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Bamboo-Na

Bamboo-Na

Mitsuhashi Kifu
Nippon Columbia Co., Ltd. - COCF-10997
1993

Track Title Kanji Length Artist
1  Play Button Girl of Cancer, The 蟹座の娘 04'23 Shakuhachi: Mitsuhashi Kifu
Shakuhachi: Mizukawa Toshiya
The "cancer" in the title does not refer to the disease, but rather to the astrological sign, and this song is simply about a woman born under that sign. Having said that, I think it is important to discover both cancer and women as early as possible, and not leave it too late! By the way, it is said that you're fated if you fall for a woman born under the sign of Cancer, because she will get under your skin and spread to every part of you. This is one of the songs which helped define the sound of Bamboo-Na.
2  Play Button Shot Bar 居酒屋 05'46 Shakuhachi: Mitsuhashi Kifu
Shakuhachi: Mizukawa Toshiya
Whatever your mood, whatever the time, you can always enjoy having a drink. Sometimes you may drink alone quietly, other times you think you should be noticed. Or you may drink with colleagues to grumble about your company or to gossip. Even if you don't drink you can enjoy the different atmosphere of the bar in each season.
3  Play Button Lady L 女将 麗香 05'25 Shakuhachi: Mitsuhashi Kifu
Shakuhachi: Mizukawa Toshiya
There was once an extremely beautiful woman called lady "L" With her in mind I composed this piece for guitar, but I have to say that it sounds very easy on the ear played by shakuhachi. It is arranged as a bolero.
4  Play Button Machina Machina 待てば海路 05'34 Shakuhachi: Mitsuhashi Kifu
Shakuhachi: Mizukawa Toshiya
This composition asks the Japanese "Where are you going to in such a hurry?" You' re missing a lot of good things. Bamboo-Na urges you to take it easy. There's a pressing need to regain a sense of calm. Start working on it now!
5  Play Button Mi Bonita 愛しい彼女 04'31 Shakuhachi: Mitsuhashi Kifu
Shakuhachi: Mizukawa Toshiya
This was inspired by the idea that everyone has someone whom they would like to call "sweetheart" and thoughts of whom make you tingle from the top of your head to the tip of your toes, You spend every day pushing aside your shyness and pretending to play it cool.
6  Play Button Viento Azul 青い花の風 06'48 Shakuhachi: Mitsuhashi Kifu
Shakuhachi: Mizukawa Toshiya
Through the sound of three kinds of bata drums -iya, itotere and oconcolo - I send waves of endless, true love on the wind.
7  Play Button Mancha Solar 太陽の黒点 03'46 Shakuhachi: Mitsuhashi Kifu
Shakuhachi: Mizukawa Toshiya
It seems that sunspots have about a ten-year cycle. When they are active they multiply and enlarge; when they weaken they decrease. It is said that their dynamics strongly affect human psychology, but nowadays many people have become arrogant, and don't realize they are so small compared with the scale of the universe. It can't be helped, but maybe if you have a drink and listen to Bamboo-Na's album, you might have some kind of awakening!
8  Play Button Grass Beach 芝浜 07'59 Shakuhachi: Mitsuhashi Kifu
Shakuhachi: Mizukawa Toshiya
The title comes from a famous rakugo story of the same name, about an astute and wise wife who had a lazy, good-for-nothing husband. One day he discovered a purse full of money at a place called Shibahama. Fearing that this would give him an excuse to be even more idle, his wife persuaded him that he had dreamed the whole thing, and sent him out to make a living. He made a fortune. Please think about this story while you listen.
9  Play Button Cambio わかれ道 05'16 Shakuhachi: Mitsuhashi Kifu
Shakuhachi: Mizukawa Toshiya
We all tend to take the air we breathe for granted, and also our family and friends. We should make time to remember to thank them and appreciate what we have.
10  Play Button Hasta Manana また明日 04'46 Shakuhachi: Mitsuhashi Kifu
Shakuhachi: Mizukawa Toshiya
This piece creates a tension with a simple melody line which modulates every four bars and has a unique rhythm called merengue. Toshiya Mizukawa was required to produce sounds which normally cannot be made with a shakuhachi and had a very difficult time doing so. This was the first song defining a new sound for Bamboo-na. We still had no title for this piece the day before we were due to play it live at a concert, so our manager told me to decide on one. I thought, "Well, I'll have it done in time for tomorrow." Then I realized this phrase in Japanese (ashita maniauna) sounded almost identical to the Spanish for "See you tomorrow" (hasta manana), hence the title.
11  Play Button Christmas Eve クリスマスイヴ 03'29 Shakuhachi: Mitsuhashi Kifu
Shakuhachi: Mizukawa Toshiya
This uses the pure tones of the shakuhachi. Can you see a heart-warming scene of soft, light, falling snow like the icing on a cake and welcoming lights through a window? We hope our music brings that picture to life for you.
12  Play Button Tsukiuma 付き馬 06'47 Shakuhachi: Mitsuhashi Kifu
Shakuhachi: Mizukawa Toshiya
This is an old Japanese word taken from rakugo referring to a person who collected debts from people who, for example, had entertained courtesans or gambled. Although I composed it twenty years ago and it has been played on various instruments by different musicians, on this CD it's finally getting its place in the sun. It can be said to be representative of my compositions and of Bamboo-Na's music.