Another Golden Week event will be at Venus Fort in Odaiba in Tokyo Thursday, May 3. Konishiki will be joining the week-long schedule of Hawaiian events there. Vaihi follow a couple of days later, sandwiching Laula. This coming Sunday will see Manoa DNA.
Check the Venus Fort site for times.
Last year Jake Shimabukuro also appeared at this Hawaiian event in Odaiba.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Kiyoshi Kobayashi at Hawaiians
If you are in Japan and have some free time during the upcoming Golden Week*, you might want to head over to Hawaiians in Iwaki, Fukushima. Kiyoshi Kobayashi and the Ukulele Ultraman routine will be giving two shows (11:30 AM and 3:30 PM) May 3-6. Being not all that far away, I am tempted to give it a try myself. Tickets are going for 2,940 yen tax included.
Ukulele Ultraman, an ablum of songs from the old Japanese super-hero show, was released April last year. It received quite a bit of coverage in the February, 2006 Rolling Cocounts.
*Golden Week is several days of national holidays all bunched up at the end of April and beginning of May. Many people take a week or more off of work. It is one of the really big holidays here.
Ukulele Ultraman, an ablum of songs from the old Japanese super-hero show, was released April last year. It received quite a bit of coverage in the February, 2006 Rolling Cocounts.
*Golden Week is several days of national holidays all bunched up at the end of April and beginning of May. Many people take a week or more off of work. It is one of the really big holidays here.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
James Hill locally
Earlier this week I was really lucky to catch a show in James Hill's tour of Japan.
It was an entertaining evening given to an almost sold-out crowd. The songs featured were mainly those that owners of his CDs would be familiar with. It seemed like the selection was almost designed to be as international and diverse as possible. He highlighted this diversity by commenting that the ukulele is indeed a versatile instrument.
One song that I hadn't heard before was an original composition he dedicated to the folks looking after him in town. It was a happy, bluegrass-inpired piece. Apparently, one of the minders is a fan of bluegrass.
Being four rows back from the stage, it was great to be able to see some of his right-hand techniques--at least when this hand was moving slowly enough to see. His upward rolling-stroke was particularly interesting.
I had seen James Hill last year at the Ukulele Super Jam in Tokyo. His performance this week was more enjoyable and had a nice at-home feel to it.
Seeing that he will be in Quebec the weekend of this year’s Ukulele Super Jam, attendees will not be able to enjoy his magic there.
This year’s Ukulele Super Jam will be at the same Yakult Hall as last year, but the date has been moved to 12 May. The date change knocks me off the attendance list, unfortunately.
It was an entertaining evening given to an almost sold-out crowd. The songs featured were mainly those that owners of his CDs would be familiar with. It seemed like the selection was almost designed to be as international and diverse as possible. He highlighted this diversity by commenting that the ukulele is indeed a versatile instrument.
One song that I hadn't heard before was an original composition he dedicated to the folks looking after him in town. It was a happy, bluegrass-inpired piece. Apparently, one of the minders is a fan of bluegrass.
Being four rows back from the stage, it was great to be able to see some of his right-hand techniques--at least when this hand was moving slowly enough to see. His upward rolling-stroke was particularly interesting.
I had seen James Hill last year at the Ukulele Super Jam in Tokyo. His performance this week was more enjoyable and had a nice at-home feel to it.
Seeing that he will be in Quebec the weekend of this year’s Ukulele Super Jam, attendees will not be able to enjoy his magic there.
This year’s Ukulele Super Jam will be at the same Yakult Hall as last year, but the date has been moved to 12 May. The date change knocks me off the attendance list, unfortunately.
Vietnamese (?) Tangi
An anonymous commenter wrote a couple of days ago stating that Tangis are made in Honolulu, not Vietnam. I mentioned that they are made in Vietnam a day or two prior.
My comment was based on what I was told by a sales clerk at Ukulele House in Honolulu last August. Considering the price and the quantity of Tangis available in Honolulu, I had little reason to doubt the sales clerk.
I have checked the Tangi website and have found no information on where they do make their ukuleles. Since they offer custom products, it might be safe to guess those may be manufactured in Hawaii. However, I wrote to them directly and asked where their factory was. They wrote back and gave me their "location" but there was no mention of where the factory is--particularly for the non-custom products.
There are manufacturers that have their main office in one place but the bulk of their product is actually put together elsewhere.
Given conflicting information, it seems safe for me to say that I don't really know where they are made.
My comment was based on what I was told by a sales clerk at Ukulele House in Honolulu last August. Considering the price and the quantity of Tangis available in Honolulu, I had little reason to doubt the sales clerk.
I have checked the Tangi website and have found no information on where they do make their ukuleles. Since they offer custom products, it might be safe to guess those may be manufactured in Hawaii. However, I wrote to them directly and asked where their factory was. They wrote back and gave me their "location" but there was no mention of where the factory is--particularly for the non-custom products.
There are manufacturers that have their main office in one place but the bulk of their product is actually put together elsewhere.
Given conflicting information, it seems safe for me to say that I don't really know where they are made.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Back from North America
Back in the saddle. I needed to take a trip to North America over the past few weeks and was unable to write at all during that time.
A difference between the ukulele scene in North America and Japan became very evident to me while poking around music shops during my recent trip. There really is an awful lot more available in Japan in terms of published material on playing the instrument and music adapted for it.
First, most of the music stores that had anything are stocking the same "Jumpin' Jim" strum-and-sing books. There is nothing wrong with that unless you sing like a badger in a blender--like me. There are a few introductory books here and there, but you can pretty much find everything on Amazon or at Elderly Music. Perhaps that explains why the shops seem so desolate. Of course, if it is available at Amazon or Elderly, it is available here in Japan, too. This lack of published material goes some way to explaining why so many individuals and groups are putting songs up on the web in the English-speaking world.
Second, generally speaking, Japan really does seem to have quite a bigger variety of published material for the ukulele player. Not only is all of the English-language material available, but there are quite a few people publishing with reasonable frequency a variety of how-to-books and arrangement books. Some of these I have touched on earlier in other writings. I don't know if these books would be available outside of Japan due to copyright regulations, but I will start focusing a little more on those in this blog. The difference even in the local shop up the street and those I looked at on my trip is quite striking.
The same hold true for instruments also. All the shops on the mainland seem to pretty much stock Lanikais as their main ware. That is an interesting contrast with Honolulu, where you see quite a few more Vietnamese-made Tangis than most anything--at least the last time I was there. In Japan, brands under the Kiwaya umbrella are big, but looking around shops, it would be difficult to just assume they have the same sort of market share as Lanikai probably does.
A difference between the ukulele scene in North America and Japan became very evident to me while poking around music shops during my recent trip. There really is an awful lot more available in Japan in terms of published material on playing the instrument and music adapted for it.
First, most of the music stores that had anything are stocking the same "Jumpin' Jim" strum-and-sing books. There is nothing wrong with that unless you sing like a badger in a blender--like me. There are a few introductory books here and there, but you can pretty much find everything on Amazon or at Elderly Music. Perhaps that explains why the shops seem so desolate. Of course, if it is available at Amazon or Elderly, it is available here in Japan, too. This lack of published material goes some way to explaining why so many individuals and groups are putting songs up on the web in the English-speaking world.
Second, generally speaking, Japan really does seem to have quite a bigger variety of published material for the ukulele player. Not only is all of the English-language material available, but there are quite a few people publishing with reasonable frequency a variety of how-to-books and arrangement books. Some of these I have touched on earlier in other writings. I don't know if these books would be available outside of Japan due to copyright regulations, but I will start focusing a little more on those in this blog. The difference even in the local shop up the street and those I looked at on my trip is quite striking.
The same hold true for instruments also. All the shops on the mainland seem to pretty much stock Lanikais as their main ware. That is an interesting contrast with Honolulu, where you see quite a few more Vietnamese-made Tangis than most anything--at least the last time I was there. In Japan, brands under the Kiwaya umbrella are big, but looking around shops, it would be difficult to just assume they have the same sort of market share as Lanikai probably does.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Rolling Coconuts #34
As mentioned a couple of weeks ago, Tornadic Uke did make the new edition of RC. The lower have of a page about three-fourths through the magazine heralds their arrival as something new. It points out that the album is definite rock on an uke. Ukulele is a free-wheeling instrument and rock is free-wheeling music, they go on to say.
This issue also introduces someone I have never heard of--Chihiro Wada. She is described as an ukulele-player doing avant-guarde and pop. I have been rummaging around to try to find out what this would sound like, but I have yet to find anything on the Internet to listen to. She seems to be heavily involved in a group called California Dolls. You might be able to find their voiceblog on their website. Apparently, she has also been featured in the British magazine "Wire".
The most surprising bit for me personally in the article on Wada really concerned something else. In the interview she talks about buying her ukulele in Pan Music in Ochanomizu. I dropped by there yesterday out of coincidence looking for the new RC. They have scaled back their ukulele section from most of one floor to the stairwell. The ukulele publications were gone, including RC. Perhaps they have been move up to the floor above with the other magazines, but it was closed.
I did find a shop up the street selling unusual handcrafted ukuleles. I will find that again and post on that in a month or two.
This issue also introduces someone I have never heard of--Chihiro Wada. She is described as an ukulele-player doing avant-guarde and pop. I have been rummaging around to try to find out what this would sound like, but I have yet to find anything on the Internet to listen to. She seems to be heavily involved in a group called California Dolls. You might be able to find their voiceblog on their website. Apparently, she has also been featured in the British magazine "Wire".
The most surprising bit for me personally in the article on Wada really concerned something else. In the interview she talks about buying her ukulele in Pan Music in Ochanomizu. I dropped by there yesterday out of coincidence looking for the new RC. They have scaled back their ukulele section from most of one floor to the stairwell. The ukulele publications were gone, including RC. Perhaps they have been move up to the floor above with the other magazines, but it was closed.
I did find a shop up the street selling unusual handcrafted ukuleles. I will find that again and post on that in a month or two.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Ukulele coffee shop in Tokyo
If you ever find yourself in Tokyo with an urge to play your uke, but your uke is nowhere to be found, there's a place you can go. "Bucky" in Shibuya has ukuleles for playing. For a 400-yen cup of coffee, you can borrow one of theirs and play with othe affectinados during the day. At night, you can also feed yourself as well as strum along.
They also hold various events like a hula night (second Friday of each month). Those are advertised as 3,000 with a free drink. Another is performances by Shiraishi Atae, son of Bucky Shiraishi.
They are located on the bus terminal side of Shibuya Station in Tokyo. It should be about a three minute walk from the station. There is a very simple map on their website.
They also hold various events like a hula night (second Friday of each month). Those are advertised as 3,000 with a free drink. Another is performances by Shiraishi Atae, son of Bucky Shiraishi.
They are located on the bus terminal side of Shibuya Station in Tokyo. It should be about a three minute walk from the station. There is a very simple map on their website.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Kiyoshi Kobayashi workshop
Kiyoshi Kobayashi will be holding an hour-long workshop in Kamakura followed by a 45-minute mini-concert. Adult admission to either one will be 3,000 yen or 5,000 for both plus drinks, according to the website. Participants in the workshop are invited to play along in the mini-concert.
The workshop apparently starts at 2PM on 3 March and is quickly followed by the mini-concert. The venue is a place called the Aloha Cube.
The workshop apparently starts at 2PM on 3 March and is quickly followed by the mini-concert. The venue is a place called the Aloha Cube.
Monday, February 19, 2007
CD kickoff concert
This coming Sunday (2/25) at Thumbs Up, a three-minute walk from Yokohama Station, there will be a kickoff concert for the CD I wrote about a couple of days ago. If you are in Japan and want to go, detailed info can be had at this website (in Japanese).
Doors are said to open at 6:30, adult tickets on the day cost 3,500 yen. They are 3,000 in advance. Laula, Iwao, Kiyoshi Kobayashi, Ukulele Eiji and others are slated to be there according to the website. Kuricorder isn't mentioned, so we can probably assume they won't be there. This is according to the website anyway.
I won't be going, but I would if I could swing it.
Doors are said to open at 6:30, adult tickets on the day cost 3,500 yen. They are 3,000 in advance. Laula, Iwao, Kiyoshi Kobayashi, Ukulele Eiji and others are slated to be there according to the website. Kuricorder isn't mentioned, so we can probably assume they won't be there. This is according to the website anyway.
I won't be going, but I would if I could swing it.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Loco Factory
Having finally secured a couple of moments to phone up Headway, makers of La Uke ukuleles and possibly Loco ukuleles, I gave them a quick dial.
The brief conversation confirmed my suspicions. Locos are indeed made by Headway China.
A look at their website has lots of nice photos showing how La Ukes are handcrafted etc, etc. The page for Locos are considerably more simple and less impressive. It leaves one wondering if it is only guitars that they make at Headway China. Wonder no more.
The brief conversation confirmed my suspicions. Locos are indeed made by Headway China.
A look at their website has lots of nice photos showing how La Ukes are handcrafted etc, etc. The page for Locos are considerably more simple and less impressive. It leaves one wondering if it is only guitars that they make at Headway China. Wonder no more.
Upcoming Rolling Coconuts
A new Rolling Coconut comes out on the 27th of this month. Tornadic Ukulele, who has kindly left comments on this blog, has written to tell us he will be making an appearance there. Congratulations on that! I am looking forward to seeing what they have to say.
Other big features that they will apparently be running will revolve around some of their Geneon projects. The headliner will be the (directly translated) "From the North Ukulele". "From the North" was a series of tv programs that ran here for YEARS. It was about a family of a father, son, and daughter and how they struggled to make do in Hokkaido, where there is nature and it is COLD.The theme music was done by a guitar-playing folk singer named Sada Masashi.It has been redone on a new CD by the usual suspects: Kuricorder Quartet, Iwao, Ukulele Quartet, BanBan Bazaar, and Kiyoshi Kobayashi, to name the majority.
There will be another article about James Hill and one on ukulele Iwao style.
Again, congratulations to Tornadic Ukulele.
Other big features that they will apparently be running will revolve around some of their Geneon projects. The headliner will be the (directly translated) "From the North Ukulele". "From the North" was a series of tv programs that ran here for YEARS. It was about a family of a father, son, and daughter and how they struggled to make do in Hokkaido, where there is nature and it is COLD.The theme music was done by a guitar-playing folk singer named Sada Masashi.It has been redone on a new CD by the usual suspects: Kuricorder Quartet, Iwao, Ukulele Quartet, BanBan Bazaar, and Kiyoshi Kobayashi, to name the majority.
There will be another article about James Hill and one on ukulele Iwao style.
Again, congratulations to Tornadic Ukulele.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Loco ukulele factory
After receiving a comment about the location of the Loco ukulele factory, I have been reading up some on the company that makes them.
Headway is based in Matsumoto in Nagano, Japan. They are well-known for their guitars here. The venture into ukuleles appears to be a new step for them.
It seems that La Uke ukuleles are manufactured at their factory in Nagano. Unfortunately, I can't yet work out if their Locos are made there or by their sister company, Headway China. I have seen several mentions of guitars being put together in China, but the ukuleles are still a mystery.
I will continue fishing around for information until I find exactly where Locos are made. At worst, I suppose I might have to phone up the company.
Headway is based in Matsumoto in Nagano, Japan. They are well-known for their guitars here. The venture into ukuleles appears to be a new step for them.
It seems that La Uke ukuleles are manufactured at their factory in Nagano. Unfortunately, I can't yet work out if their Locos are made there or by their sister company, Headway China. I have seen several mentions of guitars being put together in China, but the ukuleles are still a mystery.
I will continue fishing around for information until I find exactly where Locos are made. At worst, I suppose I might have to phone up the company.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Ukulele maker sites
Here is a quick list of some smaller ukulele makers here in Japan.
First, there is Urabe based in Kyoto. He has made a few unusual ukuleles which I hope to report on soon. In case you get tempted, here is his price list. Sorry, folks, the whole thing is in Japanese. The price lists includes materials. The four charts show sopranos, medium-sopranos, concerts, and finally concert-tenor sizes at the bottom of the page.
La Uke's product page has enough English in it to make it readable for the non-Japanese reader. As does the more down-market Loco Ukulele page.
Isana ukuleles can be nice to look at. I have never heard one, so I can not make much comment on sound or playability.
And finally, Ohana, a shop in Osaka, has a page to view some of the more flashy ukuleles they flog.
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I apologize for the lengthy absence, work has been very busy. This blog will be seeing more frequent posting again in the very near future. Thanks for the understanding.
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First, there is Urabe based in Kyoto. He has made a few unusual ukuleles which I hope to report on soon. In case you get tempted, here is his price list. Sorry, folks, the whole thing is in Japanese. The price lists includes materials. The four charts show sopranos, medium-sopranos, concerts, and finally concert-tenor sizes at the bottom of the page.
La Uke's product page has enough English in it to make it readable for the non-Japanese reader. As does the more down-market Loco Ukulele page.
Isana ukuleles can be nice to look at. I have never heard one, so I can not make much comment on sound or playability.
And finally, Ohana, a shop in Osaka, has a page to view some of the more flashy ukuleles they flog.
---------------------
I apologize for the lengthy absence, work has been very busy. This blog will be seeing more frequent posting again in the very near future. Thanks for the understanding.
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Thursday, December 21, 2006
more ukulele videos
A couple of weeks ago, I posted a few links to some Japanese ukulele videos. Today, I will add a couple of more to that list.
Someone posted what looks like most of a Kuricorder Quartet concert on YouTube. The link here will take you to the first song. They are all numbered, so following from there should not be a great trauma.
Tsuji Ayano has a couple of videos there as well. This is for her Fly High song. This video starts out with an interview and a contest for sorting cards(?!). The song comes later on. This is a music video for Sha La La.
Here is a rather odd rather non-pro piece.
Watanababy makes an appearance in this one.
Someone posted what looks like most of a Kuricorder Quartet concert on YouTube. The link here will take you to the first song. They are all numbered, so following from there should not be a great trauma.
Tsuji Ayano has a couple of videos there as well. This is for her Fly High song. This video starts out with an interview and a contest for sorting cards(?!). The song comes later on. This is a music video for Sha La La.
Here is a rather odd rather non-pro piece.
Watanababy makes an appearance in this one.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Some ukulele videos
This week, I will let some pictures say a thousand words.....here are some ukulele videos from Japan.
http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
These first two are from the Ukulele Ultraman project.
The Ultraman Theme song
and the Ultraseven Theme
The second two I found are commercials featuring ukuleles
A candy commercial featuring an ukulele playing girl
and an old commercial with another (at-the-time) girl
Here is one on a resourceful duo.
As you can see, all of these came from YouTube. I will add a few more after YouTube comes back from the maintainance it has just started.
http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
These first two are from the Ukulele Ultraman project.
The Ultraman Theme song
and the Ultraseven Theme
The second two I found are commercials featuring ukuleles
A candy commercial featuring an ukulele playing girl
and an old commercial with another (at-the-time) girl
Here is one on a resourceful duo.
As you can see, all of these came from YouTube. I will add a few more after YouTube comes back from the maintainance it has just started.
Friday, December 01, 2006
T.T. Cafe
T. T. Cafe is a man-woman duo who's visibility has picked up in the past few months. This month they are on Channel 2 of Rolling Coconut TV.
Most of the publicity seems to be revolving around the release of their Cafezinho album. This album sports a variety of genres. The first song is Chattanooga Choo-choo, the second is the Pink Panther theme, and (skipping down a bit) fourth is Quiero Dancar Com Voce (plus requisite diacriticals). Going through the videos should give you sufficient idea of what sort of things they are up to.
This album follows their first release, which came in August, 2005.
A visit to their website will lead you to their video archives where you can see them perform as a duo or with others. You can also download their 2.4Mb profile pdf file if you have time to burn.
Most of the publicity seems to be revolving around the release of their Cafezinho album. This album sports a variety of genres. The first song is Chattanooga Choo-choo, the second is the Pink Panther theme, and (skipping down a bit) fourth is Quiero Dancar Com Voce (plus requisite diacriticals). Going through the videos should give you sufficient idea of what sort of things they are up to.
This album follows their first release, which came in August, 2005.
A visit to their website will lead you to their video archives where you can see them perform as a duo or with others. You can also download their 2.4Mb profile pdf file if you have time to burn.
Ukulele Mozart
JVC Music will be releasing 20 December a new ablum of Mozart played on ukuleles. Samples of the songs are available on the website. Those interested will no doubt recognize the songs, so we will skip the ditty list this time around. There is a video clip of the fourth song of the album, the first movement of the 25th symphony. It is entertaining if nothing else. (The Salieri voice is apparently that of Ukulele Eiji.)
Songs 1-7 are played by Kondo Kenji of Kurikorder Quartet fame. Matsui Tomotaka, who put together the Mozart tab book recently featured here, plays songs 8-14.
The website is taking advanced sales for 2,800 (tax included). I have no idea if they ship overseas or not, however.
Songs 1-7 are played by Kondo Kenji of Kurikorder Quartet fame. Matsui Tomotaka, who put together the Mozart tab book recently featured here, plays songs 8-14.
The website is taking advanced sales for 2,800 (tax included). I have no idea if they ship overseas or not, however.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
The Japanese ukulele advantage
An advantages that Japanese ukulele amateurs may have over players elsewhere is that it is generally easier to find fellow travelers.
Most places around the country have neighborhood community centers. These centers vary in terms of quality, but compared with what one is likely to find in, say, North America, they are on average pretty good. Most of the facilities offer different kinds of rooms, including music rooms, gyms or dance rooms, kitchens, or craft rooms. Groups can hold regularly scheduled cultural or educational activities at very little or no cost.
It seems that these venues play host to quite a few clubs and classes around the country. A quick survey of the Japanese Yahoogroups for ukuleles has just revealed that many of the Yahoogroups are centered around a group of people that practices at these centers. Almost all the larger Yahoogroups appear connected to groups that use these kinds of facilities.
The city here may well be an indication of what the rest of Japan is like also. I know of one teacher at a local music school that teaches ukulele, but there are at least three groups connected with the community centers. More or less the same can be said of the town next to us.
Ukulele players might be more gregarious than some other musicians. But, with these community centers, it is certainly a lot easier to spread the faith.
Most places around the country have neighborhood community centers. These centers vary in terms of quality, but compared with what one is likely to find in, say, North America, they are on average pretty good. Most of the facilities offer different kinds of rooms, including music rooms, gyms or dance rooms, kitchens, or craft rooms. Groups can hold regularly scheduled cultural or educational activities at very little or no cost.
It seems that these venues play host to quite a few clubs and classes around the country. A quick survey of the Japanese Yahoogroups for ukuleles has just revealed that many of the Yahoogroups are centered around a group of people that practices at these centers. Almost all the larger Yahoogroups appear connected to groups that use these kinds of facilities.
The city here may well be an indication of what the rest of Japan is like also. I know of one teacher at a local music school that teaches ukulele, but there are at least three groups connected with the community centers. More or less the same can be said of the town next to us.
Ukulele players might be more gregarious than some other musicians. But, with these community centers, it is certainly a lot easier to spread the faith.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Latest Rolling Coconuts II
Continuing this week with an overview of issue #32 of Rolling Coconuts, we will touch on four articles.
The first of these contains two interviews--one with Katz.seiji and the other with Matsui Tomotaka. They are the repective compilers of "Toei Ukulele Festival" and "Ukulele Mozart". Both of these books of score come complete with tabs and CDs. The Toei book contains theme songs particularly of animations and character theme songs. Toei, as some readers know, is a film and TV production outfit. Matsui, the compiler of the Mozart books admits that the arrangements are definely not for beginners and that he would balk at playing some of the pieces in public due to their demanding difficulties.
The next article is the third installment of the "Ukulele on the Hill" series. This series focuses on the work of Canadian James Hill. This issue examines his latest tour around Japan, stopping into 10 places. On this tour, he offers workshops making use of "Sakura, sakura", probably the best know Japanese traditional song arranged in three parts.
The third is the 17th installment of "Ukulele Iwao Style". This article discusses some of his experiences while doing a series of series of events at record stores and a concert in Tokyo following the release of his "Hawaiian Morning" album. Perhaps the most interesting comment was one about his meeting a young boy. The boy apparently was quite good at playing the ukulele as the mother was eager to show him off. The comment noted that as a young kid starting out on an ukulele, he will have lots of potential. As more young children become interested in playing the ukulele, the intrument will gain more acceptance as a good, solid instrument in its own right.
The next article is another interview. This time with Owa Yoshio, who released his "Legend of Hawiian Guitar--Best Selection" album "featuring ukulele and resonator guitar". According to a description I found elsewhere, the songs in the album are:
01： Lag Rag
02： Kaupo Store
03： Lazy River
04： Uwehe Ami & Slide
05： Opihi Moe Moe
06： Ten Tiny Toes〜S-H-I-N-E
07： Ka Makani Ka'ili Aloha
08： I'm Livin' On Easy
09： Guava Jam
10： Maui Chimes
11： Harvest Of Rainbow
12： Ka'a ahi Kahului
13： On A Little Bamboo Bridge
14： 12th Street Rag
15： Lover Come Back To Me
16： Ukulele Blues
17： Yellow Roses
18： Come Stay With Me
The article mentions that he has recently been focusing on Hawaiian Blues.
After this, there are the two introductions of ukulele craftsment and an article about Miyaji-TIKI--a Japanese ukulele player that has been active in Germany for several years and a participant in Risa Ukulele's U'COOL'LELE festival there. I will skip those two for the time being.
The first of these contains two interviews--one with Katz.seiji and the other with Matsui Tomotaka. They are the repective compilers of "Toei Ukulele Festival" and "Ukulele Mozart". Both of these books of score come complete with tabs and CDs. The Toei book contains theme songs particularly of animations and character theme songs. Toei, as some readers know, is a film and TV production outfit. Matsui, the compiler of the Mozart books admits that the arrangements are definely not for beginners and that he would balk at playing some of the pieces in public due to their demanding difficulties.
The next article is the third installment of the "Ukulele on the Hill" series. This series focuses on the work of Canadian James Hill. This issue examines his latest tour around Japan, stopping into 10 places. On this tour, he offers workshops making use of "Sakura, sakura", probably the best know Japanese traditional song arranged in three parts.
The third is the 17th installment of "Ukulele Iwao Style". This article discusses some of his experiences while doing a series of series of events at record stores and a concert in Tokyo following the release of his "Hawaiian Morning" album. Perhaps the most interesting comment was one about his meeting a young boy. The boy apparently was quite good at playing the ukulele as the mother was eager to show him off. The comment noted that as a young kid starting out on an ukulele, he will have lots of potential. As more young children become interested in playing the ukulele, the intrument will gain more acceptance as a good, solid instrument in its own right.
The next article is another interview. This time with Owa Yoshio, who released his "Legend of Hawiian Guitar--Best Selection" album "featuring ukulele and resonator guitar". According to a description I found elsewhere, the songs in the album are:
01： Lag Rag
02： Kaupo Store
03： Lazy River
04： Uwehe Ami & Slide
05： Opihi Moe Moe
06： Ten Tiny Toes〜S-H-I-N-E
07： Ka Makani Ka'ili Aloha
08： I'm Livin' On Easy
09： Guava Jam
10： Maui Chimes
11： Harvest Of Rainbow
12： Ka'a ahi Kahului
13： On A Little Bamboo Bridge
14： 12th Street Rag
15： Lover Come Back To Me
16： Ukulele Blues
17： Yellow Roses
18： Come Stay With Me
The article mentions that he has recently been focusing on Hawaiian Blues.
After this, there are the two introductions of ukulele craftsment and an article about Miyaji-TIKI--a Japanese ukulele player that has been active in Germany for several years and a participant in Risa Ukulele's U'COOL'LELE festival there. I will skip those two for the time being.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Latest Rolling Coconuts I
After almost three weeks of turmoil, I am finally able to get back to this blog. Sorry for the absence.
Two months after it came out, the most recent Rolling Coconuts has landed on my desk. The #32 issue came out 28 August. If my math serves, the next issue should be coming out later this month. I hope I can snag one faster than this one.
This issue is essentially a compliation of interviews
The cover story is an interview with Tsuji Ayano. Her music has been featured in commercials, television programs, and in an Ghibli animation film. She as just but out her double-disc "Tsuji Best" ablum.
The second article is another interview. This one is with Toda Shinji of Toda Guitars. He has put out an ukulele commemorating the release of the Ukulele Ultraman album. They are available through Kiwaya.
The third atricle also relates to the Ukulele Ultraman album. Kiyoshi Kobayashi's interview discusses his involvement with the publishing of the score and tab of the album. It is put out by Doremi, but I have been unable to find it on their website.
Anyone interested in hearing some of the tunes on the ablum might try the web page of the music publishing company, Geneon.
More to come about this issue soon.
Two months after it came out, the most recent Rolling Coconuts has landed on my desk. The #32 issue came out 28 August. If my math serves, the next issue should be coming out later this month. I hope I can snag one faster than this one.
This issue is essentially a compliation of interviews
The cover story is an interview with Tsuji Ayano. Her music has been featured in commercials, television programs, and in an Ghibli animation film. She as just but out her double-disc "Tsuji Best" ablum.
The second article is another interview. This one is with Toda Shinji of Toda Guitars. He has put out an ukulele commemorating the release of the Ukulele Ultraman album. They are available through Kiwaya.
The third atricle also relates to the Ukulele Ultraman album. Kiyoshi Kobayashi's interview discusses his involvement with the publishing of the score and tab of the album. It is put out by Doremi, but I have been unable to find it on their website.
Anyone interested in hearing some of the tunes on the ablum might try the web page of the music publishing company, Geneon.
More to come about this issue soon.
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