Tag Archives: shakuhachi

Shakuhachi & Piano Concert with Yoshida Koichi, Ikeda Ippei & Carmen Alvarez

Posted on December 6, 2014 by | 2 Comments

shakuhachipiano january concert

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 and covers from all genres! As an added bonus, our good friend, the flamenco singer and dancer Carmen Alvarez, will also be joining in the night’s entertainments.

Date: January 10th 2015
Doors open: 18:00
Start : 19:30
Charge: ￥1800
Place：Zac Baran 
Map： http://www.secondhouse.co.jp/zacbaran_access.html

Performers:
Shakuhachi: Yoshida Nazarov Koichi: kosuian.com
Piano: Ikeda Ippei: http://www15.plala.or.jp/Pianika
Guest Artist: Carmen Alvarez from Spain, flamenco dancer and singer: http://www.carmenflamenco.com/

See also: Video of Koichi’s band Yugao with Carmen Alvarez at Zac Baran

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Yugao & Carmen Alvarez @ Zac Baran – Video

Posted on September 27, 2012 by | Leave a comment

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 tapas. Here is a map to the location and Carmen says the start time is “19.00 or 20.00”, so good luck with that!

Here is the music. First an atmospheric number from the boys…

Then Carmen takes the stage in her kimono…

And finally the perennial favorite, “Spain” by Chick Corea.

Shakuhachi player, Koichi Yoshida is off to find fame and fortune in Europe over the next few months, but promises he will return to Kyoto from time to time, so when he does I’ll be sure to let you all know when Yugao perform in Kyoto again.

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Shakuhachi & Flamenco Live with Yugao – This Weekend!

Posted on September 3, 2012 by | Leave a comment

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 this might well be our last chance to see this unique blending of musical cultures here in Kyoto for quite some time.

Blending jazz, classical, traditional Japanese and Indian music, Kyoto’s most popular fusion ensemble forms something a little greater than the sum of its parts. Three years of tinkering with structures and honing sonorities have only made this new and arresting sound even harder to classify — and more difficult to forget. Don’t miss your chance to hear YUGAO, live at ZAC BARAN!

From the top left clockwise: Yoshida Koichi (shakuhachi), Ikeda Ippei (piano), William Prunkl (cello) and Fujisawa Bayan (tabla).

8th (Saturday) Open: 18:30 / Start: 19:30
9th (Sun) Open: 17:00 / Start: 18:00
Advance tickets: 2000 yen / On the door: 2500 yen
Booking: http://yugao-music.com/ticket/ticket.html

Location: Zac Baran is a legendary cafe/bar/music spot on the north side of Marutamachi a short walk east of Higashioji Dori.　Here is a map.

To learn more about Yugao and their music please visit their website. You can also view several videos of their performances there.

Links to the performers’ websites:
Yugao
Yoshida Koichi
Ikeda Ippei
Fujisawa Bayan
Carmen Alvarez

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Yugao ~ Pre-European Tour Live Concert @ Zac Baran this Sunday!

Posted on September 14, 2011 by | Leave a comment

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, unique, and unforgettable!

Date: 2011 9.18 (Sunday)
Afternoon performance from 15:00
Evening performance from 19:30

Advance tickets: 2000 yen
On the door: 2300 yen
Foreign Student Discount: 1700

Location: Zac Baran is a legendary cafe/bar/music spot on the north side of Marutamachi a short walk east of Higashioji Dori.　Here is a map.

To learn more about Yugao and their music please visit their website. You can also view several videos of their performances there.

Links to the performers’ websites:
Yugao
Yoshida Koichi
Ikeda Ippei
Fujisawa Bayan

 

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Yugao & Masayoshi Okubo at Zac Baran

Posted on July 31, 2011 by | Leave a comment

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 evening.  Details of Yugao’s next big show and of shakuhachi lessons with Koichi Yoshida are at the bottom of this post.

First a tune with the biwa.

Next onto bass guitar…

Yugao pre-Europe Tour Live at Zac Baran!
Kyoto’s most eccentric fusion quartet, Yugao, presents an evening of reflections on the songs of Kyoto.
Date: 2011 9.18(Sunday)
Afternoon performance from 15:00
Evening performance from 19:30

Advance tickets: 2000 yen
On the door: 2300 yen
Foreign Student Discount: 1700

Location: Zac Baran is a legendary cafe/bar/music spot on the north side of Marutamachi a short walk east of Higashioji Dori.　Here is a map.

 

Shakuhachi Lessons with Koichi Yoshida!

Koichi Yoshida studied Kinko-ryu shakuhachi under renowned pedagogue Yodo Kurahashi, and is currently an active performer of traditional repertoire, as well as rock, jazz, folk music, and improvisation. Whether solo or with his band Yugao, he performs frequently in the museums and tea-houses of Kyoto and teaches at 孤吹庵 (Kosui-an), his own shakuhachi dojo.

Tuition fees per month:
4000 yen for two 1 hour lessons
5000 yen for three 1 hour lessons
Tel: 090-8531-5515
email: koichi21net@yahoo.co.jp
Website: http://www.myspace.com/koichiyoshida

From the top left clockwise: Yoshida Koichi (shakuhachi), Ikeda Ippei (piano), William Prunkl (cello) and Fujisawa Bayan (tabla).

To learn more about Yugao and their music please visit their website. You can also view several videos of their performances there.

Links to the performers’ websites:
Yugao
Yoshida Koichi
Ikeda Ippei
Fujisawa Bayan

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Kyoto Sounding Out Vol. II

Posted on June 21, 2011 by | 2 Comments

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 poignant voices of ‘Deep Kyoto’…

Does Koichi have the right to use the term “Deep Kyoto” in such a cavalier fashion? Of course he does! He’s practically one of the family! Here are the details:

There are two shows at Zac Baran on Friday the 15th and Sunday the 17th of July. Kenichi Hasegawa will join Yugao on the 15th and Masayoshi Okubo will play with them on the 17th.

From the top left clockwise: Yoshida Koichi (shakuhachi), Ikeda Ippei (piano), William Prunkl (cello) and Fujisawa Bayan (tabla).

Doors open:18:00
Show starts:19:00
Tickets in advance:￥2000
Tickets on the door:￥2300
Foreign students:￥1700
People wearing Yukata! (light summer kimonos):￥1700

Location: Zac Baran is a legendary cafe/bar/music spot on the north side of Marutamachi a short walk east of Higashioji Dori.　Here is a map.


Telephone: 075-751-9748６

To learn more about Yugao and their music please visit their spiffy new website. You can also view several videos of their performances there.

Links to the performers’ websites:

Hasegawa Kenichi
Yugao
Yoshida Koichi
Ikeda Ippei
Fujisawa Bayan

 

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Kyoto Sounding Out　~ 京の音、世界の音

Posted on April 28, 2011 by | Leave a comment

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 long tradition… But it would also embrace the world with sensuous reserve.
This May 3rd, the Hitomachi Koryukan will host a concert exploring the profound tradition, and evolving possibilities, of the Kyoto sound. Representing the lineage of Kyoto’s musical artistry is shamisen player Mika Shigemori. She is joined by Yugao, Kyoto’s most popular fusion band, featuring music for shakuhachi, piano, cello, and tabla. Join us for a uniquely powerful, only-in-Kyoto musical experience.

Part of our event’s profit will go towards the Japanese Disaster Fund.

Date: May 3rd ５月３日（祝）
Location：Hitomachi Koryukan (Tel: 075-354-8711)
The Hitomachi Koryukan is on the east side of Kawaramachi and Rokujo Doori. Here is a map.
Doors open: １７：３０
Starts: １８：００
Tickets in advance: ２０００円　On the door: ２３００円　Foreign students: １７００円　
Disabled: Free Children: １０００円

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Yugao & Carmen Alvarez

Posted on February 6, 2011 by | Leave a comment

“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 them on stage! Not content with their current blend of jazz, classical, traditional Japanese music and Indian percussion – they have added flamenco to the mix! Here are three videos from their performance.

This tune, “Takeda’s lullaby” (竹田の子守唄) is a traditional tune from our own dear city of Kyoto. Koichi opened our “Voices for Umekoji” event with this same tune a couple of weeks ago.

Carmen Alvarez joined Koichi on stage for “Tribute to Kumano Kodo” (熊野古道に捧ぐ). I wonder if anyone has danced flamenco to this tune before? It’s an unusual combination – but it works!

Finally, here is Carmen again with the full band and their rendition of Chick Corea’s “Spain”. I  saw them play this last summer and at that time Carmen happened to be in the audience and supplied some hand claps and jaleo type shouts. This time she was part of the performance and she was beautiful!

Yugao & Carmen Alvarez are playing again tonight (Sunday February 6th) at Zac Baran. Check here for details.

From the top left clockwise: Yoshida Koichi (shakuhachi), Ikeda Ippei (piano), William Prunkl (cello) and Fujisawa Bayan (tabla).

Shakuhachi player Yoshida Koichi will also be joining folk band Udonya Mentei’s Super Band (another “Voices for Umekoji” participant) for a show at legendary live house Jittoku on Sunday February 13th. Tickets are only 1000 yen and the show starts at seven. Here is a map.

Links to the performers’ websites:

Yoshida Koichi
Ikeda Ippei
Fujisawa Bayan
Carmen Alvarez

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Yugao in Concert – Two Upcoming Shows

Posted on January 28, 2011 by | Leave a comment

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 Friday, here’s your chance. Koichi will be playing with his wonderful band Yugao in two shows on the 5th and 6th of February.

Yugao (夕顔 or moonflower) are shakuhachi player Yoshida Koichi, jazz pianist Ikeda Ippei, classical cellist William Prunkl and also their regular guest Fujisawa Bayan on tabla. Together they play an extraordinarily eclectic blend of traditional Japanese honkyoku, jazz, classical, world and New Age music. Having seen them play I can say that it is remarkable how well these instruments complement each other. The sound that they make together is unique and unforgettable: at times haunting and sorrowful, and at others joyful and wild! Here are the details of their shows (please note the special reduced price for foreign guests!):

@Parker House Roll
Date: Saturday February 6th 5th
Time: Doors open 6:00pm / Show starts at 7:30
Tickets: 2,000 yen in advance / 2300 on the door / 1,700 for foreign customers (for reservations call 090-8531-5515 ~ Japanese only)
Location: Parker House Roll is on the east side of Karasuma Street north of Gojo, south of Matsubara and opposite a Family Mart convenience store. Here’s a map.
Telephone: 075-352-8042

@Zac Baran
Date: Sunday February 5th 6th
Time & ticket prices as above.
Location: Zac Baran is a legendary cafe/bar/music spot on the north side of Marutamachi a short walk east of Higashioji Dori. Here’s a map.
Telephone: 075-751-9748６

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Shakuhachi @ Urbanguild & Zac Baran

Posted on November 2, 2010 by | Leave a comment

From the top left clockwise: Yoshida Koichi (shakuhachi), Ikeda Ippei (piano), William Prunkl (cello) and Fujisawa Bayan (tabla).

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 tabla.  Here are the details of their shows:

@Zac Baran
Date: Friday November 5th
Time: Doors open 6:00pm / Show starts at 7
Tickets: 2,000 yen in advance / 2300 on the door (for reservations call 090-8531-5515 ~ Japanese only)
Location: Zac Baran is a legendary cafe/bar/music spot on the north side of Marutamachi a short walk east of Higashioji Dori.　Here is a most convenient map.
Telephone: 075-751-9748６

@Urbanguild
Date: November 14th
Time: Doors open 6.30 pm / Start 7.30 pm
Tickets: 2,000 yen in advance / 2300 on the door (includes one drink/for reservations call 090-8531-5515 ~ Japanese only)
Location: To find Urbanguild, from Sanjo Dori go down Kiyamachi Dori (this is the narrow street running alongside Takase stream) Urbanguild is on the east side (left hand side as you walk down from Sanjo) after approximately 150 metres. It’s on the 3rd floor of New Kyoto Building – access by elevator or stairs. Here’s a map.
Tel: 075-212-1125

Click here to see video of their previous performance at Zac Baran.
Links to the musicians sites:
Yoshida Koichi
Ikeda Ippei
Fujisawa Bayan

Images courtesy of Yoshida Koichi.

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