Isso Yukihiro Group 'Shirase'

24 November 2005

Location: Asahi Art Square
Live: Isso Yukihiro (nokan, shinobue, denngakubue, Blockflute, hunting horn), Akihisa Tsuboi (violin), Junichi Takagi (guitar), Masaki Yoshimi (tabla), Hiroshi Motofuji (taiko drum)

Isso Yukihiro is a noh theatre Isso school flute player and an improvisational musician who has been collaborating with many international artists in a variety of genres. At the same time, he is pursuing a ‘high-speed acoustic’ soundscape which he believes is unique to Japan and has formed a group ‘Shirase’ by gathering top artists from various fields. ‘Shirase’ is made up of violinist Akihisa Tsuboi, who explores beyond the normal range of conventional electric and acoustic violin; guitarist Junichi Takagi, who actively collaborates with a variety of artists including Masara; Asaki Yoshimi, who works with traditional Indian musicians, musicians from various other genres, dancers and artists; and Hirose Motofuji, who is actively involved with the hybrid taiko group ‘Da.K.T.’ ‘Shirase’ is the word/phrase originally used as a sign to move on to the next melody in Isso school musical terminology. The audience could feel the new ’shirase’ of the next generation.

Isso Yukihiro: Yukihiro is the elderst son of Isso Yukimasa, a noh theatre Isso school flute player. After giving his first performance at the age of nine, he has been serving on traditional noh stages as a flutist. He began his exploration of fusing new interpretations with noh classics by forming the group ‘Wohiyari’ in 1991, which has been attracting attention from various fields. He is a member of the Association for Japanese Noh Play (Important Intangible Cultural Heritage) and an adjunct instructor at the Tokyo National University of Arts and Music.

Organized by: Asahi Cafe Night Committee
Special Sponsor: Asahi Breweries

Link: Isso Yukihiro