The International Shakuhachi Society

- Recording: Bamboo -

Bamboo

Bamboo

Neptune, John Kaizan
Toshiba-EMI Ltd. - ETJ-85008
1980

Track	Title	Kanji	Length	Shakuhachi	Shamisen	Koto
1 (Listen)	Bamboo		05'25	Neptune, John Kaizan
	John's original title for this mellow piece was "Tubes," as the strong bass line is accented with the sound of Hawaiian "stamping tubes" of bamboo, called "ka'eke'eke." The shakuhachi, too, is a bamboo tube -- one with great power and sensitivity.
2 (Listen)	Blue Wind		12'26	Neptune, John Kaizan
	John employs "short" and "long" bamboo flutes in addition to the standard 21-1 2-inch shakuhachi to express the versatility and flavors of this piece. The blues, funk and straight-on jazz are lovingly combined with a good measure of Oriental soul. This number in particular demonstrates John's comment that shakuhachi is sometimes a way of "blowing Zen."
3 (Listen)	Walk Downtown		03'58	Neptune, John Kaizan
	Some view the bamboo tree and its airy foliage as the perfect light accent to a garden. Yet underlying the delicacy is the strength and flexibility masterfully demonstrated by John's bamboo flute in this easy flowing number.
4 (Listen)	Genji	源氏	12'19	Neptune, John Kaizan
	Arakawa's strengths as an original composer and jazz arranger are well presented in this swinging, melodic number. It was first performed by the Tokyo Union big band at the Montreaux Jazz festival, Switzerland, in 1978. The arrangement here makes effective use of John's consummate shakuhachi style, with a Japanese "biwa" (lute) for flavor.
5 (Listen)	Fun Key (Ra Ra Ra)		04'51	Neptune, John Kaizan
	Another very approachable piece in which the shakuhachi, which is most often played as a solo instrument in the traditional Japanese literature, gets a chance to show its ability to jam right along with the brash brass and booming bass.