Kazuhisa Uchihashi
Encyclopedia
Kazuhisa Uchihashi is a Japan
ese guitarist
involved in free improvisation
music. Born in 1959 in Osaka
, Uchihashi began to play the guitar at age 12, playing in various rock bands, though he later studied jazz
music. In 1988 he joined the band the First Edition
, and in 1990 formed the band Altered States. He was also a member of Otomo Yoshihide's Ground Zero
from 1994 to 1997. Uchihashi also plays daxophone
, and in addition to his role as a free improviser, Uchihashi has been the musical director for Osaka theatre
group Ishinha
, has held improvisation workshops (a project known as New Music Action) in various cities in Japan, as well as London
, and has set up his own record label, Innocent Records
a.k.a. Zenbei Records, had held music festival from 1996 Festival BEYOND INNOCENCE annual for eleven years. He is also known as Daxophone
player.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
involved in free improvisation
Free improvisation
Free improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the logic or inclination of the musician involved. The term can refer to both a technique and as a recognizable genre in its own right....
music. Born in 1959 in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Uchihashi began to play the guitar at age 12, playing in various rock bands, though he later studied jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
music. In 1988 he joined the band the First Edition
The First Edition
The First Edition was a country music/rock band. Its stalwart members being Kenny Rogers , Mickey Jones and Terry Williams...
, and in 1990 formed the band Altered States. He was also a member of Otomo Yoshihide's Ground Zero
Ground Zero (band)
Ground Zero was a Japanese noise/improvisation band during the 1990s led by guitarist and turntablist Yoshihide Otomo that had a large and rotating group of performers with two other regular performers-Musical style:...
from 1994 to 1997. Uchihashi also plays daxophone
Daxophone
The daxophone, invented by Hans Reichel, is an experimental musical instrument of the friction idiophones category. It consists of a thin wooden blade fixed in a wooden block , which holds one or more contact microphones...
, and in addition to his role as a free improviser, Uchihashi has been the musical director for Osaka theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
group Ishinha
Ishinha
Ishinha is an Osaka-based Japanese theatre company. Its name means revolutionaries or reformers, from ishin and ha .- History :...
, has held improvisation workshops (a project known as New Music Action) in various cities in Japan, as well as London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and has set up his own record label, Innocent Records
Innocent Records
Innocent Records is a pop record label created to cater to for EMI's Virgin Records more Pop oriented acts. Following the success of the Spice Girls, Virgin Records decided to delve into the Pop market. In doing so they poached Hugh Goldsmith from RCA Records...
a.k.a. Zenbei Records, had held music festival from 1996 Festival BEYOND INNOCENCE annual for eleven years. He is also known as Daxophone
Daxophone
The daxophone, invented by Hans Reichel, is an experimental musical instrument of the friction idiophones category. It consists of a thin wooden blade fixed in a wooden block , which holds one or more contact microphones...
player.
External links
- Kazuhisa Uchihashi's web site
- Kazuhisa Uchihashi at Improvised Music from JapanImprovised Music from JapanImprovised Music from Japan is a website and record label.The website was originally known as Japanese Free Improvisers. As its name suggests, it concentrates on Japanese and Japan-based improvisers, particularly free improvisers....