About “IK” – Isaku Kageyama Solo Taiko CD

I grew up playing taiko in Tokyo with Amanojaku since age 8, and they’re my musical family.  In 2011, I made the difficult to leave Amanojaku to attend Berklee College of Music.

Before leaving for Boston, I recorded this CD using a Zoom R16 and a Shure SM57 at a local community center.  2011 was a really important year in my life, and the music you hear is really my first step outside Amanojaku.  I hope you enjoy it for what it is.

Personnel

Winchester Nii Tete – percussion

Cari – guitar

Swavek Kowalewski – synthesizer

Yoshinori Kikuchi – shakuhachi

Tom Toeda – engineer

Takehito Ogawa – cover design

Track List

1. Sanctuary

(Yoshinori Kikuchi and Isaku Kageyama)

2. MR KE

(Swavek Kowalewski and Isaku Kageyama)

3. Yatai

4. Taiko-do

5. Edo Bayashi Conversations

(Winchester Nii Tete and Isaku Kageyama)

6. Solo Shimedaiko

7. Winchester’s Groove

(Winchester Nii Tete, Cari, and Isaku Kageyama)

About “Hybrid Soul” – Rock Trio Taiko Album

As a little boy, I remember playing taiko at the local Bon Odori (Obon festival) and listening to my father play “Red House” on his Fender Stratocaster at home.  That’s why I don’t hear folkloric Japanese Minyo and Hendrix as entirely different forms of music.

I met guitarist Chris Young and bassist Pat Glynn in Tokyo, and we formed a trio that played Jazz Rock arrangements of these folkloric songs.  Hope you enjoy it.

Personnel

Chris Young – guitars, loops, organ

Pat Glynn – bass

Shinya Matsushita – recording engineer

Dan Feiszli – mix engineer

Brandon Duncan – mix enineer

Greg Reierson – mastering engineer

Ryan Bruss – photography

Kiku Yamaguchi – cover design

Track List

1. Sohma Bon Uta

(Harvest Song)

2. Yagi Bushi

(The Story of a Yakuza)

3. Sounds of the Sea

4. Soran Bushi

(Fisherman’s Song)

5. Dear Prudence

6. Nikata Bushi

(Celebration Song)

7. Hachijo Island

(Taiko Love Song)

8. Tanko Bushi

(Coal Minder’s Song)