Agatsuma in Concert

With the Jake Owen Project (local jazz/fusion ensemble)

Jo Long Theater, Carver Community Cultural Center
8:00 p.m.
February 4, 2006
Tickets:  $20.00 - Call Arts San Antonio at 210-226-2891
About the artists
 Hiromitsu Agatsuma (tsugaru-shamisen) began playing the tsugaru-shamisen (a three-stringed Japanese traditional lute-like instrument played in the aggressive style developed in northern Japan) at the age of six, and won first prize at the 1988 All-Japan Tsugaru-Shamisen Competition at 14. This was followed in 1995 and 1996 by top honors at the Tsugaru-Shamisen National Competition, said to be the country’s most prestigious.

After the high acclaim he received in the traditional Japanese music world, Agatsuma not only continued to explore the traditional aspects of his instrument, but also avidly experimented with fusing its sounds with diverse musical genres. He made bold strides in his musical direction through the hard rock band MUSASHI, which fused Japanese folk instruments with beat-driven rock'n roll. The venerable shamisen has since become a hot rock instrument for young audiences in Japan, and Agatsuma is one of the new generation of players exploring the potentials of this instrument.

In 2001, his self-titled debut album received the ‘Traditional Japanese Music Album of the Year’ Japan Gold Disc Award, the equivalent of the Grammy's ‘Album of the Year.’ His second album Beams (2002) blended influences from jazz, rock fusion and Latin-based grooves with traditional Japanese folk music. The same album was subsequently released in the U.S. in 2003, upon which Agatsuma made his U.S. debut tour, produced by Japan Society. The following album Classics includes tracks recorded live at a New York church. He has continued releasing new albums including Beyond (2004), and his latest title is Eien no Uta (Songs for Eternity) was released in February 2005.

Agatsuma gives over 100 performances a year both in Japan and abroad. Since his U.S. debut in 2003, he has performed at various venues in the States including Wesleyan University (CT, 2003), Berklee College of Music (MA, 2003), Towson University (MD, 2003), The Kennedy Center (DC, 2004), The Forum Auditorium (PA, 2004), Joe’s Pub and Lincoln Center (NY, 2004) among others.

Agatsuma's style both honors tradition and pushes the artistic envelop of the shamisen, bringing various Japanese and foreign artists into his music such as Marcus Miller (bass), Larry Coryell (guitar), Nana Vasconcelos (percussion), Sarina Jones (vocal), Bobby MacFerrin (vocal) and David Benoit (keyboard). He is the recipient of the 2003 Sponichi Culture and Arts Award.

Ayumi Hashimoto (Cello) was born in Fukuoka prefecture; she started learning the piano at the age of six, and the cello at nine under her father. While at the School of Music in Toho Gakuen University, she studied the cello under Chisho Akitsu and chamber music under the late Kenichiro Tokunaga, and she made her professional debut as a musician. In July 2000, she joined Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival in Finland, where she learned the piano quartet under J. Lagerspetz. In July 2004, she again joined Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, and studied the cello under Seppo Kimanen and the string quartet under Auer Quartet. Currently she performs as a freelance cellist based in Tokyo; she has performed with numerous artist for their recordings and live concert tours, and has prepared string arrangements. She has her own groups such as Air Plants, an acoustic group with violin, guitar, and cello; KAYROS QUARTET, a classic string quartet; and Chegatto Saudaggi, a bossa nova duo of cello and guitar. She has performed for recordings by Polaris, UA, Rie fu, HUSKING BEE, coba, Kei Kobayashi, Romantica, Asako Toki, Ryuichi Kawamura, Chitose Hajime, Ryoko Moriyama, Tatsuya Ishii, Toshiki Kadomatsu, Yoichiro Yanagihara, little creatures, Miki Imai, GATS TKB SHOW, Katsuhisa Hattori Tokyo Pops Orchestra among others and has toured with Ryuichi Kawamura, Kei Kobayashi, Nozaki Minami, Skoop on Somebody, Akina Nakamori, TOKU, Koichi Azuma, Keali`i Reichel, Senri Oe, MY LITTLE LOVER, Katsuhisa Hattori Tokyo Pops Orchestra, tink tink, Tetsuro Oda, Kenji Sawada and rice.

Kenichi Koizumi (Taiko) was born in Saitama, and joined a taiko group in his community during his childhood. After graduating from high school, he began playing with a variety of musicians, dancers and actors. In 1999, he made his performance debut with the group Eitetsu Fuun-no-Kai produced by Eitetsu Hayashi, and joined his performances in Japan and abroad as a supporting member. In 2002, Kenichi launched his solo performance, exploring the range of his own musical expressions. After studying abroad in Australia as a taiko player in 2003, he released his first CD Samurai in June 2005. He is currently celebrated as one of the youngest taiko players who can play the large odaiko drum.

Yoichi Nozaki (Piano) was born in Tokyo in 1970. He began learning the piano since when he was a child, and he made his professional debut at the age of 19 as a supporting member of Ryoji Kurihara’s band. Since then, he has performed many live concerts with a variety of artists including Takako Okamura, Hiroko Moriguchi, Kenji Sawada, Seiko Matsuda and Sojiro. He first performed live with Agatsuma on Agatsuma’s solo debut concert in 2001; since then, Yoichi has played an important role in creating Agatsuma’s sound.