I first heard the shakuhachi around 1993 when I was performing in Ellen Stewart’s Oedipus the King. Ellen is the founder of La MaMa E.T.C. (Experimental Theater Club), the place that spawned many of the world’s great playwrights and directors such as Sam Sheppard, Joseph Chaikin and Tom O’Horgan to name a few.

 

Pictured is Yukio Tsuji, the multi-award winning composer and multi-instrumentalist whose music has been heard on countless film soundtracks, modern dance concerts and theater. Recently, Yukio was the solo musician for Salome, staring Al Pacino and Marissa Tomei on Broadway.

I was so excited to see/hear that Yukio was able to incorporate his flute playing into the original score presently composed on the spot by Ellen.  The shakuhachi is one of those instruments that one may miss if not paying attention, but once heard becomes completely captivating. It’s like hearing silence for the first time.

Yukio has been playing shakuhachi for close to 30 years and only had a few lessons early on. He decided not to continue formal study because he didn’t want to sound “Japanese”, which usually happens when one studies formally under a master player. As a composer, Yukio wanted his music to be as pure as possible. No culture, no ideology ... just human spirit. When I hear him play, I immediately feel a sense of yearning. His shakuhachi playing was recorded and played for the opening of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Many people world-wide may have heard his flute but let me tell ya, there’s nothing like being in a room surrounded by the natural vibrations of the shakuhachi.

In the Early 1970’s Ellen supported a theater residency for the Tokyo Kid Brothers. They created a long running show on off-Broadway. In the cast was a young musician named Akikazu Nakamura, who is presently one of the virtuoso players of the shakuhachi world. thanks to Ellen, I have had both Yukio and Akikazu as my teachers. I will forever be grateful. Now, off to rehearsals!