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- Biography: Ross, Peter -


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Ross, Peter

Peter Ross is a shakuhachi teacher, performer, flute-maker, and recording artist living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. He began his studies with F.K. Nagao in 1972 in Hawaii. While living there, he began making shakuhachi flutes out of bamboo and also teaching at Hilo Community College. In 1976, Peter began studying with Masayuki Koga in San Francisco. Peter is the originator of the Arabian shakuhachi.

When Masayuki Koga moved from San Francisco to the Zen center in Minneapolis, Peter moved there with his family. There he began to make lathe-turned wooden shakuhachi. He decided to make flutes from quality hardwoods, such as rosewood and cocobolo. Peter was the first flute maker outside of Japan to make hardwood shakuhachi. During his fourteen-year stay in Minneapolis, besides teaching shakuhachi, Peter performed for several years at a well-known Japanese restaurant.

More recently Peter has studied with Ray Brooks, Teruo Furuya, Marco Leinhard, and Akikazu Nakamura.

Since, 1992, Peter has resided in Seattle where he is very active as a shakuhachi performer, teacher and flute maker.

As a player, Peter brings his uniquely innovative style to the shakuhachi. He plays with great feeling and creativity. Strongly influenced by jazz, Peter uses his improvisational skills to transcend traditional shakuhachi playing styles. His playing has appeared on soundtracks for both film and television. Along with Gary Haggerty, Peter is a founding member of the world music group Journey East.

Speciality: Shakuhachi
Email: peteross@cloudhandsmusic.com
Homepage: http://www.cloudhandsmusic.com

Teachers:

Albums released:

    Bamboo Bamboo Spirit

    Peter's first shakuhachi recording, Bamboo Spirit is a collection of beautiful Japanese folk melodies and meditative improvisations...played on the shakuhachi flute, known for its haunting sound and serene qualities. Suitable for massage therapy, tai chi and yoga.

    Mystic Mystic Caravan

    ". .every time I pick up a flute, I still hope to go beyond everything I know to a new place of pure feeling and expression..." -Peter Ross

    Primitive Primitive Heart

    Hit the play button and enter the space of Primitive Heart, Peter Ross' fourth studio recording. A vibrant Shakuhachi showcase, it features Peter on Shakuhachi, Bass Shakuhachi, bamboo flute and his own creation, the Arabian Shakuhachi. Powerful and passionate, Primitive Heart is also a testament to his experimental nature. With obvious delight, Peter weaves exotic melodies with world music rhythms, then adds uncommon accompaniments that include oud, viola, brazilian berimabau, and ethnic drums like the clay udu, djembe, and dunbek. The result is a hypnotic opus of rhythm and melody that resonates long after the last cut.

    Space Space between thoughts - a journey east, The

    The space between thoughts... a journey east is a deeply meditative recording of shakuhachi and bamboo flutes played with ethnic instruments of the Middle East, India and Asia. This eclectic combination of the flute, harmonium, violin, and tambura transcends global boundaries. This recording uses drones, continuous long tones as an underlying basis for most of the songs, bringing a peaceful and calming feeling to the entire collection. Elegant vocals were also used on several of the pieces, adding an hypnotic and exquisite backdrop to Peter's superb talent.

    View View From Here, The

    The View From Here grew out of Peter's travels through Asia, his lifelong love of jazz improvisation and from years of studying the shakuhachi, the Zen flute of Japan. The music on this recording is global, including a blues tune, Japanese folk songs, an Arabian love song, and free interpretations of music from Bali and South India.

Tracks recorded: Composed or Arranged:
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