this gig. It was like a big family party. The event was an all day event with larger events and smaller Salon style concerts with a final concert in the evening under the full moon (which you can see in some of the photos). I particularly loved the solo koto performance of Shin Ichikawa. I have loved koto & shakuhachi since I first heard them when I was about 20 years old. And yet he was pushing the boundaries in an inspired way (check out him here). Enjoy the photos!

And then the following day I flew back home to Colorado. It was a non-stop, amazing time (with some killer ramen too) with many dear old freinds as well as some dear new friends who I plan on working with more in the years to come.

Wishing you all a healthy and happy holiday season and I look forward to the next time to see you in person. Until then, blessings and lots of music to you and yours!
Ty