Agatsuma

1. Kaze

2. Tsugaru Jongarabushi

3. Yuu

4. Tsugaru Aiyabushi

5. Miyabi

6. Tsugaru Yosarebushi

7. Yuudachi

8. Tsugaru Ondo

9. Tsugaru Sansagari

10. Yoakemae

Tracks:

Rainbow Wind
Time Traveler
Matsuri Bayashi
Rainfall
Souran Bushi
Feast
Falling Petals
Moment
Harvest Day
Passion Rose
Tabaruzaka

Customer Reviews:

Agatsuma at his best!.......2005-06-29

The first album of his I listened to was Beyond and I was captivated by its interesting sound. I went back and picked up his Beams album. It too was good, albeit not as good as Beyond. Having just popped this into my CD player, I am utterly wowed by this CD. Agatsuma departs from his normal blend of shamisen with various electronic sounds in previous albums with a CD chock full of beautiful instrumentation that doesn't detract from the sound of shamisen. Interestingly enough, the last song on the album is an actual song with words and everything. Definitely the best album from Agatsuma yet. I hope his next one will surpass this. My favorite song is probably Rainbow River, the first song, or Time Traveler, the second song. You will definitely enjoy this album if you are an Agatsuma fan.

Average customer rating:

Beyond CD by Agatsuma
Traditional kicked up a couple of notches
beautiful...

Beyond
Agatsuma
Manufacturer: Domo Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Beams
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Yoshida Brothers
III

ASIN: B0001FGBDY
Release Date: 2004-03-09

Tracks:

Dawnlight (Akatsuki No Hikari)
A Paper In The Air (Kami No Mai) (Beyond Version)
An End Of Sorrow (Kanashimi No Hate)
Heartbeat (Kodo)
Tears...
Shami's Groove
Baetnorae/Tsugaru Yosare Bushi
In The Sky
Panther
Thought Of You (Kimi E No Omoi)

Album Description

Fusing the soul and softly plaintive twang of traditional Tsugaru-shamisen with an informed mastery of contemporary Western musical idioms, Agatsuma's US debut release in 2003, Beams, was a landmark in the East-meets-West appeal of the art form that is "unusually exotic, yet familiar at the same time."

Agatsuma's latest work, Beyond, is comprised of wholly original material, and injects shamisen with elements of rock, jazz, techno, funk, urban and Latin grooves. While modernizing the basics of the ancient genre for today's audiences, Agatsuma has said, "I am careful …to not make the shamisen sound too much like the guitar but maintain its unique phrases and accents…I try not to leave the basics behind." That commitment is immediately apparent with Beyond, which both honors tradition and pushes the artistic envelope of shamisen.

Customer Reviews:

Beyond CD by Agatsuma.......2004-09-08

Agatsuma plays on the Japanese traditional instrument Tsugaru Shamisen. This is a sort of guitar, but there are just three strings. So, you can imagine sound that this instrument is producing, it is very special.

At the same time, music genres used by Agatsuma varies from Neo-Classics and New Age to Jazz, Pop and Rock. And almost Irish music of "In the Sky" could be well used by Riverdance! mmmm, I love it, I want to dance myself when I listen to it!

The palette of music instruments used is impressive too: drums, guitar, shakuhachi, accordion, violins, cello, piano, etc. For a number of tracks programming is done by Seiichi Kyoda (a famous musician, composer and producer).

Unlike the Japanese version of 'Beyond' (which costs hell of money), this US version does not have a copy-control. CD is furnished with a colour 12-page booklet. MP3 samples for all 10 tracks are available on the web-site of Domo Records.

I invite you to try this new CD of Agatsuma!

Traditional kicked up a couple of notches.......2004-04-30

As an introduction to the Western Market, Agatsuma is a Tsugaru shamisen master who is fueling the latest craze in
Japan. A Tsugaru shamisen is a banjo-like, fretless, three stringed instrument. Agatsuma was a child prodigy with the shamisen by age 4 and at age 14 won the top prize in Japan's most prestigious national competition. He is described as a true master of the instrument with a `rock star stance'.

This CD introduces Agatsuma to the western ear, with the traditional feel of the Japanese shamisen backed up with various western beats yet retaining a very Japanese feel to the music.

The music varies in flavor, as in the track "An End of Sorrow' where the accompanying instrument is an accordion, giving it a very `French' flavor. We are presented with a jazz/pop feeling in `Dawnlight' and jazz/funk in `Shami's Groove'. There is a very traditional feel in `Heartbeat', a very soft, romantic ballad in `Tears' while being very powerful in `Panther.

The material is all original compositions, and you can easily identify the influences of rock, jazz and even Latin beats. They are expertly interwoven into the compositions, never detracting from the very definite Japanese texture to the music.

This is a very good introduction to the shamisen by a master not only of the instrument itself but also in composition to highlight the artist's ability to incorporate it into modern music. You can easily understand how this instrument has gone into a revival in Japan. Agatsuma very effectively brings the past to meet the present in these compositions.

If you are enchanted with the current introduction of Oriental music into the US as I am, this is a great addition to your collection. It is also a wonderful introduction to the Western Ear of an instrument that has found a place in modern music.
mafoster

beautiful..........2004-04-01

I stumbled upon this CD while searching for music containing tsugaru shamisen (traditional Japanese stringed instrument). At first, I was going to just write it off as being another "world fusion" attempt, however, I decided to give it a try... WOW, to my surprise, it was absolutely beautiful!

The shamisen is such an emotion evoking instrument as it is, and paired with electronic beats and world music influences... well, a completely new sound is created... and it is SO refreshing... and beautiful! I love how the traditional sounds of the shamisen meld with the modern components of the music... the rhythms are great, too.

Most importantly, I can listen to this album and not get bored. The music takes you on a journey, without staying in one place too long. Oh, and the kodo drums are amazing!!!

Beams
Average customer rating:

Japanese Tsugaru-Shamisen as you have never heard it played

Great writing

Beams
Agatsuma
Manufacturer: Domo Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
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General | Jazz | Styles | Music
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Beyond

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III

Yoshida Brothers, Vol. 2

Yoshida Brothers

ASIN: B00007MB5E
Release Date: 2003-01-28

Tracks:

Beams
In Memory Of NY
Solitude
Accustom
Fun
On Bourbon St.
In The Rain
Grooving
Curfew
Blown Away

Album Description

The 14-year-old winner of the 1988 All-Japan Tsugaru-Shamisen Competition, Hiromitsu Agatsuma, began his studies on this traditional 3-stringed Chinese instrument at the age of six. For several more years, the young artist continued to develop his talents and for two consecutive years in 1995 and 1996 was awarded the prestigious top prize in the Tsuguru-Shamisen National Competition held in Hirosaki, Japan.

Receiving high acclaim in Hogaku (traditional Japanese music) inspired Agatsuma to continue exploring the unique qualities of the Tsugaru-Shamisen, and in turn, his own music speciality. On his sophomore release, Beams, Agatsuma blends his many musical influences of jazz, rock fusion and Latin based grooves with traditional Japanese folk music.

Customer Reviews:

Japanese Tsugaru-Shamisen as you have never heard it played .......2005-01-24

This CD presents us with another vision by the master of the Tsugaru-Shamisen. Agatsuma was a child prodigy on the Tsugaru-Shamisen, a three stringed fretless banjo-like instrument. The Shamisen is an instrument that originated in China. Tsugaru refers to the area in the northern tip of mainland Japan. The Japanese developed their own style of playing this instrument and the Shamisen from this area of Japan are noted for their powerful style of sound and playing, which is why it is specifically referred to by its place of origin.

While its history is one of use in classical Japanese music, the recent revival of this instrument and Agatsuma's incorporation of this traditional instrument into modern music is one of the most successful integrations of this kind. The flavor of the music is most definitely Japanese folk, but the beats are clearly western.

This CD highlights the use of the Tsugaru-Shamisen in a variety of styles of music. Recorded on his first national tour, these original compositions highlight the ability of this instrument to be incorporated into modern music. They also establish Agatsuma as the master of the instrument not only in his ability to play it to a variety of styles of music but also composing music that allows the blending to be seamless as well as pleasing to the ear.

The opening track of Beams is an upbeat fusion of electronica and the Tsugaru-Shamisen. Almost William Orbit in style, it features driving rhythms in the background which emphasizes the Tsugaru-Shamisen as well as Agatsuma's ability to play the instrument in harmony with the style of music.

In Memory of NY gives us an "on the streets" flavor, somewhat jazz, somewhat pop, and most definitely Japanese. This composition is well constructed and features hot jazz and cool sound of the Tsugaru-Shamisen.

Solitude has a "new age" feel to it, like a gentle breeze through the Cherry blossoms. This piece features piano and Tsugaru-Shamisen, and highlights Agatsum's mastery of the instrument.

Accustom is a very short piece, highlighting Japanese drumming with the Tsugaru-Shamisen, and adding light elements of electronica to fill in the background, very successfully softening the rough edges but being very effective.

Fun is exactly that. We experience Japanese folk music, with a Latin jazz beat, funky piano, and it is a very surprising upbeat piece. Again we are presented with another style of music where the Tsugaru-Shamisen feels right at home.

On Bourbon St. challenges the ear with a very blues beat that can be found in a very Japanese sound. And it works! Blending the Tsugaru-Shamisen with only a drum leaves you snapping your fingers as you recognize the beat and delight in the blending.

We return to the ambient/new age feeling with a short piece called In the Rain which again features the Tsugaru-Shamisen blended with drums and electronica, as we experience the force of a storm and gentleness of a Japanese inspired rain.

And in the track Groovin we again have a jazz piece with piano, drums and instead of guitar we have the Tsugaru-Shaminsen. Again, another great composition that is upbeat and brings your feet to the dance floor.

Curfew is a very traditional piece, overlaid on an orchestrated background. While most of the CD focuses on East meets West, this piece is more of a very Japanese composition. This is a very dramatic piece that gives us the roots of instrument in a very impressive composition.

The final track is called Blown Away and the energy level is kicked up to give this CD a rocking finish. Elements of Rock, jazz and the ever present Japanese folk music are blended flawlessly to leave you wanting to hear the CD again.

After listening to this CD, you can understand how Agatsuma`s first CD in 2001 received the "Album of the Year" award at the Japan Gold Disc Awards. This is a wonderful addition to your music library and if you have not heard Agatsuma before, this can be a great introduction to this style of music. mafoster

Great writing.......2003-02-14

A really good sense of melody for this great record. Agatsuma konws how to get the audience listening with an amazing sounding!
I strongly recommend this album!

Average customer rating:

A truly amazing sound

En
Agatsuma
Manufacturer: Domo Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000NOKAUI
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Tracks:

Under the Moon
Ringo Oiwake
En
Double Sided
Mogami Riverboat Song
Distant City
Resonating Prayer
Ushibuka Haiyabushi
In the Still Of the Night
Otoranbu-Jongarayosakoi

Customer Reviews:

A truly amazing sound.......2007-05-23

I stumbled across this CD and was completely blown away by the sound. Imagine peppy (danceable?) modern jazz with a Japanese feel. Keyboard, piano, drums, acoustic guitar, and many others mix with Agatsuma's shamisen and its distinctive 'slap' sound and create a delicious cocktail of music that is refreshing and cool. If you are a fan of world music (as I am) and modern jazz (ditto), you are guaranteed to enjoy this CD.

Average customer rating:

Agatsuma Beams
Shamisen, past, present, and future

Agatsuma
Hiromitsu Agatsuma
Manufacturer: EMI
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005NDFR
Release Date: 2001-09-07

Tracks:

Kaze
Tsugaru Jongarabushi
Yuu
Tsugaru Aiyabushi
Miyabi
Tsugaru Yosarebushi
Yuudachi
Tsugaru Ondo
Tsugaru Sansagari
Yoakemae

Customer Reviews:

Agatsuma Beams.......2003-04-26

Excellent CD - one of the best I've purchased in years. This one won't gather dust in my CD library!

Regardless of your individual musical tastes, I think you'll find something enjoyable on this CD. It's a virtual sampler of numerous musical styles blending an ancient instrument with modern stylings and rhythms. Enjoy!!

Shamisen, past, present, and future.......2002-04-09

I just can't tell you how much I love this cd. I am currently living in Japan and first heard Agatsuma when he played on a variety show. I was totally amazed by the beauty of the music and knew I had to go out and find this disc. The power of traditional tsugaru songs and the beauty of his contemporary compositions are perfectly complementary. It's a great cd for thinking, reading, relaxing, or just quietly re-energizing at the end of a long day. Get this disc and experience the richness of shamisen music.