Test Tonehttp://www.soundispatch.com/ttsnews/Copyright Test TonesNews Sound Experiments Test Tone 78: Dyadic Reconfigurations February 14th, 2012 (Tuesday) 20:00 to 23:00 at Super Deluxe, Nishi Azabu, Tokyo. Che Chen (from New York) + Tetuzi Akiyama Following a whirlwind tour of Western Japan with improvising pioneer Mukai Chie, New York sound artist Che Chen will be landing in Tokyo just in time to join forces with ramblin' guitar-man Tetuzi Akiyama on this special evening. Using stringed, wind, reed and percussion instruments, reel to reel tape machines, oscillators and other musical and "non-musical" objects, Che's work explores his interest in a range of perceptual phenomena and global folk music traditions. Aside from his solo work and collaborations, Che also plays in a duo with multi-instrumentalist Robbie Lee, in Jozef Van Wissem's Heresy of the Free Spirit, and in True Primes, his duo with singer/percussionist Rolyn Hu. Part-iconoclast, part-bluesman, and one of the leading players in modern Japanese improvisation, Tetuzi Akiyama has taken his guitar far and wide, gaining a large international following while influencing countless younger musicians in the process. With a certain stark minimalism, Akiyama forged a name for himself in the onkyo scene in the late 1990s with the likes of Otomo Yoshihide and Toshimaru Nakamura. These days, he explores the full resonance of his instrument from a myriad of musical gateways, from primitavist leanings to drone and even some hypnotic guitar boogie. Che Chen Tetuzi Akiyama Mukai Chie + Nobunaga Ken For the past 25 years, Chie Mukai has been an active force in the free improvisation scene both in Japan and around the world. Since taking up the kokyu (a traditional Japanese stringed instrument) in the mid-70s, Mukai has earned a reputation as a powerful and original voice on her instrument, from her captivating solo performances to her improvised and song-based work with a number of legendary groups (East Bionic Symphonia, Ché-SHIZU, Enkidu, dadunr). Over the past decade, she has been examining collective improvisation in a large-scale format as curator of the Perspective Emotion international multimedia art festival and workshop. In the collaborative spirit of her work, Mukai will be making an appearance at Test Tone accompanied by percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Nobunaga Ken. Aside from his wide range of music-based work with a number of bands (Tetragrammaton, 00, hisspiss, etc.), Nobunaga also collaborates with dancers in the contemporary and butoh styles, visual artists, 'ikebana' flower arrangers and filmmakers. His musical activity has taken him worldwide, previously touring in Spain, Germany, Korea, Hong Kong and China. Mukai Chie Nobunaga Ken on Myspace Hattori Masatsugu + Ikezawa Ryusaku With a firm grasp of jazz tradition, drummer and vibraphonist Masatsugu Hattori took his percussion work straight into the new millennium with a range of projects, such as electroacoustic unit Ryusenkei Body, jazz-electronica unit Zycos, and conceptual electronica with Aktion Directe. These days he has taken a minimal musical approach while focusing on solo and collaborative work. As such, he'll match his modus operandi to the mercurial drumming of Ryusaku Ikezawa (aka Giev Rutang), another multi-faceted musician who keeps his playing schedule jam-packed with a number of other improvising projects, such as Oncenth Trio, Denki Slime and Real Blue. Head-to-head, this twosome might just take their kits some otherwise inaccessible places. Hattori Masatsugu Ikezawa Ryusaku Evil Penguin Master of disguises, Mexican top-hats, ambient rockabilly to minimal Hawaiian Kumulipo chants, the Evil Penguin poses the primordial question of evanescence against a backdrop of New Wave folk. Celebratory, subliminal, moment-to-moment. A Tasmanian treasure with a penchant for open spaces. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:18:00 +0000http://www.soundispatch.com/ttsnews/home/test-tone-vol-78/http://www.soundispatch.com/ttsnews/home/test-tone-vol-78/ Sound Experiments Test Tone 76: Unknown Concordance December 13th, 2011 (Tuesday) 20:00 to 23:00 at Super Deluxe, Nishi Azabu, Tokyo. Brendan Landis (aka Hey Exit from Brookyn) + Fujiwara Daisuke Currently touring Japan with performaces on both koto and guitar, Brooklyn-based Brendan Landis is a multifaceted musician who covers a lot of ground in his work. Performing under the name Hey Exit, his improvised guitar work moves from passages of grinding guitar repair one moment to stumbling loops of drone the next, all carefully placed amongst grand chunks of silence. As a koto player, he works in both traditional settings and as an acoustic improvisor. On this evening, he will be joined by local tenor sax whiz Fujiwara Daisuke, who has been expanding into new and wonderful realms of expression as of late. A perfect collision of sounds from which to start the holiday season. Hey Exit Fujiwara Daisuke Tin Can Trio (Scott Jordan: metal instruments, Take: metal instruments, Lead Sister II: handmade instruments) This all-metal instrument trio is the brainchild of koto player Scott Jordan, who will put down the koto strings to coax some wonderful sounds out of scrap metal. He'll be joined by multi-instrumentalist Take, and the mad musical inventions of Lead Sister II, which qualify as metal–due to the nails needed to fix them–after their repeated end-of-show destruction. Scott Jordan on Myspace Take on Myspace Lead Sister II on Myspace Baby Copperhead aka Benjamin B. Lee (from Brooklyn) + AEN aka Yasufumi Suzuki (soundroom) We are very happy to announce the addition of Brooklyn-based Baby Copperhead to the line-up of Test Tone 76. Visiting Japan for a very short holiday, he has agreed to bring his stellar banjo chops and homemade electronics for what promises to be an otherworldly yet intimate affair. For this special occasion, we have corralled SOUNDROOM's very own Yasufumi Suzuki (aka AEN) to face off with Baby Copperhead for the final Test Tone of 2011. This will be a fun one. Baby Copperhead Yasufumi Suzuki (Commune Disc) Evil Penguin Master of disguises, Mexican top-hats, ambient rockabilly to minimal Hawaiian Kumulipo chants, the Evil Penguin poses the primordial question of evanescence against a backdrop of New Wave folk. Celebratory, subliminal, moment-to-moment. A Tasmanian treasure with a penchant for open spaces. Wed, 07 Dec 2011 06:55:39 +0000http://www.soundispatch.com/ttsnews/previous-events/test-tone-vol-76/http://www.soundispatch.com/ttsnews/previous-events/test-tone-vol-76/ Sound Experiments Test Tone 75: Perspective Collisions November 8th, 2011 (Tuesday) 20:00 to 23:00 at Super Deluxe, Nishi Azabu, Tokyo. Ballrogg + Ivar Grydeland (from Norway) Very much in demand as two of Norway's newest jazz innovators, Klaus Ellerhusen Holm (sax and clarinet) and Roger Arntzen (double bass) formed the duo Ballrogg to explore the acoustic extremities of their instruments. Involved in a range of diverse projects outside the duo, they bring a virtuosic range to Ballrogg's singular sound, creating soundscapes that are deeply disturbing and, at times, stunningly beautiful. After recently joining forces with the great Norwegian guitar and pedal steel guitar player Ivar Grydeland (Huntsville, Dans Les Arbres, Hanne Hukkelberg), this group is expanding their cinematic sound universe into grand territories, offering a musical lookout to some truly monumental moments. Ballrogg Ivar Grydeland Bertrand Gauguet (from France) + Toshimaru Nakamura + Tetuzi Akiyama French saxophonist Bertrand Gauguet has created a unique and expressive vocabulary in his improvised work, ranging from billowing overtones to percussive clicks and taps, all delivered with a sweeping mastery of his instrument. In a range of settings, he has also performed with some of Europe's finest players, such as John Butcher, Rhodri Davies, Michel Doneda and Franz Hautzinger (among many others). His musical explorations now take him to Japan, where he will perform with two of the most important artists to come out of the textural improvisation movement that emerged in the late 90s. After over a decade of playing, recording, and touring around the globe, Toshimaru Nakamura and Tetuzi Akiyama continue to collaborate together in situations like this; challenging, dynamic and unpredictable in a extremely good way. Bertrand Gauguet Toshimaru Nakamura Tetuzi Akiyama Bing a.k.a. Toshio Kajiwara + Cal Lyall + Yoko Higashino (Baby Q) In the early 1990s, guided by an obsession with obscure recordings, sound performance artist Bing (a.k.a. Toshio Kajiwara) began performing with turntables and tape players at some of New York City's experimental music venues. This eventually took him to collaborations with the likes of Christian Marclay, Tim Barnes, and Okkyung Lee, while still finding time to curate the PhOnOmena improvisation series at (New York venue) Tonic with DJ Olive. Now back in Tokyo, he's involved with a number of projects led by choreographer and dancer Yoko Higashino (Baby Q), who will bring her intriguing presence and intense range of movement to this performance. This will no doubt be amplified by the visual prism and light of YAMAT, the installation work of 20TN! (a.k.a. Daisuke Fujita), and the tabletop guitar wrangling of Test Tone curator Cal Lyall. Bing a.k.a. Toshio Kajiwara Cal Lyall on Myspace Yoko Higashino (Baby Q) Evil Penguin Master of disguises, Mexican top-hats, ambient rockabilly to minimal Hawaiian Kumulipo chants, the Evil Penguin poses the primordial question of evanescence against a backdrop of New Wave folk. Celebratory, subliminal, moment-to-moment. A Tasmanian treasure with a penchant for open spaces. Fri, 21 Oct 2011 04:25:47 +0000http://www.soundispatch.com/ttsnews/previous-events/test-tone-vol-75/http://www.soundispatch.com/ttsnews/previous-events/test-tone-vol-75/ Sound Experiments Test Tone 74: Outbreak Patterns October 11th, 2011 (Tuesday) 20:00 to 23:00 at Super Deluxe, Nishi Azabu, Tokyo. Supertoque (Kelly Churko + Tim Olive + Cal Lyall) Exploring a formidable world of distinctly un-guitar-like sounds, this guitar trio careens and scrapes its way through intrepid passages to reach some wonderfully dense sonic terrain. All three guitarists (Kelly Churko, Tim Olive and Cal Lyall) are at home in a sound palette taken from the obscure Canadian ranchlands, and may draw out some creaky windmills, silo blowers and a thrashing machine or two. Kelly Churko on Myspace Tim Olive Cal Lyall on Myspace Cat Hope (from Australia) + Kouhei Harada Be prepared for the unexpected in this first-time meeting between Australian composer and sound artist Cat Hope and Max/MSP whiz Kouhei Harada. Coming from a classical background as a flautist, Cat Hope has since moved into experimental realms of expression as a vocalist and bassist, performing solo or in small ensembles. Her current projects include Gata Negra, Lux Mammoth, the noise improvisation bass quartet Abe Sada, free improv duo Candied Limbs and new music ensemble Decibel. She has directed and edited numerous short music videos, created audiovisual installations and often works with dance choreographers. Cat is the founder of the Totally Huge New Music Festival Conference and has received a number of accolades in her native Australia for her extensive contributions to the arts scene. Kouhei Harada uses field recordings, acoustic instruments and modified guitar, all of which is processed and arranged through the use of Max/MSP programming to deconstruct and re-construct new acousmatic worlds filled with beautiful layers of melodic noise. Cat Hope Kouhei Harada Bolitz (from France: Polo + Vincent Laubeuf + Hugues Vincent) While after almost 100 concerts throughout Japan, the name of cellist Hugues Vincent is perhaps more than a little well-known locally, he hopes to do likewise with his electronic trio Bolitz. With two fellow countrymen (composers Polo and Vincent Laubeuf) bringing the CPU processing power and Hugues on a selection of electronic debris, the music shifts between organic spaces and dense electronic exploration. A gripping cluster of interstellar sounds from some of France's finest improvisors. Polo Vincent Laubeuf on MySpace Hugues Vincent on MySpace Evil Penguin Master of disguises, Mexican top-hats, ambient rockabilly to minimal Hawaiian Kumulipo chants, the Evil Penguin poses the primordial question of evanescence against a backdrop of New Wave folk. Celebratory, subliminal, moment-to-moment. A Tasmanian treasure with a penchant for open spaces. Wed, 05 Oct 2011 07:15:03 +0000http://www.soundispatch.com/ttsnews/previous-events/test-tone-vol-74/http://www.soundispatch.com/ttsnews/previous-events/test-tone-vol-74/ Sound Experiments Test Tone 73: Tones in Grand Scale September 13th, 2011 (Tuesday) 20:00 to 23:00 at Super Deluxe, Nishi Azabu, Tokyo. Ellen Weller (winds, from USA) + Tetsuro Yasunaga (keys, electronics) Wrapping up a two-week tour of Japan, Test Tone is the last stop for multi-reed wizard Ellen Weller. As a professor of world music at Palomar College in San Diego, Ellen covers a lot of musical ground in her playing, effortlessly hopping from Klezmer to classical to free improvisation all in the same breath. She has also performed with a long list of fine musicians the likes of George Lewis and Mark Dresser. Joining her will be one of the most wonderful musical minds from the Tokyo scene; curator, bandleader and improvising musician Tetsuro Yasunaga, who besides his prolific activities in Japan with the bands minamo, Voiva and helll, has also garnered a name through a range of overseas activities in the United States and Europe. Ellen Weller Tetsuro Yasunaga Giovanni di Domenico (piano, from Belgium) + Daysuke Takaoka (tuba) + Tatsuhisa Yamamato (drums) Musical nomad extraordinaire, Giovanni Di Domenico has been on the road with music for as long as he can remember. From his birthplace in Rome, he has traveled far and wide, playing with a range of musicians (amongst them Arve Henriksen, Akira Sakata and Jim O'Rourke) in a myriad of contexts, from modern jazz to free improv and experimental pop. On this evening, he has loaded his caravan with two of Tokyo's finest improvisors, mercurial tuba player Daysuke Takaoka and drumming man-in-demand Tatsuhisa Yamamato. Be prepared for nomadic music at its most extraodinary. Giovanni di Domenico on YouTube Daysuke Takaoka on MySpace Tatsuhisa Yamamato polyphonic parachute + (yuki kaneko, takahisa umehara, yasunori tani, asuka tanaka, KO.DO.NA., ikeda takumi, satoshi kanda and friends) In their most ambitious collective project to date, polyphonic parachute (yuki kaneko & takahisa umehara) have assembled an orchestra of superlative musicians to realize their electroacoustic concept on a grand scale. Using toy pianos, electronics, guitars, field recordings and cassette tapes, the band merges minimal folk music with primeval electronic sounds for some breathtaking organic creations. With a stage setup that may look a bit like a Sunday flea market, polyphonic parachute's array of gifted musicians will no doubt offer some shimmering treasures that you won't find anywhere else. polyphonic parachute on MySpace Onnacodomo (visuals) Taking their inspiration from moments and objects from everyday life, visual unit onnacodomo make the ordinary decidedly extraordinary. Eschewing computer-generated graphics or recorded material, the three members (DJ Codomo, Yasuko Seki and Ruka Noguchi) perform in real time using a video camera to capture their spontaneous creations. Shimmering projections are created using water, mirrors and an array of lights, while a world of fantastic images is constructed with found photos, kitchen utensils, toys, stationary and improvised artwork. Kaleidoscopic, absurd and unreal, onnacodomo takes you into a slightly-unhinged world that is absolutely original in its conception. onnacodomo Evil Penguin Master of disguises, Mexican top-hats, ambient rockabilly to minimal Hawaiian Kumulipo chants, the Evil Penguin poses the primordial question of evanescence against a backdrop of New Wave folk. Celebratory, subliminal, moment-to-moment. A Tasmanian treasure with a penchant for open spaces. Fri, 02 Sep 2011 05:35:58 +0000http://www.soundispatch.com/ttsnews/previous-events/test-tone-vol-73/http://www.soundispatch.com/ttsnews/previous-events/test-tone-vol-73/