JapanNewbie

Seller Fusion Gigs Next Month

Posted on 28. Mar, 2010 @ 11:03 pm by harvey in Art, Media, Music Views: 317

I was contacted by a fellow Iowan who is now in Japan studying Taiko Drumming. His name is Frightened Seller and he has a few fusion gigs coming up with Kazunari Abe, a Japanese shinobue player who has also played with Kodo, the world famous Taiko group. Their group is called Sora Ocean and they have a Facebook page with lots of video clips and concert information. Get out there and support another gaijin doing their thing in Japan!

Freightened Seller with Kazunari Abe on shinobue

Here’s a clip from one of their lives I found on the ol’ YouTube. They’re performing one of their songs called “Maybe” live in Japan.

Most of the events are in the Kansai area, so if you’re not in Kansai… What are you doing? Move there! Seriously though, these events should be cool. Here are the details for the April 19th event.

East Meets West at Kobe Concert
Sora Ocean Combines Shinobue, Piano and Vocals To Create Unique Sound
Monday April 19th
Open 18:30 start 19:00
Adv 2000 yen door 2500 yen
Sora Ocean / NolenNiu-de-Ossi / The Ventz / orgalounge
Kobe, Japan  

Sora Ocean, a band comprised of American artist Frightened Seller on piano and vocals and Japanese musician Kazunari Abe on shinobue, is set to perform its’ first concert in Kobe on Monday April 19th.  

The duo has created an entirely original sound by combining the traditional Japanese bamboo flute with the piano and English lyrics.  Original songs to be included in their set are “Flora’s Alive”,  “Moon Dust”, and “Romance”.  In addition, they will perform Kate Bush’s “Hounds of Love” and Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day”.

Kazunari Abe is a musician and composer who plays the Shinobue, a traditional Japanese flute made from bamboo. He has performed in 23 countries with the taiko group “Kodo”, which he joined in 1995. In the fall of 2009, he returned to his native city Niihama in Ehime. He is currently performing throughout Japan and teaching Shinobue. 

Frightened Seller is a New York based classically trained pianist and composer.  His music has been featured in several independent films and has been played on radio stations throughout the world. He has released 3 full length albums and one EP that are available on iTunes, Amazon, emusic and most online stores. He is currently performing throughout Japan and studying Taiko in Niihama, Ehime.

Sora Ocean will be performing Monday April 19th at 19:00 at Varit in Kobe.  Following Sora Ocean, NolenNiu-de-Ossi will perform their unique style that also combines the use of traditional Japanese and popular modern instruments. Visit http://www.varit.jp for directions.

Also check our the artist’s website: www.frightenedseller.net 

Future Performances:

May 1st, Jeandore Live House, Niihama Japan
May 16th Café & Bar U-en Osaka, Japan
June 5th Jeandore Live House, Niihama Japan
June 19th Sora Ocean Music Festival, Marine Park, Niihama, Japan

Good stuff!

Harvey