Latest album from Yaeyama's Tetsuhiro Daiku is a collaboration with Indonesian gamelan. Okinawan music and gamelan music use the same five note scale, so this is a perfect match, and as with most releases on the Off Note label definitely worth checking out. Nine tracks including a bonus track and two remixes.
Tetsuhiro Daiku recorded some of the most groundbreaking and pioneering Okinawan music of the 90s when he combined Okinawan music with chindon. In 2006 he's reunited with some of the same musicians (the Aurasian Brass Band) but for the first time possibly Japan's leading chindon group from Osaka, the mighty Chindon Tsushinsha. The results don't disappoint. This is a big project, some 23 musicians playing chindon, trumpet, clarinets, banjo, saxophones, accordion, tuba, ukulele, pianica, electric guitar, Hammond organ and more are combined with Daiku's sanshin and distinctive voice. It's not overproduced however, instead each track sounds different but the album hangs together perfectly. The 16 tracks are mostly Japanese songs dating back to between 1901 and 1935, mostly from the 1920s, the hit songs of the day. There are some children's songs too featuring a charming small children's choir. A monumental album. Price: £23.99
From Yaeyama, Tetsuhiro Daiku has one of Okinawa's most distinctive voices. On this CD he is joined by his wife, also an excellent singer on an album of standard minyo folk songs from Yaeyama.
Superb double album featuring Daiku's now regular Japanese band members and a few new additions. Mandolin, accordion, tuba, saxophone, ukulele, piano, drums, percussion and a host of other instruments accompany Daiku's sanshin and vocals, with some help on vocals by wife, Naiko. Songs range from Japanese standards, such as Japanese Rumba, to Okinawan traditional favourites such as "Asadoya yunta" and some originals. The theme of the album is searching for a "utopia" of non-categorized, just good music. In this they have definitely succeeded. Constantly surprising, challenging and entertaining. Price: £28.99
Up-beat Eisa (festival) tunes and other classics performed by Tetsuhiro Daiku and Satoru Shimoji are given modern and dancefloor mixes. Chants of Hiya! Hiya! Sassa! intersperced with sanshin, keyaboards on high quality recordings. Could have sounded all too cheesy, but avoids the pitfalls. Classic tunes include Asadoya Yunta, Hiyamikachi Bushi and Toshin Doi.
Wonderful mixture of Okinawan and Japanese chindon music. Chindon is a form of street advertising featuring drums and wind instruments. This album, perhaps Daiku's best was influential to some Japanese bands, especially Soul Flower Mononoke Summit. Price: £23.99
Exceptional album of chindon and Okinawan music with driving percussion, wild and wonderful.
The first groundbreaking collaboration between Daiku and sax player Kazutoki Umezu. Okinawan traditional tunes and sanshin with cello, percussion, bass, guitar, clarinet, sax, piano and pianica. Originally released in 1993 still sounds as good as ever. Price: £23.99
New album of traditional celebration songs, done exceptionally well. Another traditional album.
Fantastic album of Yaeyama traditional songs performed in fairly traditional style, except for wonderful version of Tsuki nu Kaisha, featuring oud, bass and percussion. As always from Daiku, a class album. Price: £23.99
Like having Tetsuhiro perform in your living room. Pure traditional shima Yaeyama shima uta, with his powerful voice, sanshin vocal accompaniment of his wife Naiko.
Traditional album by Yaeyama's finest musician and singer. Not groundbreaking, but exceedingly good. . Price: £23.99
Recorded in the 70s, traditional shima uta from Yaeyama and Miyako island.
Stunning CD of Tetsuhiro in modern mode, with a range of musicians,including Kotobuki. Price: £23.99
Another brilliant album from Yaeyama's finest,mixing folk with rock and other elements in quite radical fashion.
The first 5 tunes feature Okinawan Tetsuhiro Daiku performing standards such as Tsuki nu Kaisha, Tinsagu nu Hana, Toshin Doi and Asadoya Yunta, together with a group of ocarina (South American ceramic small flute) players. The rest is made up of tracks by a group of school children all playing ocarina, ocarina and drums, and other small groups. It's all recorded live at ocarina festivals. Bizzare, yet enjoyable. Price: £23.99
