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27.12.2003 |
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Cello Suites
Yasuaki Shimizu & Saxophonettes
double DVD-Audio release
The DVD-Audio edition of Shimizu's saxophone
renditions of J.S. Bach's Cello Suites 1-6. The two-disc set offers an even
purer, almost three-dimensional experience of the six breathtaking
soundscapes,
previously
released on two separate CDs, in high-end sound quality. The DVD also includes
36 photographs by artist Simon James.
Please note that DVD-Audio does not play on conventional CD or DVD players.
36 tracks
2 channels; sampling rate 192Hz
Released 17 December
Victor VIAL-60007-8 |
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21.11.2003 |
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Rock 'n' Pop
Smooth Ace's American and European rock/pop
cover
album produced by Yasuaki Shimizu
The album contains Police's "Every Breath You
Take,"
PIL's "Public Image," and seven other tunes rendered with Shimizu's
special treatment.
| Bohemian Rhapsody |
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Every Breath You Take |
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You've Got a Friend |
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Released 19 November
Toshiba
EMI TOCT-25215 |
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6.11.2003 |
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ART iT
Bilingual art magazine launched 17 October
Recommended for art lovers and those merely interested in the driving
force behind creative culture alike: "Japan's first bilingual quarterly of
genuine (and genuinely rude) art journalism," ART iT.
The fact that such a magazine finally surfaced in Japan alone deserves applause,
and this is a quality read to boot! Little wonder, considering that the brain
behind it is REALTOKYO editor Tetsuya Ozaki... Volume 1
features interviews with Yoko Ono and Jonas Mekas, seasoned with REALTOKYO esque
selective criticism and
presented with ASYL's visual flair. |
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30.10.2003 |
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Utakata No Hibi/Marginal Love/IQ179/Kakashi/L'Automne
à Pékin
The long-awaited reissues
of albums by Mariah, Yasuaki Shimizu and
Yasuaki Shimizu & Saxophonettes
Reissued 22 October |
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Mariah: Utakata
No Hibi
Mariah's last album. Colorful sound and bold experimentalism revealing
a different facet of the band.
ABCS-43
1983 original release
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Mariah: Marginal Love
Recorded in Tokyo and Los Angeles; representative
of early Mariah. Tracks 7 and 8 feature Steve Lukather from Toto.
Excellent progressive rock made in Japan!
ABCS-44
1981 original release
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Reissued 27 November
Yasuaki Shimizu: IQ179
Along with members of Mariah, guest artists included musicians at the forefront of the music scene: Ryuichi Sakamoto and Minako Yoshida. Shimizu's vocals on "Hako" and "Shashin" are a rare treat! One might sense the budding stages of approaches Shimizu would develop from Kakashi forward. Available for the first time on CD!
ABCS-46
1981 original release
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Yasuaki Shimizu: Kakashi
Kakashi has its foundation in
a minimal, dub-style approach, and a central thread of stories with
simple conclusions told
like haiku poems running through the entire
album.
ABCS-47
1982 original release
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Yasuaki Shimizu & Saxophonettes: L'Automne
à Pékin
Named after the novel by Boris Vian, this
album includes compositions by Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and Matt Dennis.
Shimizu's tenor saxophone, Ryuichi Sakamoto's piano, and the elaborate
rhythmic sessions of drummer Hideo Yamaki and bassist Morio Watanabe create
a brilliant sound that has earned this title high acclaim.
ABCS-48
1983 original release
The above six titles are now available from Absord
Music Japan.
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1.10.2003 |
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Before Night Falls
I'm late again here, but these Latin men are no less
attractive for it... Julian Schnabel's 2001 film is now available on DVD here
in Japan. If you haven't had the privilege, see it now; if you have, see it again!
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20.8.2003 |
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Weekend Japanology
Yasuaki Shimizu features in the
program's
music section
While most media tend to introduce Japanese
culture
in stereotypical ways, Weekend Japanology is approaches the subject
from a new and different angle, presenting the "real
Japan" that has so far escaped the limelight.
The program is in English with Japanese on the sub-channel.
Program navigators: Peter Barakan and Yuka Nukina
NHK WORLD TV
5/9 (Fri),
7/9 (Sun),
8/9 (Mon)
Weekend Japanology
NHK World Premium
6/9 (Sat) |
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5.6.2003 |
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Cinefil Imagica
If you are lucky enough to receive Cinefil
Imagica movie channel, you can now hear three new tracks by Yasuaki
Shimizu...
...including a brilliant number with
Suzi
Kim
on vocals singing
Chopin's "Prelude"!
Shimizu has composed countless sound clips for the channel since its launch,
a number of which are included in the Cinefil
album.
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Spy Kids
Perhaps it's a bit late, but I wanted to mention
that I liked the Spy Kids movies—a lot.
Surprised? Nobody around here seems to concur with me on this one, but I'd venture
to say they just didn't get the true meaning.
No doubt these two films have given Antonio Banderas stocks a boost.
Feel free to click "POST A MESSAGE" if you'd like to discuss this topic.
Directed by Robert Rodriguez (2001/2002) |
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11.4.2003 |
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Noam Chomsky
Not so much a personal recommendation as something everyone should read: I suggest you pick up a few of Noam Chomsky's numerous books and see what he has to say about the USA.
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3.4.2003 |
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Tropici di Vetro
Koji Ueno produced by Yasuaki Shimizu
Pianist/composer Koji Ueno first made his mark on the Japanese music scene at the side of Jun Togawa, performing as part of the legendary Guernica. Following the unit's brilliant achievements, Ueno expanded his activities from classical to contemporary, and from jazz to avant-garde, and recently to film soundtracks, ballet suites, and more.
Ueno introduces on this album an orchestra of 15 musicians based on a quintet lineup, turning his focus once again to "jazz."
Koji Ueno (p, org, cem), Yasuaki Shimizu
(t. sax), Akihito Masui (tb), Takayoshi Matsunaga (b), Tomoo Tsuruya (ds), et
al.
Released 28 April
7 tracks/68 min.
ZIZO label SHCZ-0023 |
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13.3.2003 |
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REALTOKYO
Bach-SaxOrgan-Space concert review
Tetsuya Ozaki, editor-in-chief of REALTOKYO culture
Web magazine, wrote about Yasuaki Shimizu's concert at Art Tower Mito in volume
058 ("Music For Museums") of his column "Out of Tokyo."
Click here
to read his review and see pictures of the performance.
For more photos please click the image on the right.
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7.3.2003 |
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Bach-SaxOrgan-Space
Pipe meets pipe in tubular renditions
of the Cello Suites and other Bach compositions
Another chapter of Shimizu's Bach
project
exploring the acoustics of different spaces as instruments that started
with an underground stone quarry in 1996, for this concert he performs
in the entrance hall of Art Tower Mito in a dialogue between
saxophone and
pipe organ.
See concert program and video @ Performance 2003: Bach-SaxOrgan-Space
Enjoy contemporary Music XVI
Guest: Ryuta Suzuki (pipe organ)
8 March, 6.30pm
Art Tower Mito entrance hall
www.arttowermito.or.jp
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13.2.2003 |
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La Vie de Boheme
Check out Aki Kaurismaki's La Vie de Boheme (1992).
The Japanese song that comes out of the blue at the end of the movie makes for
an
interesting combination.
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