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Once again Bangkok Airport, once again typing away to all you lovely people! My first "tour" of Japan (as opposed to a working residency) is now complete and my first "tour" of Australia (Brisbane/Byron) about to begin, after 2 years away from my country of birth. In this report I'll give you a brief rundown on what I got up to in Japan and what's expected in Australia, including my contact details there... BUT FIRST - a bit
of Website news. I have updated the following pages :
It was so lovely being back in Japan, especially after the ridiculous heat of India in April. My first day back was a perfect 25 degrees and I enjoyed riding along Kyoto's Kamo River on my mountain bike letting my reborn long curly locks fly in the wind and feeling so free! Kyoto is a lovely place, especially in the good-weather months of spring and autumn, and over the time I spent there I enjoyed several peaceful walks in the forested mountains just 15 minutes' bike-ride from the city centre. On my first weekend I performed in Osaka with Tadao Ishihama, a sensational young sitar player who started at the age of 15 (he's now 24) and Taro Terahara, a simply wonderful bansuri player from Tokyo. I hadn't met Taro before and really enjoyed his music. He must have enjoyed my tabla too because he immediately offered me a concert in Tokyo when I come back in September. Goodonya Taro-san! Shortly after that concert I took a 10-day trip to Tokyo and the surrounding areas to meet friends, practice with musicians, get better known and take part in the Earthlingz Golden Week Gathering at The Greenhouse, a few hours outside Tokyo. The Greenhouse is owned by a Chris Case, an American ethno-ambient DJ who's been living in Japan since the late 60's. It's a wonderful space for relaxing, eating good food and creating or listening to interesting sounds. For the 5 days I was there I was the main live performer along with a bunch of different DJs, and on the final night I had a great jam session with Kenji Sakasegawa, Japan's most experienced tabla players. During my stay in Tokyo I stayed in 5 different places in 5 nights, with more offers of hospitality untaken - thanks to all my friends in Tokyo!!! Back to Kansai and there was one very busy Fri-Mon weekend in particular, with 3 gigs and a party. First was with Setsuo "Jimi" Miyashita, a student of santoor-master Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma. (For those not in the know, a santoor is a bit like a hammered dulcimer.) The concert was held in Ei-un-in, a beautiful Kyoto temple with a lovely garden. The atmosphere was just magic and the music matched it. Jimi-san's music has a very "healing" quality. Following the concert, the temple monk treated us all to a large selection from his wine-cellar, including a 1972 French wine in my honour (I was born in 1972); the drinking went until 4am. I had 2 more concerts that weekend (with Tadao in Osaka and again with Jimi-san in Gifu) and I don't think the hangover went away until a week later. Luckily, once I start playing music nothing else matters, including hangovers it seems. On my final weekend I had two concerts in Kyoto, both in old traditional-style Kyoto houses, or "Machias". The first was a late addition, playing with a young sitar player, didj player and mbira player. As well as accompanying sitar and a didj-tabla-mbira journey, I played a half-hour tabla solo dedicated to Guru-ji. The audience were mostly 60- and 70-year-old ladies and I was very happy to find that they were totally enthralled by the tabla. It's times like that which make being a musician the most worthwhile - bringing something totally new and exciting into somebody's life in a really positive way. The following day I had a very sweet concert with Carlos Guerra, Japan's most experienced bansuri player (originally from Spain). Thanks to everyone who helped me with concerts in Japan! OVERALL, I'm pretty happy with what I achieved in my 6 weeks in Japan. I met a few new musicians, caught up with old friends, improved my reputation as a tabla player, played some lovely concerts including a very satisfying tabla solo, gave a few tabla lessons, sold a couple of tabla, and didn't make a financial loss, plus I got to enjoy Japan's food, drinks, nature and general ambience!
That last weekend in Japan with the didj-tabla-mbira jam was a nice appetiser for what's to come in Australia, with a lot more world music fusion projects on the cards, as well as several Indian classical concerts including tabla solos. Probably the most exciting thing coming up is "Bhakti". If you've heard the EthnoSuperLounge CD you will have heard 3 songs by Bhakti, which is basically myself with jazz/bhajan "devotional diva" Yani, along with guest artists. This year we're being joined by Persian singer and multi-instrumentalist Cieavash Arean which is really exciting. I love the combination of tabla with different voices and unfortunately, while the standard of Indian classical music in Japan is really high, I don't get many chances to work with vocalists there. Australia, it seems, is the place for singers. We're hoping Bhakti will become the "next big thing" in Australian world music. I'll be in Australia from June 3 to August 16. While I'm there my mobile phone number will be +61-415-106-428, home phone +61-7-3846-0115, address 19 Hove St, Highgate Hill QLD 4101, AUSTRALIA. For my concert schedule in Australia, please visit the Events page of the ESL website (hopefully up to date within the next few days) Love to all |
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| Receive Shen's Journal (with concert news in Japan or Brisbane) by joining the EthnoSuperLounge mailing list |
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