Artist extraordinaire Daniel Rosen has passed word down from Tokyo about a major event taking place in Kansai this weekend. Resonance 2 is the long awaited sequel to Resonance 1, held in the wake of the 20th anniversary of Kodo’s world renowned Earth Celebration. In Daniel’s own words:
In the summer of 2007, musician Kaoru Watanabe assembled an eclectic and electrifying cast of artists to realize Resonance, a multimedia celebration of sight and sound that completely transformed SuperDeluxe, Tokyo’s premiere avant-garde arts venue. A former player and artistic director for Japan’s most revered taiko group, Kodo, Watanabe is no stranger to coalescent work, and Resonance was a tribute to his keen sense of collaboration. Under Kaoru’s artistic direction, tap dance wizard Tamango captivated the audience with his broad range of expression; vocalist Mio Matsuda stole the hearts of everyone present with her angelic voice; avant-garde cellist Hiromichi Sakamoto displayed a unique blend of rhythm and ruckus; and calligrapher Koji Kakinuma painted with frenzied passion. Framing this unlikely soundscape was an ethereal stage set designed by visual artist D.H. Rosen, whose floating porcelain tiles rang like resonant bells when kicked or prodded, and shattered into a collage of crumbs under the fiery feet of Tamango. Well over 200 people filed into this intimate art space to witness the magic of a truly once-in-a-lifetime show, and the vibrations from Resonance continue to ripple across the Tokyo art scene to this day. Two years later, Watanabe has reassembled many of the original Resonance cast members and called upon some new friends to create Resonance II: ‘Echology,’ a further exploration of the synergistic crosscultural possibilities that made the first Resonance such a success. …this time the show will not just be a Tokyo phenomenon. After coming home to SuperDeluxe on June 6, Resonance goes on the road the following weekend with shows in Kyoto (Saturday, June 13) and Osaka (Saturday, June 14). While a core ensemble will weave a common thread through the three-city tour, the players and stage set will vary from venue to venue making each show a unique experience. From the original cast, director Kaoru Watanabe will be performing on Japanese and western flute and taiko drums; NY-based tap dancer Tamango brings his own style of song, poetry, beat box and percussion; the magical Mio Matsuda lends her extraordinary vocal stylings to the mix; and visual artist D.H. Rosen of the famed Tokyo-based art crew Rinpa Eshidan will build a stage set that aims to capture the essence of this unlikely amalgam. New to the group will be Tatsuya Nakatani, a percussionist who has created an entirely original vocabulary of unconventional sounds and textures, and taiko prodigy Yuu Ishizuka who is constantly testing the limits of the ancient Japanese drum in a contemporary context. Celebrated Jazz pianist/composer Masayasu Tzboguchi will grace both stages in Kansai, while DJ/Producer Fencer hits the decks to open and close the shows. The notorious DJ Skinni Pants will also be on board in Tokyo, and unannounced special guests are expected at each venue. “Not merely a music concert nor simply performance art, Resonance II is an honest collective expression of the depth, breadth and even disparity contained within the different artists’ cultures and their respective genres,” explains Resonance II artistic director Kaoru Watanabe. “All artists are both at once completely at home and yet undeniably foreign to the country of origin of their art, and they’ve developed decidedly unique and individualistic creative approaches through disciplined study, extensive performance and fearless collaborative endeavors. This concert features a unique multi-disciplinary blend of music, dance and art, in the spirit of the acclaimed Earth Celebration festival on Sado Island for which I had the pleasure of serving as artistic director for 3 years. LINK
This looks to be one of the biggest events to hit Kansai in awhile. Check the link here and get a taste with some video from 2007’s predecessor…
Location: Urban Guild
Date: Saturday June 13th
Open: 19:00 / Start: 20:00
adv.3000 yen + 1drink / door.3500 yen + 1drink
Book your tickets on the UrbanGuild website!
Posted by Ted Taylor
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