duets with vibraphonist Chris Dingman(Mar.5)
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March 5duets with vibraphonist Chris Dingman @ Le Grand Dakar 285 Grand Ave (btw Clifton & Lafayette) Brooklyn, NY 11238 (718) 398-8900 http://www.legranddakar.com/
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Weblog of Kaoru Watanabe, NY based Flute/Fue player
Live with Jason Moran / Alicia Hall Moran （March,1)
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March 1Jason Moran / Alicia Hall Moran / guest Kaoru Watanabe 4 pm $25 adults $20 seniors $15 students First United Methodist Church 42 Cross Road Stamford, Connecticut (203) 324- 1323 http://www.fumcstamford.org
Live schedule in February ‘09
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Please click the title to see for more information; special guest in THE TOKYO ZAGAN QUINTET(Feb. 28) 7:30pm (doors open 7pm) at DROM, NYC
“four” at Metabolic Studio(Feb 16&17) 8PM @ Metabolic Studio(Los Angeles, CA)
GO: ORGANIC ORCHESTRA(Feb 9,16,23) 8:30 PM @ Roulette(NYC)
special guest in THE TOKYO ZAGAN QUINTET(Feb. 28)
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Diaspora Crossings presents:THE TOKYO ZAGAN QUINTET
Saturday Feb. 28, 2009, 7.30pm (doors open 7pm) at DROM 85 Avenue A, between 5th & 6th Streets $10 general admission www.dromnyc.com Nobuko Miyazaki - flute & shinobue Bartosz Smoragiewicz - sax & clarinet Izabela Buchowska - cello Emi Inaba - piano Laiyo Nakahashi - taiko & drums with special guest: Kaoru Watanabe - shinobue & taiko (formerly of Kodo)
www.nobuflute.com (click on "Projects"), www.myspace.com/diasporacrossings for more info contact: nobuflute@gmail.com / 917-318-6915 A wailing jazz saxophone, thunderous taiko drums, and virtuoso piano meet; the singing cello intertwines with sweet bamboo flute.... Come hear the passions of traditions, and the festivities created when these musician-composers from very different backgrounds cross paths. The performance will be original compositions by Nobu, Bartosz, Laiyo, and Emi, and a few traditional pieces.
You can get tickets online here
Map:(Google map)
GO: ORGANIC ORCHESTRA(Feb 9,16,23)
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This return engagement follows last November’s sold out performance series of Go: Organic Orchestra @ Roulette An Orchestral concept of world/improvisational music
In concert GO: ORGANIC ORCHESTRA
Photo Credit: Danny Dawson
MUSIC COMPOSED AND CONDUCTED BY ADAM RUDOLPH
Mondays , FEBRUARY 9,16, 23, 2009 @ Roulette 20 Greene St. (between Canal and Grand) 2 blocks west of Broadway
8:30 PM $15 at the Door DTW members students, seniors: $10 Reservations: 212.219.8242 Roulette & Location One, members free www.roulette.org www.location1.org
Performing artists:
Sylvain Leroux –Tambin Fulani Flute, C Flute Ze Luis – C flute, Bamboo Flute Michel Gentile – C and Alto Flute, Bamboo Flute Kaoru Watanabe – Noh Kan, Fue, C Flute Steve Gorn - Bansuri Flute, Hichiriki Pyotr Gazarov– C flute, Bamboo Flute
Batya Sobel – Oboe Sara Schoenbeck – Bassoon, Sona Ned Rothenberg - Bass Clarinet, Shakuhachi Charles Waters – B flat Clarinet David Rothenberg - B flat Clarinet, Seljefløytes Avram Fefer - B flat Clarinet JD Parran - Contra Alto Clarinet, Kalimbas Graham Haynes – Cornet, Bamboo Horn Amir Elsaffar – Trumpet, Santoor, Bamboo Horn Stephen Haynes – Trumpet, Conch, Didjiridoo Steve Swell – Trombone, Bamboo Horn Peter Zummo – Trombone, Didjiridoo Charles Burnham – Violin Sarah Bernstein – Violin Trina Basu – Violin Jason Hwang – Violin Melanie Dyer – Viola Stephanie Griffin – Viola Kirsten Jerme – Cello
Kenny Wessel – Electric Guitar, Banjo Leni Stern – Electric Guitar, Ngoni Marco Cappelli - Acoustic Guitar
Brahim Fribgane – Oud and Percussion Harris Eisenstadt – Drum Set, Kutero Jonathan Singer – Tabla, Mridngam, Percussion Matt Kilmer – Frame Drums, Percussion James Hurt – Batajon, Percussion Chris Dingman – Vibraphone Stuart Popejoy - Acoustic Bass Guitar Alex Marcelo – Acoustic Piano " I caught a performance Go: Organic Orchestra down in SoHo last spring and was swept away by what they were doing. It was fascinating and ahead of its time, in the best possible way. I loved every minute of it. " - Marc Meyer, jazzwax.com
" I was fortunate to have attended two nights with Adam Rudolph's Go: Organic Orchestra at Roulette a few months back and was blown away by Adam's distinctive blend of jazz and world music as well as his conducting." - Bruce Lee Gallanter - Downtown Music Gallery "The music, performed by a large ensemble of wind and percussion players, rose like vines from hand drummer Adam Rudolph's written instructions and hand signals. And it truly is organic -- a blend of gentle sustained dissonance, heaven-crashing rhythm jams, and individual improvisations. No joke: a startling and involving development in roots music, with more to follow." - Greg Burk, LA Weekly
More info: http://www.metarecords.com/go.html About Go: Organic Orchestra:
Unique in the realm of approaches to improvisational conducting, Go: Organic Orchestra utilizes a composed non-linear score consisting of sound and motion elements. These include tone rows, synthetic scales, melodies, linguistic shapes, intervallic patterns, textural gestures, modes, ragas, maqams, and plainchant. The score serves to provide material for both the improvisations and the orchestrations. Motion and forms and are generated through the application of the composer’s rhythm concept “Cyclic Verticalism” whereby polymeters are combined with additive rhythm cycles.
In concert, the composer conducts the musicians in a spontaneous way by using a variety of hand signals to cue and orchestrate the score and direct the improvisations. He seeks to generate unusual relationships of sound against sound, form against form, and rhythm against rhythm in a non-linear, ever shifting kaleidoscope of music images: weaving an “audio syncretic music fabric”.
The music is “organic” in the sense that the compositions and conducting serve as inspiration and context for the musicians to express themselves in the moment by using their instruments as an amplifier for their inner voice. Through listening and imagination the conductor and performers inspire one another to create emotional colorations of sound.
Rather than the score being a set of instructions of what, how and when to play, the non-linear semiotic (symbols) of the written music are an invitation to discover the potentialities of what can happen when transformed into syntax as expressed through the hands and breath of a group of virtuosic, imaginative, and soulful improvisers.
"four" at Metabolic Studio(Feb 16&17)
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Metabolic Studio [Farmlab + Chora + AMI] and Body Weather Laboratory present
four -Music and Dance Improvisation-
Tatsuya Nakatani (Percussion), Michel Doneda (Saxophone) Kaoru Watanabe (Flute) and Oguri (Dance)
Monday, February 16 & Tuesday, 17 2009 8:00pm Metabolic Studio [Farmlab + Chora + AMI] 1745 North Spring Street, Los Angeles CA 90012
Admission: $15 Children, under 16 free Information: Metabolic Studio 323-226-1158 http://farmlab.org/index.html
Body Weather Laboratory and the Metabolic Studio [Farmlab + Chora + AMI] are pleased to announce the return of Tatsuya Nakatani (percussion) and Oguri (dance) with four Music and Dance Improvisations. This year’s show also features internationally acclaimed musicians form Japan and France Kaoru Watanabe (flute) and Michel Doneda (saxophone). Performances take place Monday, February 16, 8:00 pm and Tuesday, February 17, 8:00 pm at the Metabolic Studio [Farmlab + Chora + AMI] 1745 North Spring Street, Los Angeles CA 90012. General admission is $15, and Children under 16 free.
Tatsuya Nakatani : http://hhproduction.org/i-2.html Michel Doneda : http://puffskydd.free.fr/neda/ Kaoru Watanabe : http://www.watanabekaoru.com/ Oguri : http://www.lightningshadow.com/
Me and poutin ~from Montreal
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I am performing with two wonderful musicians in Montreal this week, percussionist Patrick Graham and hurdy gurdy player Ben Grossman as well as dancer Tomomi Morimoto. This concert, presented by MAI, an international arts institution here in Montreal and celebrates the release of Patrick's new album Rheo: "Rheō is the Greek term ῥέω, meaning to flow. Rheō is the root of the word rhythm. Rheō is a new music project, a cross-cultural and multi-faceted exploration of rhythm.
For the Rheō project, I will be joined by vielle à roue player Ben Grossman (Guelph, ON) and Japanese and western flutistKaoru Watanabe (New York), as well as special guest, contemporary dancer Tomomi Morimoto(Montreal). Rheō will feature new, genre-bending solos, duos and trios, live electronics, and improvisation in a performance that explores the flow of pulse and sound, movement and colour, and the constant flow between cultures." Please visit his website http://www.patrickgrahampercussion.com/ SO, my new friend Ben Grossman took it upon himself to introduce me to the Quebec comfort food, poutine, basically fries with cheese curd and gravy. The people at the store, in describing it to me, said it was a heart attack in a basket. Ben had the foresight to take before and after pictures. See results below.
Poutine, my new favorite food as long as I hold it to once every three or four years...
Jan 9th Bella Gaia Ensemble short performance at DROM
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JAN 9 (Sat) ENSEMBLE – NEW YORK CITYKENJI WILLIAMS: BELLA GAIA Ensemble (30min) 7pm, @ Drom NYC (Details Below)
Saturday 9th January 2010 Drom, 85 Ave A (b/w 5th & 6th). Lower East Side, NYC Tel.: (212) 777 1157 www.dromnyc.com 6:00PM Doors open Entry $10 in advance, $15 at the door Free entry with APAP badge
KENJI WILLIAMS – BELLA GAIA 7:00PM (Short 30min show)
A special 30min performance of Bella Gaia (”Beautiful Earth”), a poetic vision of Earth from outer space. A multimedia journey of our world by award-winning director and violinist Kenji Williams, in collaboration with NASA. Bella Gaia features live performances of world music artists against a large-screen background of orbiting visualizations of Earth from space. Guest Artists: Kaoru Watanabe Lale Sayoko More TBA…
Live schedule in January '09
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Please click the title to see for more information; DanceConversations@TheFlea(Jan.6) 7pm@THE FLEA THEATER, NYC
Urban Tap Jam with Tamango and Friends(Jan.8) 8pm@DROM, NYC
Kaoru fue and taiko lecture/performance(Jan.15) @Kinokuniya Books, NYC 5 pm reception 6 to 7pm fue and taiko performance
On Ensemble with Kaoru Watanabe(Jan.16) 8pm@DROM, NYC
Kaoru in Montreal (Jan.22+24) 8pm@MAI, Montréal, QC
Kaoru in Montreal (Jan.22+24)
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January 22th and 24th 8pm
A concert project featuring percussionist Patrick Graham and special guests Ben Grossman (hurdy-gurdy & electronics), Kaoru Watanabe (fue & flute) and Tomomi Morimoto (contemporary dance).
Presented by the MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels) 3680 Jeanne-Mance , Montréal, QC Info: (514) 982-3386 ticket: click here
www.patrickgrahampercussion.com www.myspace.com/patrickgrahampercussion/
Please see "Photos" page to see live images.
DanceConversations@TheFlea(Jan.6)
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DanceConversationsWORKS IN PROGRESS + DISCUSSION @ TheFlea Curated byNINA WINTHROP Moderated byDEAN MOSS Assistant Curator,Taimi Strehlow Tuesday, January 6 at 7pm FREE ADMISSION Featuring the work of: T. Lang Lee & Wang Dance Amos Pinhasi Mayuna Shimizu
THE FLEA THEATER 41 White Street (between Broadway & Church Street) New York City DIRECTIONS: N/R/Q/W/6/J/Z/A/C/E to Canal Street, 1 to Franklin Street (White Street is 3 blocks south of Canal Street) Further information is available at: www.theflea.org www.NinaWinthropandDancers.org Produced By The Flea Theater Jim Simpson, Artistic Director; Carol Ostrow, Producing Director Administered by Nina Winthrop and Dancers Managing Director: Taimi Strehlow Contact: tstrehlow@NinaWinthropandDancers.org
Taiko Center recital concert report
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On Dec the 21st, 2008, the Kaoru Watanabe Taiko Center had the first of what will be a biannual fundraising/student recital/ concert event at the Village@Gureje in Brooklyn, where the taiko classes themselves take place. My hope for the event was, besides raising funds and awareness for the taiko center, to celebrate community and friendship through music, food and (plenty of) alcohol. Many students and friends cooked and donated drinks, party supplies, time and energy and musical talent. Volunteers were busy checking coats, shoes (no shoes allowed), serving drinks, selling raffle tickets, CDs, making sure the food was all eaten. When we entered the space that day to set up, we found five leaks in the ceiling caused by the melting ice and snow accumulated on the roof. We bought potted plants and strategically placing them under the leaks and ended up with a nice indoor garden, replete with waterfalls and murmuring streams as part of the stage. I spent about an hour demonstrating how and what I teach and had my students and random members of the audience helping out. The second part of the program opened with a shakuhachi solo performed by Marco Leinhard from Ondekoza and was followed Nobuko Miyazaki and I playing a fue composition, Elaine Wang and I doing a dance/fue piece, and tap dancer Tamango and myself improvising. Finally we had a special guest, Will Calhoun from Living Colour perform a solo which grew into a session featuring Tamango, Gureje's owner Jimi and myself. Both the artists and the audience really seemed to enjoy themselves and many of us were dancing and drinking into the early morning.
The idea is to do events like this twice a year, bringing more guests each time, ever increasing the scale and scope of the event. As the performance level of the students improves, we can push to perform harder and harder pieces, we will bring in more guest performers and continue to expand on this community of lovers of taiko and beyond.
Please visit photographer Lia Chang's website to see her perspective of the event:
to see photo album of the recital concert, go to "Photos" page.
Taiko class anouncement
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Next taiko class will be the 4th of January, 2009. Starting then, I will begin a new payment plan of:
every WEDNESDAY: Come anytime from 4 to 8 pm and stay as long as you want for the cost of one class.
every SUNDAY: the regular 4 to 6 and 6 to 8 classes- two separate 2 hour classes.
**Also, I am now offering a first- time trial class for $20**
Kaoru fue and taiko lecture/performance(Jan.15)
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Jan. 15th (thur)Kaoru fue and taiko lecture/performance- closing event of George Hirose's photography exhibit.
@Kinokuniya Books 1073 Avenue of the AmericasNew York, NY 10018 admission: FREE
5 pm reception 6 to 7pm fue and taiko performance
Urban Tap Jam with Tamango and Friends(Jan.8)
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Urban Tap Jam with Tamango and Friends Jan. 8th, 2009 (thur) starts at 8 pm @DROM
85 Ave A btwn 5th and 6th New York, NY 10009 http://dromnyc.com/ admission: $10
Tamango presents a very special evening: Urban Tap Jam with Tamango, Kaoru Watanabe, Daniel Moreno, Fabio Morgera, DJ Belinda Becker plus the tap crew Max Pollack, Roxane Butterfly, Rod Ferrone and very special tap guest Tina Pratt.
for more information: http://dromnyc.com/home/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=2&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=283&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=44&vmcchk=1&Itemid=44
On Ensemble with Kaoru Watanabe(Jan.16)
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On Ensemble with Kaoru Watanabe
Fri, January 16th 2009, 8PM
@drom - 85 Avenue A (b/w 5th & 6th), New York, NY
tel:(212) 777-1157
admission: $15
for more information & tickets:
http://dromnyc.com/home/index.php?option=com_gigcal&task=details&gigcal_gigs_id=541&Itemid=37
============ Infusing traditional influences with elements of hip-hop, rock and electronica, On Ensemble (pronounced "Ohn") and Kaoru Watanabe take ancient Japanese instruments into new realms. Los Angeles based contemporary taiko quartet On Ensemble and New York based fue specialist Kaoru Watanabe join creative forces for a one night performance at New York club Drom.
On Ensemble (pronounced “Ohn”) takes the ancient instruments of taiko into new realms. Infusing the powerful rhythms of ensemble Japanese drumming with elements of hip-hop, rock and electronica, On Ensemble’s unique sound has been praised as “completely original and brilliantly conceived.” Modern Drummer magazine calls On Ensemble “an exciting taiko ensemble looking at new ways to apply traditional Japanese drums.”
On Ensemble’s four members, Masato Baba, Kristofer Bergstrom, Shoji Kameda and Kelvin Underwood, are individually recognized as leading artists in their field and sought after as teachers, workshop leaders, composers and performers. As On Ensemble they combine their study and deep appreciation of tradition with equally formative experiences as DJs, electronic music producers, Jazz drummers, and rock bassists to create a repertoire of ground-breaking music.
Joining On Ensemble will be New York based, Western and Japanese flute specialist Kaoru Watanabe. Kaoru was a member of the word renowned taiko ensemble, Kodo where besides performing Japanese traditional drumming, flute, song and dance, he also served as one of their artistic directors, focussing on Kodo's world music festival Earth Celebration, curating and directing collaborations with such artists as Zakir Hussein, Carlos Nunez, Giovanni Hildago and Yamashita Yosuke. Kaoru has also performed and recorded with such artists as Jason Moran, Stefon Harris and with the legendary Kabuki actor Bando Tamasaburo.
"an exciting taiko ensemble looking at new ways to apply traditional Japanese drums" - Martin Patmos, Modern Drummer Magazine
"one of the most innovative and musically fresh groups ever to take the stage" - Glen Creason, CerritosInk
Live with Tatsuya Nakatani(Dec.27&28)
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Dec 27th
With Tatsuya Nakatani
8PM - two sets
@ Connexions gallery
213 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18042
610.250.7627
===============
Dec 28th
With Tatsuya Nakatani and others
9 pm
@ Public Assembly (formerly Galapagos) in Williamsburg
70 North 6th St. Brooklyn
718.3844586
Kaoru Watanabe Taiko Center Fundraising Event(Dec.21)
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Student Recital/Winter Solstice ConcertKaoru Watanabe Taiko Center Fundraising Event
Dec 21st starting at 4 pm Suggested admission fee: $10 for adults, $4 children 5 and up
Renate Albertsen- Marton Space Village`Gureje 886 Pacific str (the corner of Pacific and Washington in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn)
schedule: 4 pm Taiko and fue (Japanese drum and flute) demonstration/ student recital 5 pm Kaoru performance with friends- Tamango (tap dance), WIll Calhoun (of Living Colour), and others **followed by taiko hands-on/ jam session, food and merriment! Children welcome!
================== I started the taiko center a few months ago to provide a place where people are encouraged to immerse themselves in studying fundamental playing technique and developing a stronger understanding of the cultural and historical background of taiko. The taiko center is still at the most humblest of beginnings, but with your continued support, encouragement and friendship, I believe it can develop beyond just the study of taiko to other Japanese traditional and modern art forms as well, with the ultimate goal of fostering a deeper understanding of our cultures, community and ourselves. Please let me know if you are interested in attending/ performing/ helping out/ cooking/ otherwise contributing! Thank you and hope to see you all there!
Kaoru Watanabe Taiko Center Fundraising/ Recital/ Solstice concert(Dec.21)
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Dec. 21st
Kaoru Watanabe Taiko Center Fundraising/ Recital/ Solstice concert
4 pm
Suggested admission fee: $10 for adults
Renate Albertsen- Marton Space Village`Gureje
886 Pacific str (the corner of Pacific and Washington in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn)
RUCMA series @ the Yippie Cafe(Dec.10) & more
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Dec. 5Faculty Enrichment Benefit for International Preschools- private event duo with Tomas Fujiwara
Dec. 10 RUCMA series @ the Yippie Cafe (9 Bleecker near Bowery). www.rucma.org
Diane Wayburn - flute/dun dun/composition/little piano (fake one) Dawoud Kringle - sitar Francois Grillot - doublebass Kaoru Watanabe - Japanese/Western Flute