Music Archives - Deep Kyoto

Joshua Breakstone Jazz Guitar Workshops & Shows 2019

December 12, 2018 By Michael Lambe

Jazz fans rejoice! Guitar legend Joshua Breakstone has been in touch with news of his schedule for 2019. Below are the flyers for his ongoing shows in Kyoto and Kobe, and he also has news of some workshops he will be giving in February and March. Here’s Joshua with the details:

“I will be giving a series of workshops on 4 days in February and March in Kyoto, one for instrumentalists and the other for singers.

Workshops will take place on:
Saturday, February 3
Sunday, February 10
Sunday, March 10
Sunday, March 24

There will be 2 sessions:
13:00- 14.45….instrumentalists– Guitar and all other instruments
15:00-16:45….Singers

The place: Le Club Jazz (ルクラブジャズ)
〒604-8082 Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, 御幸町西入弁慶石町48 Sanjo Dori

I will lead and direct the workshops. Bassist Fukuro Kazuya (福呂和也) will play, assist and also translate when necessary.

Cost: ¥2700 for each day. For anyone who would like to attend all 4 weeks, if they reserve in advance- by emailing me (jzguitar212@gmail.com) or Facebook messaging– the cost will be ¥10,000 for all 4 weeks.

The idea:
Instrumentalists workshop: Learn your instrument: scales, intervals, theory, harmony. Blues. Ballads. Standards and learning songs. Improvisation- How we can play new things in our solos and take the ideas in our solos to new places. How to develop your own voice, your own way of playing.

Singers workshop: Singers should have an equal understanding of music- harmony, music theory, intervals- as the musicians they play with. In short, singers should be musicians, not only singers. We will work on theory, hearing and singing intervals, pronunciation, rhythm, learning standards. Everyone will have many chances to sing, we will explore new songs together.”

About Joshua Breakstone:
Guitarist Joshua Breakstone, from NY, has toured twice a year in Japan for more than 30 years as well as all over Europe, the US, and Canada. He has 22 recordings as a leader with such jazz legends as Kenny Barron, Barry Harris, Tommy Flanagan, Pepper Adams, Jimmy Knepper, Jack McDuff, Mickey Roker, and Al Harewood. He is also the author of “Jazz Etudes: Studies For The Beginning Improviser”, a standard text at many colleges and universities in the US and Europe, and has presented workshops in his travels throughout the world. Joshua moved to Kyoto in June of 2018.

Here as promised are those flyers for Joshua’s shows at Bonds Rosary in Kyoto and Basin Street in Kobe.

*Last Saturday Night Live at Basin Street*

Bonds Rosary is a 4 minute walk from Exit 1A of Hankyu Kawaramachi Station and a 30 second walk from Exit 7 of Gion-Shijo Station. Here is a MAP of the location.

Basin Street is an 8 minute walk north of Sannomiya Station in Kobe. Here is a MAP.

Find out more about Joshua and his music at his website: http://www.joshuabreakstone.com

A Traditional Live Music Show at Ran Theatre Kyoto

September 13, 2017 By Michael Lambe

A couple of months ago Mewby and I were invited to attend a traditional live music show at “Ran Theater Kyoto”. During the show we were entertained by a large number of talented and enthusiastic musicians playing a variety of traditional instruments from all over the Japanese archipelago. I found the show highly enjoyable, but the audience was a little sparse when we went and it seemed a shame that these hard-working musicians didn’t have more people to see their performance. They definitely deserve to be seen by more people – so of course I want to recommend them on Deep Kyoto!

The show begins with a rousing and passionate performance from two taiko drummers.

After that different instruments from across Japan are introduced in turn and the music and culture they are a part of is explained by an English speaking guide.

Each instrument is given a chance to show its own merits before the musicians come together for ensemble performances.

You will probably recognize some of the classic tunes: predictably they play Sakura, and Shima-Uta but also the theme from Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, “Zankoku no Tenshi no Teze” from Evangelion, and a sweet rendition of My Favorite Things on the koto and shinobue flute!

There are plenty of other regional tunes and songs I didn’t know though, some heart-rending ballads from Okinawa, minyo folk songs from Toyama and Hokkaido, and plenty of upbeat tunes and sing-along sessions too.

A sing-along session (often accompanied by the waving of hands in the air)

Be warned though that you might find yourself pulled up on stage too for a short taiko drumming lesson!

Ran Kyoto Japanese Music Theatre is performed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in the theatre space of the theme restaurant Ninja Kyoto Restaurant & Labyrinth. This restaurant is very central being located a little north of Shijo in the little warren of streets between Shinkyogoku Shopping Street and Urateramachi Dori. Here is a MAP of the location.

Doors open for the first show at 18.00, and the show starts at 18.30. Doors open for the second show at 20.00 and the show starts at 20.30.

Tickets for the show are a bit pricey at 3,000 yen (plus tax) for advance tickets, and 3,500 yen (plus tax) on the door. And the show does not include any food or drink for which you will have to pay extra. However, it is a very good show, the musicians are super friendly, and you will certainly enjoy this introduction to Japanese traditional music. For more details and to make a booking check out the Ran Theatre official website here: https://www.rankyoto.com/

Kyoto Soundscapes Vol. 1: The Kyoto Connection – Free Album Download

October 13, 2016 By Michael Lambe

A message from Facundo Arena…

In August, 2016 Roberto Gluck wandered through the streets of Kyoto recording urban sounds with his smartphone. On the other side of the world in Argentina, Facundo Arena has used those sounds to create a unique musical soundscape.

The result is an album of ambient music, made with urban sounds of Kyoto city which is free to download here: http://www.cultofd50.org/kyotosoundscapes/

Deep Kyoto on CNN Travel

October 2, 2015 By Michael Lambe

In case you missed it, my recommendations for what to see, do, buy, & eat when in “Japan’s most photogenic city” are now up on the CNN Travel site.

Everyone should visit Kyoto at least once.

It’s Japan’s best preserved ancient city.

Shrines, temples, palaces, gardens … the city is home to thousands of architectural wonders, including 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Geisha and locals wearing traditional kimonos aren’t unusual sights.

But Kyoto is a modern city with a dynamic music and arts scene, lively markets and restaurants serving the best Japanese cuisine.

There’s too much to see on a single visit — so we have whittled down the best of Kyoto.

Click to read the rest of: Inside Guide: Best of Kyoto

I had to put this piece together in a bit of a hurry last July, so it was a HUGE help that Jeffrey Friedl, Travis Seifman, and Mario Cacciottolo let me use some of their photos. By way of thanks, I encourage you all to visit their websites:

Jeffrey Friedl’s blog: http://regex.info/blog/
Mario Cacciottolo’s photography: http://travellinglensman.com/
Travis Seifman’s “musings on the arts of Japan and beyond”: https://chaari.wordpress.com/

Thanks also are due to Chris Rowthorn who put CNN in touch with me in the first place.

Jon Levy at the Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

December 29, 2014 By Michael Lambe

The other night we popped into the Ritz-Carlton hotel to see Jon Levy. Jon plays in the lounge there 4 nights a week from Wednesday to Saturday. As well as original numbers he also has a long list of popular tunes, both old and new for people to request from, so he is in fact a human jukebox. We had a great time picking songs for him to play, and for much of the evening we were the only ones there, so it felt like we were having our own private show. Of course drinks at the Ritz Carlton aren’t cheap, but the music is free, and in such a comfortable location it really is a pleasant way to spend the evening. Here’s an old Celine Dion number I requested he play – and he didn’t disappoint!

This month (December) Jon’s schedule at the Ritz-Carlton has been 3 sets from 7.20 pm – 10.00 pm. In the new year though he will be returning to his regular hours of: 6.20 pm – 9.00 pm. The lounge is on the first floor and I highly recommend a visit, if only to see him play.

The Ritz-Carlton overlooks the west side of the Kamo River on the north of Nijo Street. Here is a map.

To learn more about Jon’s music, visit his sites:
http://www.jonlevymusic.com
https://www.youtube.com/user/jonlevymusic
http://jonlevy.bandcamp.com/
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jon-levy/id332860828

…or follow him on Facebook or Twitter.

tRace elements – The Final Kiyamachi Tour – Video & Photos from Tadg’s

December 3, 2014 By Michael Lambe

Unfortunately, due to other commitments, Mewby and I were only able to attend one stop on Max & Ryotaro‘s final 10-bar tour of Kiyamachi. We enjoyed every minute of the set they played at Tadg’s though. Here are some photos and finally a video of my personal favorite among all of Max’s songs…

Up & Down the Ki’ – Two Extracts from Deep Kyoto: Walks by Michael Lambe

November 19, 2014 By Michael Lambe

This month we have two extracts from Deep Kyoto: Walks. Both are from my own piece on a musical tour of Kiyamachi bars conducted by my good friends Mark (Max) Dodds and Ryotaro Sudo in late November last year. On Saturday November 29th 2014 Max and Ryotaro will again perform this tour for the tenth and final time, so a couple of short excerpts from my account seemed timely. In the following passage we have reached Tadg’s bar, and the musicians and the audience are all having a splendid time when suddenly a song of Max’s induces a mood of wistful reverie…

Two extracts from Up & Down the Ki’
A Musical Tour of Kiyamachi & Pontocho with Mark Dodds & Ryotaro Sudo
by MICHAEL LAMBE

…There are a small group playing Irish music as the rest of our party arrives and Max and I, in honour of our roots, dance a little faux jig as they play. Max manages to persuade the fiddle player Peter Damashek to join himself, Ryotaro and four members of another local band, Dodo, who are due to join them for a full band experience: one fiddle, two guitars, an accordion, bass and two percussionists. This is going to be good.

The magnificent seven raise their glasses in a mutual toast and then play for us a spirited set that is one of the highlights of the night, starting appropriately with a Pogues number before moving onto Max’s originals. Everyone is dancing now, and laughing, the musicians are smiling as they play and Tadg himself happily taking pictures is absolutely beaming. I suddenly feel rather moved at the scene before me, for it doesn’t feel like a show as such but a big family gathering. And then they play Max’s “Glory Be”. I absolutely adore this song: on the surface it is a toast to a loving relationship that has yet outlasted life’s trials and turmoils and with that in mind, I feel a pang for my own girl Miu, remembering that time we swayed to this song together just a year ago.

Babe you know who I am
Without needing to understand
I am just a grain of sand…

As the day winds down the night winds up
And we will share a loving cup
Of the sacramental wine

Tonight though, there’s something else, I feel like the song is also a serenade to this old town and the people in it and that the band is raising a loving cup to us all.

Every soul will be delivered
Somewhere up or down this deep, dark river
Every drop of rain, every grain of sand…

And so another memorable night at Tadg’s draws to a close, and Lawrence and I head over to Urbanguild ahead of the others, as Lawrence says, “to get the pints in”…

In this second extract we have now reached Urbanguild and things are about to get wild!

…It’s well after eleven for we are running late and whatever performances Urbanguild had tonight have now finished, but the audience and performers are unaware that Max and Ryotaro are about to treat them to some indoor busking. Back in Tadg’s, Ryotaro was talking about “having a rest” and playing a few quiet songs outside by the elevator. But they don’t do that. And they don’t set up their gear on the stage either, but in the middle of the floor between the wooden benches. As the onlookers gather round in a smiling but curious half-circle, our rebel rockers commence to play. Lawrence pulls out a harmonica and joins them in his shy way, diffidently floating round the edges. He clearly hasn’t got enough pints in yet. But Max has, or he’s simply high on the music, hunched over his guitar and leaning into the mic, singing “Stone Cold Blind!” with a passion. As for Ryotaro, he is on fire, strutting about, teasing his audience with wild flourishes of the accordion bellows. The musicians are clearly enjoying themselves and their enthusiasm is infectious as the audience responds with appreciative whoops and cheers. This is the second high point of the night. And as they replay Circus of the Sun, the song takes on a new tone, and the blessed freedom they sing of seems both proud and ecstatic…

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Text, photograph and second video by Michael Lambe. Glory Be video by John Wells. Original song lyrics by Mark Dodds. To read the rest of this story, download our book here: Deep Kyoto:Walks.

To follow the tRace elements musical tour of Kiyamachi one last time click here: The 10th & Final Kiyamachi Tour.

About Deep Kyoto: Walks
Deep Kyoto: Walks is an independently produced anthology of meditative strolls, rambles, hikes and ambles around Japan’s ancient capital. All of the writers and artists involved in this project have lived and worked in Kyoto for many years and know it intimately. The book is in part a literary tribute to the city that they love and in part a tribute to the art of walking for its own sake.

About Michael Lambe
Michael Lambe is from Middlesbrough in the North East of England. He moved to Japan in 1997 and has lived, worked and studied in Fukushima, Saitama, Tokyo and Kyoto. He has been writing the Deep Kyoto blog since 2007 and doing odd jobs for Kyoto Journal since 2009. He is the Chief Editor of the Deep Kyoto: Walks anthology and has written articles for Japan Today, Morning Calm, and Simple Things magazine.

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To learn more about Deep Kyoto: Walks please check the following links:
About the Book
Extracts
Reviews
Videos
Interviews

Brilliant Irish Music on a Rainy Day at Eiun-in

November 10, 2014 By Michael Lambe

It was a cold wet day in Kyoto yesterday, but if you look hard enough you can always find some brightness, whether in a friendly smile or happy tune. Mewby and I braved the weather to attend a wonderful show at Eiun-in, a lovely little sub-temple deep in Kurodani. As we arrived the rain stopped and we could enjoy the scent of fresh autumnal air coming in off the garden. Irish musicians Niamh Ní Charra & Sean Whelan were performing, and it was an absolute joy to watch them. Sean’s guitar playing is immaculate, and Niamh, who plays both concertina and fiddle, regaled us with songs sung in Irish and stories about them. It may seem odd that a song can move you even when you can’t understand the words, but perhaps even more so when the words have no meaning to begin with! In one song, Niamh had us all join in with a chorus of Irish mouth-music: rhythmical but meaningless lyrics that employ the voice purely as an instrument. It was a gentle tune and there was something very touching about a room full of strangers all singing along together.

the rain lifts briefly
and grace drifts from Eiun-in…
Irish tongues lilting

Niamh also has a mischievous streak though. Here’s a crowd-selfie that she took just before the show started. If you look carefully between Sean and Niamh’s heads you can see Mewby and me right in the middle!

This picture by Niamh Ní Charra. Click to view her original tweet!

Altogether it was an absolutely brilliant show. I’m just sad they only played once in Kyoto, but hopefully they’ll be back. Niamh and Sean are very fine musicians who clearly enjoy playing together, and I pray that in the not too distant future they bring out a CD together – because I want one!

Here’s a final picture of Niamh Ní Charra and Sean Whelan playing a rousing encore with local musicians Hatao and Nami.

To sample some of the music for yourself please visit the following websites:
http://www.seanwhelan.com/
http://www.niamhnicharra.com/
http://hataonami.com/

Happy in Kyoto

April 16, 2014 By Michael Lambe

Look what I found! And nicely timed with the sakura too – what could be happier than that? There’s some neat skipping here. Watch and enjoy!

Jazz Band Fujiya Mountain @ 和音堂

March 17, 2014 By Michael Lambe

Walking up the Kamo river one day, we saw a lively jazz band playing under the Sanjo bridge that were so good we decided cross over and have a look.

They were young, fun and funky, so we picked up a flyer for their next gig, which happened to be on the following day. The location 和音堂 (WA・ON・DO) was convenient and the price was only 1000 (+ another 500 for a drink) and let’s face it, you can’t see many jazz bands at that price. So we decided to go.

和音堂 is pretty cramped inside so it was hard to get a full band picture, but Mewby took the panorama shot above with her i-phone. If it looks a little weird that’s because they were jigging about to the music. It was good music! Here try some!

They also had a support band, Cocopelie, playing Irish music. I didn’t recognize them at first but I have seen some of these musicians playing at Irish pub Gnome in the past…

For one song Tomoko Sato from Cocopelie and Fujiya Mountain played together:

A great night! This band are a lot of fun and jazz at that price is such great value. We felt like we had made a wonderful new musical discovery! Fujiya Mountain play a regular monthly show at 和音堂 and next month they are playing with the support of “jazz-metal-comic-band” Dead Hot Chilli Peppers. We are definitely going to see them.

Here are the details:

Fujiya Mounatin @ 和音堂 Vol. 7
Date & Time: April 29th Open: 7:00pm Show: 7:30pm
Charge: 1000 yen (+ 500 yen per drink)
Guests: Dead Hot Chilli Peppers
Location: 和音堂 is just off Kawaramachi Street on the north side of 竜馬通り (one street south of Sanjo). Here is a map.

I will leave you with the band’s joyful rendition of “Stand By Me”.

See also Fujiya Mountain’s schedule on their website.

Highlights from Aya Oto World & Guests at the Weller’s Club

March 6, 2014 By Michael Lambe

Aya Oto World play a free show at the Weller’s Club on the first Tuesday of every month and this month I went along with Mewby and our friend Kiyomi for a super night of music and live painting!

This time around the regular band members were joined by guest musicians TOM (from片山ブレイカーズ＆ザ☆ロケンローパーティ) on bass and Yusuke Takaku on didgeridoo. Shinpei Noda was the very excellent guest DJ and we also had a guest painter Keino (a.k.a. Milkshakey), working away behind the musicians. It was a very entertaining evening, and also very well-attended. The bass and didgeridoo performance impressed me with it’s originality. And the final “big band” performance was enjoyed by all – you could see all the musicians were getting a real kick out of it!

For future events please check the Aya Oto World website: http://aya0t0w0rld.blogspot.jp/

Highlights from the Bob Dylan & Allen Ginsberg Poetry & Song Celebration at Tadg’s Bar Kyoto

January 20, 2014 By Michael Lambe

Friday night’s Bob Dylan & Allen Ginsberg celebration at Tadg’s was a whole lot of fun. High praise to all the performers and musicians who took part and to our hard-working hosts Tadg & Mika McLoughlin. Apologies also to Mika for trying to pay the same bill multiple times. I must be more careful when supping craft beers… Here below are some video highlights I managed to record while still in a semi-sensible condition. I believe the next poetry & song celebration will be dedicated solely to Mr. Leonard Cohen.

Sailing Without the Wind: A Performance by Peter Golightly & Bruno the Bad Boy

July 11, 2013 By Michael Lambe

Billed as a “evening of music, dance and life”, this show looks to be amazing and it bears a very important message…

Peter Golightly has kindly written to tell us more about it:

“I’m a long time Kyoto resident and I’ve been doing the dance singing theater thing for better than 30 years here. Bruno has been around for about 18 years. He’s a performance artist who started as a go-go boy with Japan’s first western style drag show “Diamond Night” before turning activist in the late 90’s.

We’ve been working with a group called “It Gets Better” a support group that uses video testimonials to reach out to at risk youth to let them know that even though things may seem hopeless,　”It gets better”. Our target group is LGBT youth, but the program reaches out to anyone who may be thinking that life isn’t worth suffering through.

This performance is kind of a pre-performance to a project that I’m working on with the US Consulate (I’ve recently met with the Embassy staff as well). I’ve written a play called “Medea’s Daughter” and we’re working to have it performed at the Consulate later this year. Bruno will be performing several of my songs as a part of this coming project which we are calling “Conversations With Sappho”. “Sappho” being the protagonist in my play. “Conversations”, because we are proposing a panel discussion as part of the event.

“Sailing Without the Wind” is a two part performance, with both Bruno and I singing songs of pain, hope, love and triumph. Our song lists range from standards (Wonderful World, Close Your Eyes), to Japanese Pops (Makka na Taiyou, Tsubasa Kudasai), to Modern Pop music (Adele’s Someone Like You), to my original songs. Bruno will be singing primarily in Japanese, and I in English, but we each cross over quite a bit.

Accompanying both of our sets is my long time collaborator Kaoru Nakanishi on the piano (though most people may know his face from the DJ booth at various Kansai club events including Diamond Night at the Metro), and Junji Ishida on the violin. Junji is an even older friend who I am happy to be reconnecting with.

In addition to the two 30+minute sets, Junji will do a one man mini-set using his violin and an elotronic looping system. Bruno will conduct one of his notorious “Kamishibai Sing-a-longs”, and Peter will perform his latest performance art piece, “Sailing With out the Wind”, a tri-lingual (Swedish, Japanese, and English) song, dance and marionette piece.

There are two shows 2:00pm and 6:30pm. Each performance lasts about two hours. There will be a 20 minute break between Bruno’s show and mine, and drinks and “T” shirts and copies of my children’s book/play “Monster Time” will be sold.”

Thank you Peter! I’m very much looking forward to catching your show!

Performance Details:
Date: Sunday July 21st
1st Stage Opens: 1.30 / Starts: 2.00
2nd Stage Opens: 18.00 / Starts: 18.30
Location: Rokkaku N Building 6F (Between Tominokoji and Yanaginobanba on the south side of Rokkaku St. Here is a map.)
Advance Tickets: 2300 yen / On the Door: 2500 yen (Grade schoolers ¥1000, JR. high~ high school students: ¥1500, College students & Seniors: ¥2300)
Contact: petergolightly[at]hotmail.com

Joel, John & Jon – Acoustic Night at Tadg’s – Videos

June 5, 2013 By Michael Lambe

Triple J by Sachiko Stewart — This picture by Sachiko Stewart

Last Thursday Mewby and I enjoyed a wonderful night of musical entertainment at Tadg’s Irish Bar & Restaurant. An all acoustic session with Joel Stewart, John Michael Kuzel and Jon Levy, it was clear the musicians were having just as much fun as their audience. And the young and impossibly talented Jon Levy blew everyone away with his enthusiastic solo set. I really hope they all get together for another night soon! Until then, here are some clips.

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