Maher Shalal Hash Baz
Encyclopedia
Maher Shalal Hash Baz is the artistic alter ego of Tori Kudo, a Japanese naivist composer and musician. The name is taken from Maher-shalal-hash-baz
in the Book of Isaiah
verses 8:1 and 8:3, and translates roughly as "Hurrying to the spoil, he has made haste to the plunder." Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz is also mentioned in the Book of Mormon in verses 2 Ne 18:1 and 18:3.
Tori Kudo has been cagy about details of his life before MSHB. He was once a member of a shadowy, revolutionary political party in Japan, although he has dissociated himself from politics since joining the Jehovah's Witnesses
. He also works as a ceramicist.
He claims to have played classical and jazz piano, as well as playing organ in a Protestant church. His other musical influences included T.Rex and saxophonist Steve Lacy
. He and his wife Reiko Kudo
joined a band called Worst Noise when they moved to Tokyo; other members dropped out, leaving Tori and Reiko as a duo, known simply as Noise. Under this name they released an album called Emperor.
The impetus for Maher Shalal Hash Baz came when Tori met euphonium
player Hiroo Nakazaki on a building site, and found that they shared an interest in the music of Mayo Thompson
and Syd Barrett
. Apart from the core trio (Tori on guitar and vocals, Reiko as vocalist, Hiroo with his euphonium), the lineup has always been fluid.
After a couple of self-released cassette albums, the Japanese Org label released Maher Goes To Gothic Country (1991) and the 83-track box set Return Visit to Rock Mass (1996).
The group's profile outside Japan became much higher when Stephen McRobbie of The Pastels
signed them to his Geographic label. They have released two albums on Geographic: the compilation From a Summer to Another Summer (An Egypt to Another Egypt) (2000) and the 41-track Blues Du Jour (2003); plus a number of EPs on various labels, including 'Souvenir De Mauve' (Majikick, 1999), 'Maher On Water' (Geographic, 2002), 'Faux Depart' (Yik Yak, 2003) and Live Aoiheya January 2003 (Chapter Music, 2005).
Tori Kudo has resisted defining the sound of his band, although in an interview with Tim Footman
in Careless Talk Costs Lives magazine (August 2002) he declared "I am punk." There are also elements of folk, psychedelia and free jazz; the band's tendency to ask members of the audience to join in adds a sense of danger in live performance. Perhaps the best description comes from his own sleevenotes to From a Summer to Another Summer: "Error in performance dominates MSHB cassette which is like our imperfect life."
Maher-shalal-hash-baz
Maher-shalal-hash-baz - "Hurry to spoil!" or "He has made haste to the plunder!" - was the second mentioned son of the prophet Isaiah. The name is a reference to the impending plunder of Samaria and Damascus by the king of Assyria. Maher-shalal-hash-baz is mentioned in the Bible in , which section...
in the Book of Isaiah
Book of Isaiah
The Book of Isaiah is the first of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, preceding the books of Ezekiel, Jeremiah and the Book of the Twelve...
verses 8:1 and 8:3, and translates roughly as "Hurrying to the spoil, he has made haste to the plunder." Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz is also mentioned in the Book of Mormon in verses 2 Ne 18:1 and 18:3.
Tori Kudo has been cagy about details of his life before MSHB. He was once a member of a shadowy, revolutionary political party in Japan, although he has dissociated himself from politics since joining the Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
. He also works as a ceramicist.
He claims to have played classical and jazz piano, as well as playing organ in a Protestant church. His other musical influences included T.Rex and saxophonist Steve Lacy
Steve Lacy
Steve Lacy , born Steven Norman Lackritz in New York City, was a jazz saxophonist and composer recognized as one of the important players of soprano saxophone....
. He and his wife Reiko Kudo
Reiko Kudo
Reiko Kudo is the partner of Tori Kudo of the Japanese underground music group Maher Shalal Hash Baz. In the late seventies and early eighties, while still known under her maiden name of Reiko Omura, she led a unit called Noise. Noise played in Tokyo underground venues like Minor , and released...
joined a band called Worst Noise when they moved to Tokyo; other members dropped out, leaving Tori and Reiko as a duo, known simply as Noise. Under this name they released an album called Emperor.
The impetus for Maher Shalal Hash Baz came when Tori met euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
player Hiroo Nakazaki on a building site, and found that they shared an interest in the music of Mayo Thompson
Mayo Thompson
Mayo Thompson is an American musician and visual artist best known as the leader of the avant-garde rock band Red Crayola .-1960s:...
and Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
. Apart from the core trio (Tori on guitar and vocals, Reiko as vocalist, Hiroo with his euphonium), the lineup has always been fluid.
After a couple of self-released cassette albums, the Japanese Org label released Maher Goes To Gothic Country (1991) and the 83-track box set Return Visit to Rock Mass (1996).
The group's profile outside Japan became much higher when Stephen McRobbie of The Pastels
The Pastels
The Pastels are a group from Glasgow, Scotland, UK.Their early records for labels like Whaam!, Creation, Rough Trade, and Glass Records, had a raw and immediate sound, melodic and amateur, which seemed at odds with the time...
signed them to his Geographic label. They have released two albums on Geographic: the compilation From a Summer to Another Summer (An Egypt to Another Egypt) (2000) and the 41-track Blues Du Jour (2003); plus a number of EPs on various labels, including 'Souvenir De Mauve' (Majikick, 1999), 'Maher On Water' (Geographic, 2002), 'Faux Depart' (Yik Yak, 2003) and Live Aoiheya January 2003 (Chapter Music, 2005).
Tori Kudo has resisted defining the sound of his band, although in an interview with Tim Footman
Tim Footman
Tim Footman is a British author, journalist and editor. He was educated at Churcher's College, Appleby College in Canada, and the University of Exeter....
in Careless Talk Costs Lives magazine (August 2002) he declared "I am punk." There are also elements of folk, psychedelia and free jazz; the band's tendency to ask members of the audience to join in adds a sense of danger in live performance. Perhaps the best description comes from his own sleevenotes to From a Summer to Another Summer: "Error in performance dominates MSHB cassette which is like our imperfect life."
Discography
- Maher Shalal Hash Baz - "Maher Goes to Gothic Country" (Org; 1991)
- Maher Shalal Hash Baz - "Return Visit to Rock Mass" (Org; 1996; 83 Track Box-Set)
- Maher Shalal Hash Baz - "Souvenir De Mauve" (Majikick; 1999; EP)
- Maher Shalal Hash Baz - "From a Summer to Another Summer (An Egypt to Another Egypt)" (Geographic; 2000; 2-LP)
- Maher Shalal Hash Baz / The Curtains - "Make Us Two Crayons on the Floor" (Yik Yak; 2000; CD)
- Maher Shalal Hash Baz - "Maher on Water" (Geographic; 2002; 10-inch / Cd-Single)
- Maher Shalal Hash Baz - "Blues Du Jour" (Geographic; 2003; CD / LP)
- Maher Shalal Hash Baz - "Open Field" (Geographic; 2003; CD-Single)
- Maher Shalal Hash Baz - "Faux Depart" (Yik Yak, 2004)
- Maher Shalal Hash Baz - "Ethiopia" (life affair trust music, 2004; cdr single)
- Maher Shalal Hash Baz - "These Songs" (incerta, 2004; cdr)
- Maher Shalal Hash Baz - "Live Aoiheya January 2003" (Chapter Music; 2005; Mini-CD)
- Maher Shalal Hash Baz - "Maher Kunitachi Kibun Live 1984-85" (PSF; 2006; CD)
- Bill Wells & Maher Shalal Hash Baz - "How's Your Bassoon, Turquirs" (Geographic; 2006; 7-inch)
- Bill Wells & Maher Shalal Hash Baz - "Osaka Bridge" (Karaoke Kalk; 2006; CD / LP)
- Maher Shalal Hash Baz - "L'Autre Cap" (K; 2007; CD / LP)
- Bill Wells & Maher Shalal Hash Baz - "Gok" (Geographic; 2009; CD)
- Maher Shalal Hash Baz - "C'est La Dernière Chanson" (K; 2009; 2-CD)