Track Listings (10) - Disc #1| All Artists: Agatsuma Title: Beyond Members Wishing: 0 Total Copies: 0 Label: Domo Records Release Date: 3/9/2004 Genres: International Music, Jazz, New Age, Pop Styles: Far East & Asia, Jazz Fusion, Traditional Jazz & Ragtime Number of Discs: 1 SwapaCD Credits: 1 UPCs: 794017302928, 0794017302928 |
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Search - Agatsuma :: Beyond
 | Agatsuma Beyond Genres: International Music, Jazz, New Age, Pop
Fusing the soul and softly plaintive twang of traditional Tsugaru-shamisen with an informed mastery of contemporary Western musical idioms, Agatsuma?s US debut release in 2003, Beams, was a landmark in the East-meets-West ... more » |
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Album Description Fusing the soul and softly plaintive twang of traditional Tsugaru-shamisen with an informed mastery of contemporary Western musical idioms, Agatsuma?s US debut release in 2003, Beams, was a landmark in the East-meets-West appeal of the art form that is "unusually exotic, yet familiar at the same time." Agatsuma?s latest work, Beyond, is comprised of wholly original material, and injects shamisen with elements of rock, jazz, techno, funk, urban and Latin grooves. While modernizing the basics of the ancient genre for today?s audiences, Agatsuma has said, "I am careful ?to not make the shamisen sound too much like the guitar but maintain its unique phrases and accents?I try not to leave the basics behind." That commitment is immediately apparent with Beyond, which both honors tradition and pushes the artistic envelope of shamisen. Similarly Requested CDs
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CD ReviewsTraditional kicked up a couple of notches medievalcrusadesbabe | Ohio USA | 04/30/2004 (4 out of 5 stars) "As an introduction to the Western Market, Agatsuma is a Tsugaru shamisen master who is fueling the latest craze in
Japan. A Tsugaru shamisen is a banjo-like, fretless, three stringed instrument. Agatsuma was a child prodigy with the shamisen by age 4 and at age 14 won the top prize in Japan's most prestigious national competition. He is described as a true master of the instrument with a `rock star stance'. This CD introduces Agatsuma to the western ear, with the traditional feel of the Japanese shamisen backed up with various western beats yet retaining a very Japanese feel to the music. The music varies in flavor, as in the track "An End of Sorrow' where the accompanying instrument is an accordion, giving it a very `French' flavor. We are presented with a jazz/pop feeling in `Dawnlight' and jazz/funk in `Shami's Groove'. There is a very traditional feel in `Heartbeat', a very soft, romantic ballad in `Tears' while being very powerful in `Panther. The material is all original compositions, and you can easily identify the influences of rock, jazz and even Latin beats. They are expertly interwoven into the compositions, never detracting from the very definite Japanese texture to the music. This is a very good introduction to the shamisen by a master not only of the instrument itself but also in composition to highlight the artist's ability to incorporate it into modern music. You can easily understand how this instrument has gone into a revival in Japan. Agatsuma very effectively brings the past to meet the present in these compositions. If you are enchanted with the current introduction of Oriental music into the US as I am, this is a great addition to your collection. It is also a wonderful introduction to the Western Ear of an instrument that has found a place in modern music. maf" |
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