My best 5 steel / bottleneck gigs

Kunihiko Suzuki · Post by **Kunihiko Suzuki** » 14 Feb 2005 11:30 pm

Hi. I am very new here in the forum. I play Japanese Tsugaru Shamisen & steels. Because I am from a Northern island of Japan called Hokkaido, not having had much opportunity to see many steel / bottleneck players. But I saw some incredible players somewhere else both in Japan & the US, so I would like to tell my best 5 steel / bottleneck gigs & shows I have ever seen. (Unfortunately, I donft know much about Country, Hawaiian, & Swing music, I am ashamed of myself. These are from my limited experience.)

#5)
Mick Taylor
Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan in 1989
Beautiful fat & natural tone, I would have been able to listen to all night long.

#4)
George Harrison
Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan in 1991
How I should saycHis tone is the best for me. Such a memorable night..

#3)
Steve Kimock
Bend, Oregon in 2003
No wonder all audience was tripped.

#2)
Ry Cooder
Tokyo, Japan in 1988
Very very twangy slide! Nice Supro pickup!

#1)
David Lindley & Hani Naser
Tokyo, Japan gPlaying Real Goodh live in 1991
David Lindley & Wally Ingram
Durango, Colorado in 2004
We welcome Mr. Dave Japan tour 2005, and welcome back to Sapporo, Hokkaido! Hope to listen to VERY GREASY music even though not greasy as before.

Doumo Arigatou.

[This message was edited by Kunihiko Suzuki on 14 February 2005 at 11:33 PM.]

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 17 Feb 2005 8:48 am

Welcome to the forum Kunihiko. There are a lot of very nice people here. Most of the people here are into country music, sometimes to the exclusion of everything else. But if you hang out with us long enough, you'll see that many of us also like and play other kinds of music too.

I heard a guitar that's supposed to sound like a shamisen. It sounds like an interesting instrument. Could you please tell us about it?

Fred Shannon · Post by **Fred Shannon** » 17 Feb 2005 9:49 am

Kunihiko, welcome to the Forum. I concur on the Ry Cooder statement. He's super when he really concentrates on the slide. Glad to have you aboard. How far are you from Sapporo?

fred

------------------
"From Truth, Justice is Born"--Quanah Parker-1904

Dean Vallery · Post by **Dean Vallery** » 17 Feb 2005 10:46 am

Hi Kunihiko,
A big howdy from Texas. Glad to see you posting on the Forum. I know nothing about Japanese Tsugaru Shamisen but I'll bet I could learn to dig it if I ever heard it. As much as I like country music, I know this is a large world we live in and country isn't the only music to listen too.
Deano

Kunihiko Suzuki · Post by **Kunihiko Suzuki** » 18 Feb 2005 8:56 am

gDoumo Arigatouh for the people responded to the topic. Mike, Shamisen is Japanese three stringed fretless banjo-like instrument plucked by "bachi", a huge triangle-shaped pick. Literaly Shamisen means three strings. Basically, there are three types of Shamisen music: Naga-uta (Geisha) style, Okinawa style, and Tsugaru style. Naga-uta is often performed by Geisha girls (including elderly Geishas) to entertain drinkers during parties. It is very slow music, and players are supposed to pick Shamisen very gently. Small Shamisen (Jamisen) is used for Okinawa music; Jamisen is much smaller than regular Shamisen. Fred, Ifve heard that Ry Coooder has one, and have seen the picture David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) playing the same instrument. Tsugaru is an older name of Aomori prefecture, the main island Japan in the North of Honshu. It is known for its harsh cold winters and its folk music Tsugaru-Shamisen. Unlike Naga-uta, Tsugaru-Shamisen is plucked with amazing speed in intricate patterns and semi-improvisations, like Jazz music. It is probably one of most exciting regional music in Japan. My hometown Hakodate is located in the South of Hokkaido, very nice place to eat real Sushi and Sashimi with good Sapporo beer. It takes 3.5 to 5 hours by car or train from Sapporo to Hakodate. Dean, there is an instrument only has one string called gDan Bauh in Vietnam. It has very beautiful strong tensioned tone; the tone reminds me steel actually.
[This message was edited by Kunihiko Suzuki on 17 March 2006 at 08:21 PM.]

Lefty · Post by **Lefty** » 23 Feb 2005 3:36 pm

Kunihiko,
Welcome to the forum. These are some real icon concerts. I have long been a fan of Mick Taylor, Ry Cooder and David Lindley.
I started out playing bottleneck guitar, and went on to dobro, lap steel and pedal steel. Ry Cooder has some very good soundtrack recordings, "Long Riders" comes to mind and "Paris Texas". Mick Taylor has one of the best electric tones, and vibrato I have heard. I am streaming some bluegrass (Foggy Hollow) at the moment which includes the Shamisen by the way.
regards,
Lefty
Dekley D-10
Sho-Bud LDG
Gibson Lap [This message was edited by Lefty on 23 February 2005 at 03:37 PM.]

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 24 Feb 2005 1:25 am

Hi Kunihiko & Welcome to the Forum that never sleeps

Looks like y'all get some good concerts in Japan
i've been a Ry Cooder since the Rising Sons & Taj Mahal
i've caught a few of Ry's shows
i loved those guys that were singin' w; him
i also caught Ry w: Flaco on accordeon
Ry is one of my favorites
not only for his great sound & playing but mostly for his humor.

[This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 24 February 2005 at 01:26 AM.]

Kunihiko Suzuki · Post by **Kunihiko Suzuki** » 25 Feb 2005 9:03 am

Konnichiwa, Lefty-san, Crowbear-san. Mick Taylorfs STRANGER IN THIS TOWN live was awesome album as well as his first solo MICK TAYLOR, but 14 BELOW and SHADOW MAN were poor works in my opinion. But still best Les Paul player for me anyway. Ry Cooder appeared on the Okinawa music album BLOODLINE (Shokichi Kina) in 1980. He played fabulous.
One of the best Tsugaru Shamisen players is Michihiro Sato. In the US, they sell his two solo CDs at www.forcedexposure.com. For people who really interested in Tsugaru Shamisen sound, Michihiro Sato must be the best choice to listen to.
Did anyone read the thread titled EMAIL FROM THE EDGE-THE BOOTLEGGER FILES at Latest News section at David Lindleyfs homepage? A few people are pretty nasty there. Well, I would admire them if they could speak out their opinion in front of Dave.

Jay Fagerlie · Post by **Jay Fagerlie** » 25 Feb 2005 10:55 am

Kunihiko,
Could you post some examples of these music styles?
I would like to hear them
Thanks, and welcome to the forum,

Jay

Kunihiko Suzuki · Post by **Kunihiko Suzuki** » 26 Feb 2005 11:02 am

Hello, Jay. As for Tsugaru Shamisen, I would strongly recommend Michihiro Sato. He has every tone & emotion, a totally super player. www.tsugaru-michihiro.com/profile/english.html www.tsugaru-michihiro.com/discography/index.html (Track Samples)

Tsugaru Shamisen legend Chikuzan Takahashi was definitely the best player, he was a blind player already passed away, was a real gentleman and respected many types of music. You might want to try either Amazon or GEMM. www.jamco.or.jp/english/library/documentary/traditional/dc279811.html www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail.asp?sku=536142 (Track Samples)

Okinawa music is very different from Tsugaru Shamisen, is usually danceable and considered Japanese Latin music. There must be many exceptions though. I would recommend Shokichi Kinafs BLOOD LINE. The track 6 is the one of most popular songs in Asia, Ry played on slide on that song, and he played on 4 songs total. Lindley and Henry Kaiser recorded the song later on in Madagascar. I donft know if BLOOD LINE is available in the US, but you can buy from Amazon Japan or HMV Japan for sure. (Shipping must be expensive.) www.geocities.com/TheTropics/6330/ShokichiKina.html www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail.asp?sku=267647 (Track Samples)

I would also recommend Nenes. 4 female vocalists group NENES recorded the album DABASA with Lindley, Ry, Hidalgo, and Jim Keltner in mid 90s. www.farsidemusic.com/acatalog/nenes.html www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail.asp?sku=249467 (Track Samples)