The International Shakuhachi Society
- Biography: Singer, John -
John Singer, master shakuhachi teacher, performer, recording artist and former shakuhachi instructor at the University of Hawaii, has performed music on the Japanese bamboo flute since 1975. After several years of intensive study under the tutelage of the late shakuhachi Grand Master and Living National Treasure Yamaguchi Goro and shakuhachi master Matsumura Homei, John was awarded a Shihan (Master Teacher certificate) in 1982. It is important to note that John is one of the very few shakuhachi masters in the world to perform using extremely rare ancient instruments dating back to the 17th century. John has performed throughout Japan, Hawaii, Eurpoe, and mainland United States to audiences very appreciative of his unusual talent and mastery of this difficult musical instrument. He has appeared many times on radio and television, and has been actively performing and lecturing at colleges, Zen centers, and other venues in recent years. In addition to providing mesmerizing enterteinment, the purpose of John Singer's concerts is to give his audiences an understanding of the shakuhachi both as an unusually dynamic musical instrument and as a meditative tool having a rich hsitory within the Zen Buddhist tradition.
Speciality: Shakuhachi
Born: 1956/08/04
Email: js@zenflute.com
Homepage: http://www.zenflute.com/
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Albums released:
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Endless Sea - Impressions of Japan An exciting fusion of Japanese and Western musical traditions, this non-edited acoustic performance blends the haunting qualities of John Singer's shakuhachi with the superb musicianship of Paul Hurst on the Concert Harp. |
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Global Motion A world jazz recording with Paul Horn and members of Skywalk, with rhythms ranging from Brazilian, to African, to Japanese. Global Motion matches master flutist John Singer's shakuhachi with sax, flute, keyboards, guitar, bass, vocals, and a lot of percussion. |
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Moonlit Castle An exciting fusion of Japanese and Western musical traditions, this non-edited acoustic performance blends the haunting qualities of John Singer's shakuhachi with the superb musicianship of Paul Hurst on the Concert Harp. |
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Naked Vision Going beyond traditional musical and cultural boundaries, John Singer's Naked Vision is a collaboration of his Shakuhachi music with that of other master musicians including Zakir Hussain (tablas), R. Carlos Nakai (Native American flute), Aenea Keyes (violin), Todd Barton (composer, synthesizers), and others in a striking new world music recording. |
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Shakuhachi Bell A performance of four Kinko Ryu Zen Buddhist pieces by John Singer combined with the Tibetan bells of Karma Moffett. The first piece Hifumi Hachigaeshi No Shirabe is a combination of two pieces, Hifumi No Shirabe (Introduction) and Hachigaeshi (Returning of the Bowl). The next two pieces Koku Reibo (A Bell Ringing in The Empty Sky) and Mukaiji Reibo (Misty Ocean Bell) are two of the most difficult and highly regarded of the Kinko Ryu Honkyoku pieces. And the fourth piece Yugure No Kyoku (Twilight Bell) is considered to be one of the most beautiful. |
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Shakuhachi Zen John Singer gives a solo performance of the rare and ancient Nezasa Ha Kinpu Ryu Honkyoku Zen Buddhist pieces. These were taught to him by the Iemoto (Grand Master) of the Kinpu Ryu, Inoue Shouei (Inoue Shigeshi) in 1987. This music originated in northern Japan and consists of 10 pieces in total. This is their first introduction to the West. |
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Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 1 The first recording of its kind, John Singer performs 16 Zen Buddhist pieces using 11 ancient and rare Edo and Meiji period instruments. |
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Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 2 The first recording of its kind, John Singer performs 16 Zen Buddhist pieces using 11 ancient and rare Edo and Meiji period instruments. (Disc 2) |
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Zen Shakuhachi Duets Master shakuhachi musicians John Singer and Mizuno Kohmei perform seven of the rare Kinko Ryu honkyoku duets. Most of these were created by their teacher, the Grand Master and Living National Treasure, Yamaguchi Goro. This is the only recording of its kind. The Compact Disc includes a special duet version of Sokaku Reibo (Nesting Cranes). |
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