Ecchu-Owara-bushi/Sakura, Sakura • Casey Driessen, Yutaka Oyama & Akihito Obama [OTHERLANDS: Japan]

Details

Description

This recording is the 20th in a new multi-episode project by Casey Driessen titled - OTHERLANDS: A Global Music Exploration.

LOCATION: Tokyo, Japan
DATE: Mar. 12, 2020

CREDITS
Song: Ecchu-Owara-bushi / Sakura, Sakura (Traditional)
Music Arranged by: Casey Driessen, Yutaka Oyama & Akihito Obama
Shamisen: Yutaka Oyama
Shakuhachi: Akihito Obama
Fiddle, Audio & Video: Casey Driessen

EQUIPMENT
The following Shure microphones were used in the making of this collaboration. If you’re interested in learning more and/or purchasing one, please use the links below. This helps to support the music I make. Thank you.

Shure KSM44 [large diaphragm condenser] (https://amzn.to/2OMSAR9)
Shure KSM141 [small diaphragm condenser] (https://amzn.to/3bjbQ1U)
Shure BETA 181 [cardioid capsule] (https://amzn.to/2vcNdU1)
Shure A53M [shock stopper] (https://amzn.to/2Ox3hqx)

ABOUT THE COLLABORATION
Back in 2013, I did a remote recording session from my (then) home in Nashville, TN for Japanese shamisen player Yutaka Oyama. We had met a few years before at the historic bluegrass venue, the Station Inn. Yutaka had gifted me one of his CDs and it was my first introduction to the shamisen. Heading to Japan this year, I really hoped we could meet again.

*For more music and projects from Yutaka and Akihito, please visit:
- Yutaka’s: Website / Facebook / Instagram / YouTube
Website (http://oyamayutaka.com/) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/yutaka.oyama.3)

- Akihito's: Website / Facebook
Website (http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~obama/akihito/english/akihito.html) or Facebook
(https://www.facebook.com/AkihitoObamaEnglish)

Yutaka had a gig and a new record in the works—both of which he invited me to play on. I started to make my Japan plans around this schedule. And then the Covid-19 pandemic started to dictate everyones life. Our gig was canceled, but we were still able to record.

We decided to add another song to our session for my project. Yutaka mentioned trying a medley of traditional Japanese tunes — specifically one from his Minyo roots called "Ecchu Owara-bushi" and the classic "Sakura, Sakura." Yutaka asked if I was interested in inviting another Japanese traditional musician to our session. Of course! And this is how shakuhachi master Akihito Obama joined our afternoon.

We set in to work on the tune tunes. On "Ecchu," Akihito and I would both share some melody unisons for instrumental sections and trade off melody roles for the verses. This would be followed by an improvisational section between the three of us using the miyako-bushi scale that "Sakura, Sakura" is written from. Somehow, we'd find our way into a rubato version of "Sakura," followed by Yutaka establishing a groove to take us out.

As the first take began, I could feel an intensity of concentration and listening. None of us knew what to expect since we hadn't played through the full arrangement yet. During the improvisational section, the dynamic range of the shakuhachi startled me, and inspired me, as Akihito punctuated silences with breathy stabs. As we finished the take, I felt a wave of concentration release. We had made it to the end of a powerful adventure. High fives, smiles, and excited statements were exchanged. This was an exhilarating trio and a completely new experience for all of us.

If you’d like to read more about our collaboration, please visit:
http://www.caseydriessen.com/blog/shamisen-shaukachi-fiddle-w-yutaka-oyama-and-akihito-obama

~~~

To follow along the OTHERLANDS project, please visit:
OTHERLANDS Webpage (http://www.CaseyDriessen.com/Otherlands)
Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/caseydriessen),
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/caseydriessen),
or this YouTube channel.

ABOUT THE PROJECT
OTHERLANDS: A Global Music Exploration follows GRAMMY-nominated 5-string American fiddler Casey Driessen as he travels with his family to various countries across the globe to meet with local acoustic-based musicians with roots in their own traditions. Musical exchanges and travels are documented via audio, video and photography elements with collected materials released over the course of the project via his website and social media outlets and official musical releases likely to come at the end of travels.

OTHERLANDS is an independently designed and produced project that is self-contained with a small collection of audio and video equipment. All engineering and recording, including any post-production, can be set up, operated, and completed by Casey wherever on the globe he happens to be.

For more information and to follow the project, please visit — http://www.CaseyDriessen.com/Otherlandsded...