Thursday 20 December 2012

Merry Christmas!

I don't know if I've ever mentioned this, but I am a CHRISTMAS MAN. I love Christmas. Always have done. And since moving to Japan, my Yuletide mania only seems to have gotten worse. Maybe it's as an allergic reaction to the savage hijacking of the Season of Good Will over here, by Mickey Mouse and his cohorts, and wall to wall images of poor Norman Rockwell's Santa manically swigging down bottles of coca cola, but each year, my traditional English Christmas celebrations seem to get bigger and bigger. This year it has extended to making chutneys, mince pies, and even a Christmas pudding. Next year, who knows? Baking a Christmas cake and spending the whole of December in a Father Christmas outfit? Actually, maybe not, that sounds a bit creepy...
Anyway, I always have a go at recording a carol, to help spread a bit of Christmas spirit. This year I've recorded the Romanian carol "Leganelul lui Iisus" or "Jesu's little cradle" by Valentin Teodorian. For any tuba geeks reading, it's also a chance to have a listen to my new YFB-821 in action!
I'll take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and a peaceful and nuclear-free New year x


New Release! Shibusashirazu Orchestra

Hello there,
Here's some belated news of my last release of the year, the new album by Shibusashirazu Orchestra, "shibusai kayou taizen". This is an album of great covers, with guest vocalists. Shibusashirazu are most celebrated for their live shows, but I must say, I think this album is bloody fantastic! This is a really diverse collection of music, and the band play really deeply here. I highly recommend checking it out, along with a few late night sakés!
On a personal note, I'd also like to add that I am celebrating 5 years as a member of Shibusashirazu, and this release is a lovely way to mark that milestone!




渋さ知らズ『渋彩歌謡大全』(CD)2012年11月7日発売価格:3,000円(税込)レーベル:徳間ジャパンTKCA-73836≪収録曲≫1. 帰ろかな [Vo:泉邦宏](北島三郎)2. 一週間 [Vo:渡部真一](ロシア民謡)3. 恋は夢いろ [Vo:渚ようこ](西田佐知子)4. Swallowtail Butterfly 〜あいのうた〜(YEN TOWN BAND)5. 黄昏のビギン [Vo:Sandii](水原弘)6. RYDEEN(Yellow Magic Orchestra)7. 夢は夜ひらく [Vo:遠藤ミチロウ](三上寛)8. 渡 [Vo:坂本美雨](渋さ知らズ)9. 黒い花びら [Vo:三上寛](水原弘)10. 悪漢 [Vo:Keyco](渋さ知らズ)11. Ponta De Areia(Wayne Shorter)12. 君は答えよ [Vo:渡部真一](東郷健/薔薇門)※()内はオリジナルアーティスト 〇コメント〇渋さ知らズの初カヴァー・アルバム。ヴォーカリストには、遠藤ミチロウ、三上寛、渚ようこ、Sandii、坂本美雨、Keyco、泉邦宏、渡部真一とジャンルを超えた個性的なアーティストが参加。昭和の名曲から、「Swallowtail Butterfly〜あいのうた〜」まで、渋さ知らズならではの選曲。


ALSO, there's a great opportunity to hear this material live, as we play at Shibuya O-East on January 13th, with the wonderful Chara as special guest.

会場:東京都 渋谷 O-EAST
出演:渋さ知らズ大オーケストラ
ゲスト:Chara
料金:前売4,000円 当日4,500円

『渋さ知らズ大オーケストラ ワンマンライブ』
2013年1月13日(日)OPEN 17:00 / START 18:00
Hope to see you there! XXXX

Monday 22 October 2012

Upcoming Goodness!

Just a quick one, as my feet haven't touched the ground since we finished our run of "K.Faust" in Matsumoto. That was an incredible time! Already really missing the family feeling of the Kushida Kazuyoshi company.
I'm lucky that helping to bring me out of my post Faust blues, I'm keeping busy with some very exciting performances which I'd like to let you know about.
Firstly, on 29th October, Orquesta Libre will play Shinjuku Pit Inn. We didn't play together as an instrumental unit alone since our European tour. It will be great to revisit those tunes again, and maybe play some new material too!
http://www.pit-inn.com/sche_e.html

Then, from November 1st, I have a small tour with a very interesting lineup of Jinta La Mvta, which includes two circus shows in Takamatsu. I had my first rehearsal today and there is some amazing talent on show. If you are down that way, I definitely recommend coming along to see it.
100-nen Circus- www.100nencircus.com/
Tour details-
http://www.cicala-mvta.com/

And, last but not least, on November 17th, my band Nerima Tea Club will play at café MURIWUI! Lovely wonderful talented band members, excellent venue, free entry, it should be a great night!
Here's the flyer-

Friday 14 September 2012

Me for the next month....

Why the blazes do they make tubas in 4 different keys?

My New Tuba

I suppose you could say that I have an old-school British brass player's approach to equipment. I settled on the tuba which suited my needs best (a Besson BE-983) and found the mouthpiece which suited me best (thanks Andy Grappy!), and I've stuck with that. I'm very much a believer in not fixing things which aren't broken. That instrument has been my main tuba and has served me fantastically well in the wide range of music I am involved in (see here).
Maybe once or twice a year, I might have popped into a tuba shop to try some different models, and I was very pleased never to have found anything which I wanted to play for more than about 5 minutes. That was until I had a blow on a YFB-821, five years ago, and suddenly an hour had passed without me noticing. I wrote about it at the time here. I realised that this tuba would be a very good companion to my Besson, particularly on some of the gigs which would suit a smaller bass tuba (Shibusashirazu, Orquesta Libre, and the current production of "K.Faust" which I'm involved in, for example).
Well, finally I took one home today, bought from the fantastic shop TUBA 88, with the kind help, amazing service and quite incredible attention to detail of Mr. Masanori Nakamura. I wholeheartedly recommend visiting his shop, or if you aren't in Tokyo, do check out his website here.

With Tuba Master Nakamura San

Anyway, I won't bang on about the instrument, as there's a fair amount of information about it online.
But here's some photos of it, in all its handmade beauty! Now I just need to learn to play an F tuba......








Monday 3 September 2012

K.ファウスト/K.FAUST

Late summer has arrived. The humidity is slightly less crazy and there have been a few storms around Tokyo. Yesterday I started rehearsals for my fourth production with Kushida Kazuyoshi. It feels great to be back in the company of such great and creative actors, musicians and performers, and to be reunited with friends. Kushida San's timely production of the Faust legend, "K.ファウスト/K.Faust" will run from October 6th to 14th, Setagaya Public Theatre, Tokyo, followed by October 19th to 21st at Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre, Matsumoto, Nagano.
You can find full information here- http://k-faust.com/
Featuring the great Sasano Takashi as Faust, French Circus artists and music by Coba. It should be really special!!

Wednesday 25 July 2012

2 New Releases, Europe and Fuji Rock

EUROPE

Greetings! I've just returned from a two-week European tour with Orquesta Libre, and it was a really fantastic time. The audiences in England, Denmark, Bavaria and Switzerland were brilliant and it was great catching up with family, old friends and making some new ones. And everyone was so kind to us, and the food was amazingly good! That's not how I remember Europe!!

 Good times in Passau

Mama Carola's incredible Tirolean cuisine!

A real high point was our stay in Passau, in Bayern on the Austrian border. We stayed with the wonderful Mama and Papa Carola and Heinz, who looked after us so well. Carola seemed to have a constant supply of delicious hearty Bavarian specialities flying out of her kitchen, while Heinz had a truly remarkable schnapps collection in which he indulged us with glee. And the concerts at the Cafe Museum at Passau were also fantastic, a very attentive audience who loved our versions of Kurt Weill.
It was a wonderful time, and we're all hoping that a European tour will become an annual tradition!

NEW RELEASES

While I was away, there have been two new releases. The first is a pop record. I play on two tracks on the new CD by singer/songwriter Angela Aki, "Blue".


I play on the title track-




And the track "Monster"-




You can buy it HERE


The other new release is the online release of a very special live set by Orquesta Libre-


Volume 3 of our "Live at Pit Inn" series features special guests pianist Suga Dairo, and tap dancers Uragami Yuji and Ron x II, playing a set of new arrangements of Duke Ellington, It truly was an amazing performance, and I strongly recommend picking this one up! It's available for download HERE

FUJI ROCK 2012

As I mentioned here a couple of weeks ago, this year is my first Fuji Rock, and I'll be playing twice, this Sunday, 29th July, with both Orquesta Libre (special guest Ohata Yuichi), and Shibusashirazu Orchestra. Both sets are taking place at Orange Court. Orquesta Libre start at 13:20, and Shibusashirazu start at 21:00. I hope to see you there! They say Fuji Rock is one for the wellies (like it's UK equivalent Glastonbury), but this year it looks like it will be an absolute scorcher! Boots and sunblock?


Saturday 9 June 2012

Orquesta Libre New Releases

Here's the full information about the two debut releases from Orquesta Libre, released on July 4th.


It was a challenging and great experience making the recordings. In live gigs, the band has always performed acoustically, i.e. with no microphones or use of a PA system. So Yoshigaki san chose to record in one room, with no separation, monitors or click tracks (including the vocalists), and to record everything, as much as possible, in one take. That was scary, especially as some of the trickiest parts of the songs come in the last 30 seconds of a 7 minute track! But we soon relaxed and it felt really comfortable. The result has been a real revelation to me, as the sound feels really warm and natural. In our era of digitalised music, and of not playing acoustically in studios and on stage, this feels like a real breath of fresh air.




Photobucket

"Can't Help Falling In Love~好きにならずにいられない"
ORQUESTA LIBRE
(Glamorous Records)
EWGL-15
AVAILABLE HERE



1. 首の差 Por Una Cabeza

2. ハッシュ Hush

3. パープル・ヘイズ Purple Haze

4.  小さな願い I Say A Little Prayer

5. 遥かなる影 Close To You

6. ハロー・ドーリー Hello Dolly

7. シシリアンのテーマ Le Clan Des Siciliens

8. 砂の岬 Ponta De Areia

9. 好きにならずにいられない Can't Help Falling In Love 




Photobucket

"うたのかたち~UTA NO KA・TA・TI"
Orquesta Libre with Yanagihara Yoichiro and Ohata Yuichi
(Glamorous Records)
EWGL-0013/14
AVAILABLE HERE

CD 1 (Guest vocalist- Yanagihara Yoichiro)

1. Alabama Song

2. Gigolo Ballad

3. Moritato (live version)

4. Second Finale

5. Every Time We Say Goodbye

6. Alfie's Theme (instrumental)

7. Smile


CD 2 (Guest vocalist- Ohata Yuichi)

1. Cecilia (instrumental)

2. ゴロワーズを吸ったことがあるかい

3. Lili Marlene

4. Oh Champs Elysees

5. Purple Haze

6. I Shall Be Released

ORQUESTA LIBRE

Taisei Aoki: Trombone, arrangement 
Hiroyuki Shiotani: Clarinet 
Daisuke Fujiwara: Saxophone 
Takao Watanabe: Trumpet 
Gideon Juckes: Tuba 
Kumiko Takara: Vibraphone, melodica 
Masato Suzuki: Bass 
Motomu Shiiya: Guitar 
Yoichi Okabe: Percussion 
Yasuhiro Yoshigaki: Drums, arrangement 












Friday 1 June 2012

Orquesta Libre European Tour 2012

In July, Orquesta Libre are off to Europe on tour!

Here's the list of dates-

July 11th: London @ The Vortex
July 13th: Copenhagen @ Stengade (Jazz Club Loco / Copenhagen Jazz Festival)
July 14th: Passau @ Cafe Museum (Jazzfest Passau)
July 18th: Bern @ IKuR
July 19th: Geneva @ La Barje des Sciences

You can get the full lowdown on the tour, and also have a listen to some live tracks HERE.

4 New Releases!

Hello there. I have 4 new releases to let you know about.


First up is the soundtrack CD for the NTV drama "Mikeneko Houmuzu no Suiri" which was released last week, and features some very interesting Eastern Europe influenced tracks-



41KNv-03EQL_SL500_AA300_


三毛猫ホームズの推理 オリジナル・サウンドトラック

 "Mikeneko Houmuzu no Suiri- Original Soundtrack" (2012) (バップ) BUY IT HERE

Next are 3 releases by Orquesta Libre, which I am very excited about.
First we have the online release through Ototoy of our live set with special guest 柳原陽一郎  Youichirou Yanagihara available to download in high quality (24bit/48kHz WAV)-

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"Orquesta Libre with 柳原陽一郎 Plays Standards vol.2 -Live at PIT INN 2012.04.17" (2012) (Ototoy) BUY IT HERE


Then finally, I'm pleased to announce the forthcoming release on July 4th of Orquesta Libre's two debut studio albums on East Works Entertainment. "Can’t Help Falling In Love~好きにならずにいられない"(EWGL-0015) is an album of instrumental covers, and "うたのかたち~UTA NO KA・TA・TI"(EWGL-0013/14) is a double CD of songs featuring guest vocalists Yoichiro Yanagihara & Yuichi Ohata. It will be available to buy all over the place, and I'll be listing cover art and shop links shortly.

Friday 25 May 2012

P R O F I L E

G I D E O N  J U C K E S -  T U B A
ギデオン‧ジュークス、チューバ

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Gideon Juckes was born in 1974 in Kent, England. He began playing the tuba at the age of 13, and studied and worked as a professional musician in London for 15 years. In 2007 he moved to Tokyo, Japan, where he has continued a varied and busy performing and recording career. He has performed a wide range of music, from classical to free jazz, with a particular interest in improvisation, writing music, and researching traditional grooves from around the world. He has spent periods studying and touring in Istanbul, Mozambique, and across Europe, Canada and Asia, including Mongolia and South Korea.

P E R F O R M A N C E  W O R K :

He can currently be found performing regularly with FU-CHING-GIDO,Orquesta Libre, and Cicala Mvta. 

現在東京に在住する、イギリス生まれ、イギリス育ち、イギリス人のプロチューバプレイヤーです。 クラシックからフリージャズなど、幅広いジャンルを演奏していますが、特に好みで得意とするものは、インプロビゼーション..や作曲、世界各国の伝統的、民族的音楽のリサーチなどです。 現在は、FU-CHING-GIDO ふーちんギド、Orquesta LibreCicala Mvta、のメンバーとして、活動中。

He has also recorded and performed with, amongst others :

Sigur Ros
Matthew Herbert 
Graham Collier
Shibusashirazu Orchestra 渋さ知らズ
乃木坂46 (Nogizaka46)
Jim O'Rourke
Tsunoda Takashi つのだ たかし
coba
ROLLY
Setsubun Bean Unit
Charan Po Rantan チャラン‧ポ‧ランタン
Frank London 
Angela Aki
Nerima Tea Club 
Hoppy Kamiyama
Chara
Brandon Ross
ACO
Farmyard Animals Trio
the HIATUS
John Dankworth
Cleo Laine
Satoko Fujii
藤井郷子
Bellowhead
Eliza Carthy
Yoshigaki Yasuhiro 芳垣安洋
Hero's Brass (フジイヒロキ)
Brassticks
Asakusa Jinta (浅草ジンタ)
Max De Wardener
David Murray
Otomo Yoshihide 大友 良英
Jellyfish Brass Plop
Rod Williams
Yamp Kolt
ピカ (Afrirampo)
さや (Tenniscoats)
Likkle Mai
Sakamoto Miu
Dani Siciliano
Billy Cobham
Beverley Knight

And as a guest musician with :

Fanfare Ciocarla
Soul Flower Union
Balkan Beat Box
Think Of One
Minimums
Katou Tokiko 加藤 登紀子

T H E A T R E  W O R K :

From 2002- Chicago the Musical (London West End and UK touring production, Tokyo production)

2010- "The Music Man" musical Japan tour with Takanori Nishikawa
西川 貴教

2010- "Faust 2010 in Chino" theatre production directed by Kushida Kazuyoshi
串田和美

2011- "Twelfth Night (
十二夜) Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon, directed by Kushida Kazuyoshi
串田和美
Cast:
松たか子、石丸幹二、りょう、荻野目慶子、大森博史、真那胡敬二、 小西康久、酒向芳、内田紳一郎、片岡正二郎、目黒陽介、小春、 つのだたかし、飯塚直子、片岡亀蔵、串田和美、笹野高史

2011- "Flying Cabaret" (空中キャバレー) Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre, directed by Kushida Kazuyoshi 串田和美

2012- "My One and Only" マイワン アンド オンリー, Aoyama Theatre, Tokyo. 
Cast:
坂本昌行 Masayuki Sakamoto, 大和田美帆 Miho Ohwada, 川平慈英 Jay Kabira

2012- "K.ファウスト/K.Faust"- Setagaya Public Theatre/ Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre. Directed by Kushida Kazuyoshi 串田和美
Cast:
Sasano Takashi 野高史, Kohinata Fumiyo 小日向文世, Hinagata Akiko 雛形あきこ and Kushida Kazuyoshi 串田和美

2013- Nogizaka46 "16 Principals part deux" Akasaka Act Theatre, Osaka Umeda Arts Theatre.
乃木坂46「16人のプリンシパルdeux」赤坂ACTシアター,梅田芸術劇場

2013- 「空中キャバレー2013"Kuchu Cabaret 2013", Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre. Directed by Kushida Kazuyoshi
Cast:
役者:石丸幹二 秋本奈緒美 小西康久 内田紳一郎 片岡正二郎 木村智早 串田和美/近藤隼 佐藤卓 内藤栄一 佐藤友 下地尚子 ほか
ミュージシャン:coba 大熊ワタル ギデオン‧ジュークス 熊谷太輔 花島英三郎
サーカスアーティスト:パブロ‧エスコバル ジュロ アメリー‧クーリム セシリア‧マンフリーニ アントワーヌ‧プロスト イザベル‧シュステール/金井圭介 目黒陽介
タップダンサー:RONxII

2015- 「空中キャバレー2015"Kuchu Cabaret 2015", Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre. Directed by Kushida Kazuyoshi
Cast:
高泉淳子 大森博史 小西康久 内田紳一郎 片岡正二郎 秋本奈緒美 串田和美 
近藤隼 佐藤卓 細川貴司 下地尚子
ミュージシャン:
coba 大熊ワタル 花島英三郎 ギデオン‧ジュークス 熊谷太輔 杉山卓
サーカスパフォーマー:
ジュロ ロラン ロッタ スティーナ メリッサ サラ  金井ケイスケ 目黒陽介 宮野玲 ジェームス‧ヨギ

2015/16- 「ひょっこりひょうたん島」"Hyokkori Hyoutan Jima" Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon, directed by Kushida Kazuyoshi 串田和美
Cast:
井上芳雄(マシンガン‧ダンディ)、安蘭けい(サンデー先生)、山下リオ(博士)、小松和重(テケ)、山田真歩(プリン)、一色洋平(海賊)、久保田磨希(チャッピ)、内田紳一郎(ダンプ)、真那胡敬二(海賊)、大森博史(海賊)、中村まこと(海賊)、串田和美()、小松政夫(トラヒゲ)、白石加代子(ドン‧ガバチョ)
ミュージシャン:
アラン‧パットン(アコーディオン)、馬谷勇(ギター)、ギデオン‧ジュークス(ベース/チューバ)、木村おうじ純士(ドラムス/パーカッション)

2016- マハゴニー市の興亡 "Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny", Kanagawa Arts Theatre (KAAT) by Bertolt Brecht, directed by Shirai Akira白井晃
Cast:
山本耕史 マルシア
中尾ミエ 上條恒彦 古谷一行
細見大輔 櫻井章喜 辰巳智秋 Ruu
明樂哲典 伊勢大貴 加藤義宗 岸田研二 木村雅彦 今野晶乃 SALLY
鈴木崇乃 遠山悠介 長友郁真 NAMImonroe 橋本由希子
早瀬マミ 村田慶介 薬丸翔 﨑将平 吉田哲也 立崇なおと
Musician
竹内直(サックス‧バスクラ)
ギデオン‧ジュークス(チューバ)
石川広行(トランペット)
石若駿(ドラムス)
スガダイロー(ピアノ)

2017 K.TEMPEST Nagano Prefecture tour and KAAT
『K.テンペスト2017
作:W.シェイクスピア
翻訳:松岡和子
潤色‧演出‧美術:串田和美

出演:串田和美、大森博史、真那胡敬二、中村まこと、
玉置玲央、大鶴美仁音、坂口涼太郎、坂本慶介、京極朋彦、
飯塚 直、ギデオン‧ジュークス、万里紗、佐藤 卓、細川貴司、下地尚子

「空中キャバレー2017"Kuchu Cabaret 2017", Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre. Directed by Kushida Kazuyoshi
Cast:
吉野圭吾、高田聖子 / 大森博史 / 秋本奈緒美 / 串田和美 / 小西康久 / 内田紳一郎 / 片岡正二郎 / 近藤隼 / 佐藤卓 / 細川貴司 / 下地尚子
ミュージシャン:coba / 大熊ワタル / 花島英三郎 / ギデオン‧ジュークス / 熊谷太輔
サーカスパフォーマー:ジュロ / アメリー / マット / ジョアネス / 金井ケイスケ / 茉莉花 / ジェームス‧ヨギ 

舞台「24番地の桜の園」"The Cherry Orchard at Number 24", Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon, Tokyo, Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre, Morinomiya Piloti Hall, Osaka
作:アントン‧チェーホフ
翻訳‧脚色:木内宏昌演出‧脚色‧美術:串田和美
高橋克典、風間杜夫、八嶋智人、松井玲奈、美波、大堀こういち、池谷のぶえ、
尾上寛之、北浦愛、大森博史、久世星佳、串田和美、小林聡美
<ミュージシャン>太田惠資、関島種彦、アラン·パットン、飯塚直、ギデオン·ジュークス


S O U N D T R A C K  W O R K :

2006- "Big Balloon" Oily Cart theatre production, UK

2007- "Agathe Clery" Film Soundtrack by Matthew Herbert

2008-  最後の戦犯, "Saigo no Sempan" NHK TV drama, soundtrack by Otomo Yoshihide 大友 良英

2008- 白騎士物語 -古の鼓動-, "White Knight Chronicles" PS3 game, soundtrack by Yumiko Hashizume and Takeshi Inoue

2009- "Le Donk and Scor-zay-zee" Film by Shane Meadows, (soundtrack features music by Bellowhead)

2010- "Q10
(キュート)" NTV TV drama, soundtrack by Kaneko Takahiro (
金子隆博, Kome Kome Club)

2011- Ajinomoto TV Commercials AJINOMOTOのテレビCM

2011- ステキな金縛り, “Suteki na Kanashibari: Once in a Blue Moon” Film by Mitani Koki,

2012-
夏目友人帳 , "Natsume's Book of Friends Four" anime soundtrack composed by Makoto Yoshimori.

2012- 三毛猫ホームズの推理, "Mikeneko Houmuzu no Suiri" NTV TV drama, soundtrack by Kaneko Takahiro

2013- 大人のピタゴラスイッチ, "Otona No Pitagorasuicchi" Eテレ, NHK

2013- 
夫婦善哉, "meoto-zenzai", NHK TV drama, soundtrack by Kaneko Takahiro

2013- 東京バンドウアゴン、"Tokyo Band Wagon", NTV drama, soundtrack by Kaneko Takahiro