Nyuunen Video

Makigami uploaded a new video on YouTube.



It is Nyuunen, shooted on October 26th 2009 at Shibuya Quatro.

Related Entries:
Nyuunen (2007)
Three Encores

1978 is ready to go

Makigami and Sakaide at Saidera Mastering, supervising the remaster process of 1978

The remastering of 1978 is now complete and ready to go.

The original recording was done on the 4 track, reel-to-reel tape. At the remastering, 5.6 Mhz DSD mastering was used. It is the highest resolution available right now so surely it sounds great.

The reissue of 1978 will be released on March 21st, 2010.

(photo from Saidera Mastering blog)

Makigamisantachi and Ru-Inchi

Makigamisantachi with Samm Bennett on June 4th, 2007 at Shinjuku Pit-Inn, Tokyo

Another World Of Hikashu is a concert series which is the showcase event of the members' solo works. It seems that it is going to be bi-monthly. The 2nd and 3rd events are announced as follows.

Another World Of Hikashu #2
Makigamisantachi:
Makigami (voice, theremin), Freeman (guitar), Sakaide (bass)
Guest: Samm Bennett (electronics)
On April 14th, 2010
@ Aoyama Cay
open 18:00, start 20:00
advance 3,500 yen - at door 4,000 yen

Another World Of Hikashu #3
Ru-Inchi:
Mita Freeman (guitar), Sakaide Masami (bass), Sensui Toshiro (drums), iWah
Guest: Shimizu Kazuto (keyboard)
On June 16th, 2010
@ Aoyama Cay
open 18:00, start 20:00
advance 3,500 yen - at door 4,000 yen

Makigamisantachi (its meaning: "Mr. Makigami and his company") is electro improvising trio. It has been a while since their last gig so it is nice to see them again.


Samm Bennett

Samm Bennett is American percussionist, used to be a member of the improvisation unit called Third Person, with cellist Tom Cora. Actually he once played with Makigamisantachi in 2007. At the gig, it was supposed he would play duo with Makigami but he eventually played with the trio and it turned out so good, reportedly. Certainly it is going to be fine performance again.

I'm quite surprised to know Ru-Inchi (sp?) is back. There's so little information about the group. There are no recording available (maybe there's some obscure cassette release) and I don't even know what kind of music they played. As far as I know, the band was formed in early 1980s with Mita, Sakaide and Sensui but the personnel was always in flux. Sensui was a member of Hikashu in 1981-1982 and after quitting the band, he still played with Ru-Inchi. I don't know what the name means, either. At least I could say it is not Japanese. I remember hearing somewhere that it means "Rope" in Chinese but I'm not sure.

It is thrilling to see Sensui playing with Hikashu members again. He still plays the drums but it's quite been a while since he played with them. The last gig of Ru-Inchi was held circa 1986. I'm really looking forward to seeing them at last.


Sensui Toshiro in 1981.

Aoyama CAY website

Related Entries:
New Concert Series
Makigamisantachi - Tompal (2005)

The Ventures - Super Live '80 (1980)

Side A:
1. Hawaii Five-O
2. Walk Don't Run
3. Classical Gas
4. Japanese Medley
5. Ghost Riders In The Sky
6. Cruel Sea
7. Manchurian Beat

Side B:
1. House Of The Rising Sun
2. Apache
3. Nokie's Acoustic Medley
4. Pipeline
5. Wipe Out

Side C:
1. Gold Finger
2. Theme From "No Smoking"
3. Washington Square
4. Mushuku
5. Ginza Ska
6. Runaway
7. Surfin' U.S.S.R.
8. Sutekina Flamingo

Side D:
1. Pike
2. Slaughter On Tenth Avenue
3. Telstar
4. Diamond Head
5. Caravan

Recorded live at Shibuya Kokaido on August 13th, 1980.

The Ventures are:
Don Wilson, Slide Guitar, Vocal on C6
Bob Bogle, Bass
Nokie Edwards, Lead Guitar
Mel Taylor, Drums

with
Hikashu on D1-3:
Makigami Koichi, Vocal
Mitama Masamichi, Guitar
Yamashita Yasushi, Keyboard
Inoue Makoto, Keyboard
Tobe Satoshi, Alto Saxophone

Kato Kazuhiko, Guitar on D1
Chikada Haruo, Keyboard on C1-8, D1, D3


Besides Chameleon, this 2-LP set is the other Ventures' album related to Hikashu.

How Hikashu ended up playing with the Ventures is not known. Maybe the producer of the Chameleon album, Kato Kazuhiko, invited them to participate.

The concert consisted of three sets. Hikashu played first, the Ventures were next, then the two bands got together to play. Also, Kato Kazuhiko and Chikada Haruo joined the last set.

At rehearsal, Don and Nokie gave Mitama quick lesson how to play that Glissando on Diamond Head.

Unfortunately, the album has never been reissued. But the first three tracks from Side D were included in Chameleon CD (2000 edition). And D1 was also included in Hikashu's album, Hikashu Super (1981).

related entries:
The Ventures - Chameleon (1980)
The Story of Pike