Koto Jazz tune 93: Creating a free form, “chaos” music

Indeterminate music happens when a musician creates a base melody, and leaves the rest to spontaneous chance and free flow of expression. Instead of the musician taking the driver’s seat, the musician surrenders to letting the music take the driver’s seat; take the musician wherever it leads. It was first practiced by John Cage and Brian … Continue reading Koto Jazz tune 93: Creating a free form, “chaos” music

Rate this:

Koto Jazz Tunes 92: 2 Originals “Represent the West” @ Sangre de Cristo

Another stroke of luck. In January – March 2017 two of my original Kotojazz tunes are recognized as “Representing the West” at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center annual exhibit. These are pure new age Americana folk songs. “Snow Blossoms” was inspired by the blue violets peeking through melting snow on a sunny winter day … Continue reading Koto Jazz Tunes 92: 2 Originals “Represent the West” @ Sangre de Cristo

Rate this:

metamorph senses (new CD release & a koto jazz tune)

This new CD mostly live production was crazy, experimental fun – anchored by a few George Winston covers, a touch of Narada/ Silver Wave- style new age, a koto jazz tune, and some “off the beaten path”, eclectic wacko improvisations . . . and you have a metamorphosis of the senses – http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/chriskenjibeer5  

Rate this:

Patrick Wilson’s SyntHorn on the koto jazz tune

For the off beat eclectic innovator, the SyntHorn is an amazing, fun and crazy instrument. One of my neighbors and friends Patrick Wilson in Seattle created a digital instrument he calls The SyntHorn (short for synthesizer horn). The horn itself produces an unique, distant echoing cavernous sound effect. The SyntHorn includes the horn, a mini- digital keyboard, Oscillator, Chaoscillator, Monotron delay unit, two Internal Horn speakers, and one external speaker. Since the the features and function completely run on rechargeable batteries, it can played anywhere at any time. A carrying strap fits over the shoulder. All this resides in one unit.

Here is a sampling of Patrick live on the SyntHorn –

3                   2

Join me in my next performances at C&P Coffee, Columbia City’s Royal Room, and Stone Way Café to hear our progressive electronic jazz. Patrick, a former DJ at a local college radio station, will join me in jazzing up my koto jazz tunes and offer up a few of his own originals with my accompaniment on the keyboard.

It makes sounds and rhythms you’ve never heard before.

Posted from WordPress for Windows Phone

Advertisement

KotoJazz 91: David Wilborn’s ‘jazz it up’ tune @ C&P West Seattle

  David Wilborn likes to jazz it up with some upbeat, almost ragtime rhythmic tunes. His music is mostly improvisation and this is one of those. As a gifted creator of sound into melodic rhythm, it’s been a pleasure and privilege to have Dave as a friend for over 20 years, and as a music … Continue reading KotoJazz 91: David Wilborn’s ‘jazz it up’ tune @ C&P West Seattle

Rate this:

“Breach” – Live Koto Jazz & the SyntHorn @ The Royal Room; NW FOLKLIFE Next

Here is a live recording of a tune I first played at Stone Way Café’s Fremont Art Walk on April 1st, then recorded live at The Royal Room on April 13th with Koto Jazz accompaniment by Patrick Wilson on the SyntHorn – 🎶  “Breach”, by Chris Kenji & Patrick Wilson.   Koto Jazz on soundclick.com   Join … Continue reading “Breach” – Live Koto Jazz & the SyntHorn @ The Royal Room; NW FOLKLIFE Next

Rate this:

Koto Jazz 83: Song Stories- Wandering Rhino Bug

If our local Seattle grunge band The Presidents of the United States of America can get away with writing songs about bugs (Boll Weevil, Lady Bug), I figure I can too. This is a fun, eclectic koto jazz tune about one of my most memorable life experiences. My brother, Uncle Yasushi and I used to … Continue reading Koto Jazz 83: Song Stories- Wandering Rhino Bug

Rate this:

Egan’s Jam House – Another Cool Koto Jazz night in Ballard

I really got into a zone rockin’ the piano. Sometimes it feels like I’m connecting to the true “Seattle Sound”, an almost eclectic, grunge sound on the keyboard. . . if that is possible. Live recordings will be coming soon. The feedback I have from a handful of attendees last night at Egan’s Jam House … Continue reading Egan’s Jam House – Another Cool Koto Jazz night in Ballard

Rate this:

KotoJazz 78: Top 10 on Soundclick – Tide Pools & Waves

“Tide Pools & Waves“ reached as high as #2 and #4 in the “World” ranking (out of over 80,000 songs) and “New Age” (out of over 13,500 songs) categories over the weekend, respectively. It remained for a week at #26 and #10. Other Koto Jazz tunes reaching the Soundclick.com charts are: “Ripples On Creek Rocks“ … Continue reading KotoJazz 78: Top 10 on Soundclick – Tide Pools & Waves

Rate this:

KotoJazz 76: Kawabe House & 55th Anniversary of UW Arboretum Japanese Garden Preview

When I first returned to Seattle as an adult in 1990 (I was born here), I started playing piano at senior homes, mostly George Winston and Scott Cossu re-runs. Today, I bring my own originals to senior venues as a volunteer to share with fellow Japanese Americans. My hope is they will connect with its … Continue reading KotoJazz 76: Kawabe House & 55th Anniversary of UW Arboretum Japanese Garden Preview

Rate this:

Koto Jazz 75: @ Stage 7 Pianos, Kirkland

My first performance was a video recording session thanks to my good friend Ed Yakuzawa of Victory Music. Some of the koto jazz tunes have been uploaded to YouTube. Here are a few: 1) Tide Pools & Waves (Shiyodamari To Nami) 2) My Sakura

Rate this:

Koto Jazz 74: playing @ 101 Public House pub

Half time playing a piano gig at the pub in South Bend/ Raymond, the oyster capital of the world. And two Koto Jazz fans! This was so much more relaxing than a few weeks ago when I played at the Seattle Center. Ahhh, the taste of the ocean air , a couple koto jazz tunes … Continue reading Koto Jazz 74: playing @ 101 Public House pub

Rate this:

KotoJazz 65: Song Stories- Endless Golden Wheat Fields

This song I wrote as a young teenager, which I have never played publicly until this week at the QCafe in Seattle. It is wonder I remembered it only recently. This song story of “endless golden wheat fields” is about my time (2 1/2 years) in third grade and middle school in Lawrence and Hays, … Continue reading KotoJazz 65: Song Stories- Endless Golden Wheat Fields

Rate this:

Koto Jazz 63: Song Stories – Beyond Space

“Beyond Space” is an exploratory smooth and flowing tune about freedom and flying. I wrote this song when I was a teenager about my flying dreams. It is more new age in style than progressive electronic like my other eclectic alternative pieces. Carl Jung believed that flying dreams express our “desire to break free of … Continue reading Koto Jazz 63: Song Stories – Beyond Space

Rate this: