Work has been (and promises to continue) keeping us busy, and today, though Sunday, also involved a work-related event. Lucky for us, though, that part of the event included a private performance by John Kaizan Neptune and his band, Takedake. Pronounced "ta-kay da-kay", the kanji means "Bamboo bamboo", but the words can also mean bamboo only (different kanji, though). This is a totally appropriate name since this band plays all-bamboo instruments, key among them being the shakuhachi, which can most easily be described as a bamboo flute. Kaizan makes his own shakuhachi, and the drummer for the band makes all his drums himself from the bamboo that proliferates in the mountains where he lives. You'd be really amazed at what these skilled musicians can do with their bamboo instruments.
Using our little, aging Lumix LZ2 I got a couple of short video clips. I pieced them together and you can see a sampling of what the Takedake band can do:
You can view John Kaizan Neptune's website here at http://www.pacificsites.com/~jneptune/
3 comments:
Not a bad day out then. The Japanese have always been very creative. I knew a few while volunteering and they were some of the best people I've ever met.
Thanks for sharing. We enjoyed the music, and appreciated the creativity of the band.
Pretty cool stuff. I can certainly think of worse ways to spend time on the job
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