Yoshida Nazarov Koichi is coming home to Kyoto! After two years performing music in Russia and Europe, shakuhachi player Yoshida Nazarov Koichi will return to Japan this January, and play his first performance at the legendary Zac Baran! Playing once again with his former bandmate, the jazz pianist Ikeda Ippei, Koichi has a fresh new batch of original tunes, traditional numbers … [Read more...]
Yugao & Carmen Alvarez @ Zac Baran – Video
My apologies to all for the tardy nature of this post, but here finally are the videos from Yugao's performance with Carmen Alvarez earlier this month. Incidentally, Carmen will be holding a flamenco party and performance at the restaurant Tio Pepe this Friday, so if you like what you see below, you know where to go. Entry is 2,500 yen which includes one drink and a plate of … [Read more...]
Shakuhachi & Flamenco Live with Yugao – This Weekend!
Our old friend the shakuhachi player, Koichi Yoshida, and his band Yugao have an autumn show at Zac Baran this weekend and the wonderful flamenco dancer Carmen Alvarez is back from Spain to join the performance! You can see some clips of Carmen in action with Yugao from a performance last year here. A little birdy tells me that Koichi is planning to move to France soon... so … [Read more...]
Yugao ~ Pre-European Tour Live Concert @ Zac Baran this Sunday!
This Sunday, September 18th, our friend Koichi Yoshida and his band Yugao will play a final show at the legendary live music venue Zac Baran before embarking on their European tour. Kyoto’s most popular fusion band, Yugao's performances feature music for shakuhachi, piano, cello, and tabla across a range of classical, traditional and modern jazz genres. Every show is eclectic, … [Read more...]
Yugao & Masayoshi Okubo at Zac Baran
On the 17th of July I saw Yugao play a very fine concert with biwa and bass guitar player Masayoshi Okubo. Yugao of course already play an entrancing combination of classical, jazz, and traditional music on shakuhachi, piano, tabla and cello. With another player on board we were in for a very magical evening indeed! Here are some videos and images from a very memorable … [Read more...]
Kyoto Sounding Out Vol. II
Here's our old friend the shakuhachi player Yoshida Koichi with word of the shows he has lined up for July with his band Yugao and other special guests: Kyoto's most eccentric fusion quartet Yugao presents an evening of reflections on the songs of Kyoto, a joint event with singer-songwriter Kenichi Hasegawa and biwa and bass player Masayoshi Okubo. Come enjoy the unique and … [Read more...]
Kyoto Sounding Out ~ 京の音、世界の音
Our friend shakuhachi player, Koichi Yoshida, and his band Yugao have a show coming up on May 3rd with shamisen player Mika Shigemori and singer songwriter Fumiko Kojima. This is promises to be the real sound of Deep Kyoto! Koichi says, What would a "Kyoto sound" involve, aesthetically speaking? Certainly it would resonate with the austere, poignant sensibilities of … [Read more...]
Yugao & Carmen Alvarez
“Flamenco is a gypsy/Andalusian art with its own language, which is spreading throughout the whole world, from Andalusia to Japan, and reaching the depths of all hearts without discrimination.” - Carmen Alvarez Another fantastic show from Yugao at Parker House Roll last night, and it was made all the more special when their special surprise guest, Carmen Alvarez, joined … [Read more...]
Yugao in Concert – Two Upcoming Shows
UPDATE: I'm not sure how I managed to mess this up, but if you read this month's Kyoto Visitor's Guide you will find that though the order of events and the days are correct, the dates are reversed. Please note the corrected dates below!! And my apologies to all concerned for the confusion! If you missed Yoshida Koichi's performance at the "Voices for Umekoji" event last … [Read more...]
Shakuhachi @ Urbanguild & Zac Baran
夕顔霜月ライブ Our old friend Yoshida Koichi has two gigs coming up this month with his wonderful band Yugao. Yugao (夕顔 or moonflower) are shakuhachi player Yoshida Koichi, jazz pianist Ikeda Ippei, and classical cellist William Prunkl. The music they make together is unique and unforgettable. On this occasion they will again be accompanied by special guest Fujisawa Bayan on … [Read more...]
Yugao @ Zac Baran
Our old friend Koichi Yoshida's band Yugao (moonflower) performed at Zac Baran on August 1st. This was the first time for me to see him play with this band and the first time in more than I year I have seen Koichi play the shakuhachi. The set was an eclectic blending of classical, jazz and Japanese traditional influences played by Koichi on shakuhachi, Ikeda Ippei on piano, … [Read more...]
Shakuhachi, Cello & Zazen Live!
Our old friend, shakuhachi player Yoshida Koichi, has written to tell me of an event he has lined up for the 4th of July! On this occasion Koichi is planning to hold a mixed event of zazen and musical appreciation with classical cellist William Prunkl accompanying Koichi's shakuhachi. William Prunkl has practiced meditation in America under a Tibetan teacher, and is now … [Read more...]
Shakuhachi & Piano @ Jittoku
Pianist Roger Walch, wrote to tell me about a performance he will have with shakuhachi player Taro Matsumoto on December 11th. Says Roger, "Jazzy tunes, Japanese traditionals and powerful originals performed by one of Kansai's hottest units. Not to be missed!" Here's more blurb from Roger's site: In 2004 Shakuhachi player Taro Matsumoto and Jazz pianist Roger Walch … [Read more...]
Koichi Yoshida’s Autumn Recital
Our old friend Koichi Yoshida will be performing his annual autumn shakuhachi recital at urBANGUILD on November 25th. Together with piano, bass, guitar, sitar, tabla, cello and percussion he will perform an eclectic set ranging from classical to jazz, and film tunes to traditional shakuhachi music. Doors open at 19:00 Begins at 19:30 Advance tickets 2500 yen or 2300 yen on … [Read more...]
