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April 20, 2024
 

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MUSIC NOMAD

CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Aug 12, 2001
Take time to stop and hear the music
As your Music Nomad is wandering back to the U.K., this will be my last column. Thanks for taking the trouble to read it over the years; hopefully some of you have enjoyed seeing the concerts recommended.
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Jul 8, 2001
Where Nas is coming from
One of the most unlikely roots music success stories of recent years has been Olu Dara's 1998 album, "In the World: From Natchez to New York." Even more surprising than the spontaneous ease with which he combined blues, folk, Afro and Caribbean styles, or his vivid, autobiographical, half-spoken words, was that Dara was a jazz sideman, in his late 50s, and this was his first record.
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Jun 10, 2001
A daughter of Madagascar traces a path home to Asia
"I feel at home in Asia," said Hanitra, leader of the group Tarika, during a recent visit to Tokyo. "Africa is more foreign to me."
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
May 13, 2001
Lonesome Strings come out of the shadows
Like anyone who's really good at something, Yoshiki Sakurai makes it look easy. On stage, as he lets fly with complicated riffs and rhythms in any variety of styles, he stands expressionless.
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Apr 8, 2001
Moreno comes of age
Escaping paternal shadows can be tricky for a musician, especially if that musician's name happens to be Lennon, Marley or Dylan. Brazil's Moreno Veloso, however, probably shares more in common with Nigeria's Femi Kuti. Both are sons of superstars in their native countries who virtually created their own genres of music. Caetano Veloso and Fela Kuti not only invented tropicalismo and afrobeat respectively, but were a source of inspiration to their people that went way beyond music.
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Mar 27, 2001
Tradition and innovation in modern Celtic music
Julie Murphy and Sharon Shannon are two of the most talented, forward-looking and musically challenging women in Celtic music. Both have captured the spirit of the times, setting a benchmark for a new generation of musicians in their respective traditions. They will soon be performing in Japan with fine bands, in gigs that should not be missed by anyone with even a passing interest in Celtic or roots music.
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Mar 13, 2001
Checkered history lives in a motley crew
Chindon-ya (brass, wind and percussion bands peddling goods or services on the streets) might not immediately spring to mind as a part of Japanese musical "tradition." Indeed, chindon has never been fully recognized as even a legitimate form of music.
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Feb 27, 2001
Making music in no-man's land
Through my work in the music industry, I have secured record deals with local labels for foreign musicians and have organized releases and tours overseas. As a columnist and DJ, I've been sent CDs from countless bands seeking promotion. I know there is no easy route to success in the business. And for foreign musicians based in Japan, it's that much harder.
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Feb 12, 2001
Getting back on the right track
In all walks of life, those who make successful comebacks have always been admired. They become figures of resilience with a commendable never-say-die attitude; think Muhammad Ali or even Bill Clinton.
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Jan 23, 2001
Artists with eclectic tastes dispute the 'healing' tag
Of all the nonsensical musical genres, perhaps the most irksome is one coined here in Japan: "healing" music.
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Jan 9, 2001
Hitting the high notes of jazz
At the age of 5 or 6, Cassandra Wilson recalls hearing the music of Miles Davis for the first time. "Sketches of Spain" was part of her father's record collection, himself a jazz musician and was one of the records he would often play in their home in Jackson, Mississippi.
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Dec 26, 2000
The best of this year's world music crop
Strangely, I had thought this year was not a particularly vintage one for world and roots music. That was until I had to whittle down a list to come up with a top 10, as part of a panel for the British magazine fRoots.
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Dec 12, 2000
The best of the year that was
The concert scene in Japan tends to slow down a bit in the winter months, so this week I'll present my pick of this year's Japanese releases, and in my next column, releases from around the world.
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Nov 28, 2000
Cuban musical wave keeps on coming
At the beginning of next year, not much will have changed from this year, when it comes to the pick of world and roots music concerts. More Cubans!
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Nov 14, 2000
The last of the best from Cuba
Even after 10 years, I still find it difficult to predict what actually turns Japanese world-music fans on.
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Oct 24, 2000
Okinawan sounds old and new resonate through the mainland
For a reason that has so far confounded me, October and November usually herald a spate of Okinawan concerts and releases on the mainland, leading to unfortunate clashes of dates. This year is no exception: The Ryukyu Festival in Tokyo (previewed in this column) in early October unfortunately fell on the same day as two other excellent Okinawan performances elsewhere.
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Oct 9, 2000
Festival highlights the myriad sounds of Africa
The South African province of KwaZulu-Natal, I was told upon my arrival, has everything, from snowboarding in the morning to surfing in the afternoon. And from the itinerary that Swize, from the local tourist board, handed me, it looked like I would be doing it all: a trip to a game reserve and a Zulu village; a tour of the townships and Oribi Gorge; micro-lighting over the Valley of a Thousand Hills; whale- and dolphin-watching; and so on.
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Sep 26, 2000
Voices of power and purity lilting out of Africa
I seem to see certain of my favorite African musicians whenever I take a trip away from Japan. I have now seen Senegal's Cheikh Lo in several European cities and in Co^te d'Ivoire, and am about to see him again at a festival in South Africa.
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Sep 12, 2000
Intercultural influences
East-West fusions are nothing new. Nearly 100 years ago, some Western classical music was influenced by Indian classical or Javanese gamelan music. In the 1950s, violinist Yehudi Menuhin performed with Indian sarod player Ali Akbar Khan and sitar maestro Ravi Shankar. By the 1960s, John Coltrane was exploring Indian music, while Shankar's star pupil, George Harrison, was bringing Indian music to a global audience through the Beatles.
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Aug 22, 2000
Shang Shang Typhoon blowing back in to devastate main islands
At the start of the 1990s, when "world music" became a generally accepted term, some Japanese started to look at themselves and wonder what their own country had to offer -- not only in Japan but to the rest of the world.
No link to Nankai Trough quake seen after temblor in Shikoku
Satoshi Harada from the Meteorological Agency explains about the magnitude 6.6 earthquake during a news conference early Thursday.
Tehran signals no retaliation against Israel after drones attack Iran
A reported strike against Iran by Israel on Friday came against the backdrop of Iran's support for the Palestinian Hamas militant group, whose assault into Israel on Oct. 7 triggered Israel's invasion of Gaza.
In a first, Japan doctors sue Google over negative reviews on firm's map app
One of the lawyers representing a group of doctors suing Google told a news conference that the main purpose of the lawsuit is not to seek compensation but instead to raise awareness over various problems with the Google Maps system.
Former No. 1 Kento Momota retires from international badminton at 29
Badminton star Kento Momota leaves a news conference after announcing his retirement from Japan's national team, in Tokyo on Thursday.
Thousands evacuated as Indonesia volcano erupts
Indonesia's Mount Ruang spews hot lava and smoke as seen from Sitaro, North Sulawesi, on Wednesday.
'House of the Owl' brings Hollywood values to Japanese TV
In the new Disney+ series “House of the Owl,” Min Tanaka (left) plays a powerful political fixer, or “kuromaku,” who has a troubled relationship with his adult children, particularly his idealistic son, played by Mackenyu.
Benefits and risks: AUKUS looks to take gamble on Japan
U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British leader Rishi Sunak deliver remarks on the AUKUS partnership, after a trilateral meeting, at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego in March last year.
Latest Biden chip deal highlights U.S. semiconductor successes
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks as he announces a preliminary agreement with Intel for a major CHIPS and Science Act award, during a visit to the Intel Ocotillo Campus in Chandler, Arizona, on March 20.
Kyoto’s demon night parade lives to haunt another day
In a Kyoto long past, the "hyakki yagyō" (100 demon night parade) haunted a sleepy corner of Kyoto. Now, one enterprising monster enthusiast has won a small batttle to keep the march alive.
Upstart Zelvia shows that, in the J. League, it’s anyone’s game
Machida supporters wave giant flags during the team's game against Vissel Kobe at National Stadium in Tokyo on Sunday.

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