Tuesday 5 May 2009

Shibusashirazu Orchestra @ Goodman

by craig

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Daisuke Fuwa has conducted the Shibusashirazu Orchestra for 20 years, a huge collection of free jazz musicians and dancers. I had heard so much about what an amazing live band they were but never had the chance to see them live. Last night they were playing at Club Goodman in Akihabara so I jumped on my mamachari and pedaled over there. After being distracted by the shiny things in the guitar shop above, we descended the stairs to the tiny livehouse in the basement. It soon filled up with enthusiastic fans and the stage filled up with over 20 musicians and performers; drums, saxophones, trumpets, guitars, bass, keyboards, tuba, dancers, singers, girl waving giant bananas....
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The crowd pumped their fists as Shibusashirazu started their first song, a 30 minute half-improvised jazz/ska/rock explosion with long crazy guitar and sax solos. Butoh dancers appeared from nowhere on the platform beside us scaring the girls behind me. Later they played a Kiyoshiro Imawano song as a tribute to the legendary rock singer who recently died of cancer. The sound and energy was amazing coming from the middle aged guys on the stage as they played over 3 hours of fast wild rock-influenced jazz causing even the shyest audience members to dance and wave their hands in the air. I was exhausted.
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There is nothing like a Shibusashirazu Orchestra show. You have to experience it at least once.

They are playing on Sunday May 10 (as Shibusashirazu) at O-Nest supporting moools and nhhmbase. Details.

The Orchestra is also playing at Club Quattro in Shibuya on May 28th. Details.

Shibusashirazu Orchestra are regulars at Fuji Rock Festival and will be playing again this year on day 3 (July 26th). Details.

You can sometimes catch members of the orchestra playing at places like Airegin in Yokohama.

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3 Comments:

Blogger redegg said...

Banana girl! Look at her go!

2:20 am, May 07, 2009  
Blogger Jrim said...

Shibusashirazu blew my mind the first time I saw them (at a similarly monstrous 3 1/2 hour show in Nagoya a few years back), and I've been a fan ever since. I've gotta say, though: if you're going to see them, go to one of their solo shows. The condensed sets I've seen them do while sharing the bill with other bands have always been disappointing - their songs become more interesting the more they sprawl, but can sound a bit bland and conventional when forced to stick to a stringent time limit.

2:58 pm, May 07, 2009  
Blogger mr craig e said...

redegg - what talent!

Jrim - yeah, i can imagine the more freedom they have, they more amazing they are. the quattro show is set to be something special.

2:23 pm, May 08, 2009  

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