Shibusashirazu Orchestra live on NHK, Japan, 2006

With the blog on a Japanese roll lately, I can't help but add to it with the mighty, wild and wacky Shibusashirazu. I had the opportunity and good luck to see them back in 2K, and as anyone who has seen them can confirm, hearing them is only half the sensory experience. No, make that less than half the sensory experience.

What's here are two one-hour programmes off NHK, Japanese public radio, broadcast 1 and 8 March 2006. Taken from the same concert, but split into two separate broadcasts for radio convenience sake.

A little background:

Kinetic, theatrical and spectacular - Shibusa Shirazu's electrifying shows are an experience like no other. The large-scale Japanese jazz act comprises 20-30 musicians, singers, female dancers, butoh dancers, artists and actors, all perform together to bring genre-defying shows propelled by powerful dance beats.

Audience at Glastonbury Festival 2002, Moers New Jazz Festival and many other venues during their four European tours were wowed at the exciting spectacle of music, dance, live painting, anime screening and stunning stage props, which include a huge flying balloon dragon and even fireworks. Their flexible line-up is capable of bringing the same degree of excitement to venues of any size, from concert halls to clubs.

Dazzling line-up of top-rated performers Shibusa Shirazu was started in 1988 by bassist Daisuke Fuwa with Japan's top-rated musicians. It is now a flexible outfit of 20 to 30 musicians, including wind and brass instruments such as saxes, trumpets and a flute; string instruments such as violin, guitar, bass and biwa (a traditional Japanese instrument); drummers and percussionists; keyboards and more. Singers, white-body-painted, half-naked butoh dancers, female dancers in flashy costumes and stage prop artists augment the musicians.

Spectacular performance, flexible formation Shibusa Shirazu's large-scale production has proven apt for major music festivals, as attested by enthusiastic audiences, many of whom caught off guard, at Glastonbury Festival 2002 and Moers New Jazz Festival. A lesser known fact is that it is a flexible outfit that doesn't discriminate venues, from out-door events, concert halls, clubs to even streets.

Shibusa Shirazu (SHEE-BOO-SAH SHEE-RAH-ZOO) is a Japanese phrase meaning "Never be cool". As the name says, the band doesn't stay within the "cool" frame of jazz big bands. Although based on jazz featuring improvisation, its music reaches over into romantic Japanese "kayo" songs, rock, funk, ska, Latin, trance and Balkan beats.

"It's always a pleasure for us to visit new places and meet people. Come and see us next time we are in your country. We are in tip-top shape and are itching to strut our stuff." Daisuke Fuwa (band leader)"

The basic data:

Shibusashirazu Orchestra
NHK 505 Studio, Shibuya, Tokyo
Feb 9th, 2006

Daisuke Fuwa (dandorist, vo)
Han Sato (ts)
Keiko Komori (as, ss)
Yoshiyuki Kawaguchi (as, hca)
Akira Kitou (bs)
Yoichiro Kita (tp)
Mitsuhide Tatsumi (tp)
Daisuke Takaoka (tuba)
Aya Murodate (fl, vo)
Alata Suzuki (EWI)
Kazuhisa Uchihashi (g)[right]
Ryoichi "Shacho" Saito (g)[left]
Atsushi Tanaka (g)
Yuji Katsui (el-vln)
Dairo Suga (p)
Sachiko Nakajima (key)
Hiroshi Higo (el-b)
Futoshi Okamura (dr)
Hitoshi Kuramochi (dr)
Jun Isobe (dr)
Takayuki Matsumura (perc)
Mari Sekine (perc, vo)
Shin'ichi Watanabe (MC, vo)
Sayaka & Pero (dance)
To-yo, Shimo, Chie (butoh)
Kohtaro Yokozawa, Ken'ichi Aoyama (VJ)

(60:01)
1. station ID (0:17)
2. DJ intro (1:30)
3. Theme of Inuhime (22:12)
4. Hikouki (11:57)
5. Matatabi (A. Sasaki)(19:34)
6. Lion [fade out, DJ voiceover](4:29)

(60:00)
1. station ID (0:15)
2. DJ intro (0:46)
3. Lion [fade in] / Fishermen's Band / Lion (20:48)
4. Dorokazoku no Uta (4:34)
5. Naadam (E. Hayashi)(21:25)
5. Theme of Honda Komuten (8:14)
6. Senzu (1:05)
7. Sutekichi (0:25)
8. DJ outro (2:25)

All songs by Fuwa except indicated otherwise

Thanks to the taper/uploader. Much appreciated. I do have a little more, including a triple cd I got at the 2K concert here in town. So, if this catches on, there's more ...

Meanwhile, never be cool ...