Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Tatsuya to Clear the Mind!

Zuppa has returned from the darkness. Being in bed for the better part of a week sounds more relaxing than it actually is. There is a nasty cold bug going around the Twin Cities - make sure you drink plenty of fluids and avoid it at all costs!

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of seeing Tatsuya Nakatani, a Japanese percussionist, at the Rouge Buddha Gallery in Nordeast, mpls. A nice crowd of around 75 packed into the single room gallery and were witness to one of the greatest solo percussion performances they would ever hear. Tatsuya began by bowing a massive gong - very slowly and steadily using bows he made himself. Over a few minutes he began bowing two gongs, facing both with arms raised. It was like watching a man chop down two trees at the same time. The sound that was produced was INTENSE. That is the only way to describe it. The overtones were numerous and gorgeous. By the time he ended this improvisational piece he had bowed cups, gongs, cymbals and replicated the sound of a freight train crashing into a traffic jam - complete with the screams, tears, gasps and emotion. There is really no way to describe one of his performances, so it's best to see for yourself.



There is no better way to scare a cold bug out of you than listening to Tatsuya! Enjoy friends,
Zuppa

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