Tatsuya Yoshida (Ruins, Koenjihyakkei, Korekyojin, and a dozen other things)

[JAMOOL]

There was some discussion of this guy on the old board but I think we could use a catch-all thread since he's been involved with so much. I recently grabbed a copy of "Devil from the East" which is seventeen tracks from seventeen different bands that he's played with. Many of it quite good. So obviously there is a lot of obscure Yoshida material out there.

Right now I'm very much into Ruins though I haven't ventured beyond Burning Stone yet. Their material gives off the double impression of being completely improvised and tightly written at the same time. I haven't heard anything like it outside of early Boredoms. The Koenjihyakkei track from that comp was excellent as well.

Below is a track from his other-other band, Korekyojin. Should sound very familiar to everyone here :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBrgCUBAHcg

[zravkapt]

Love the guy and most of what he has done. Gonna attempt to embed vids...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSZzYiVgwN4

[Kavus Torabi]

One of the very few 'big boys' for sure. An extraordinary performer, unique composer and is absurdly prolific.

Regardless of whatever varied combo I have watched him perform in, he never fails to amaze me.

[adewolf]

Nice. I have most of the Ruins releases. Nice to see his diversity there.

[Bake 1]

Was lucky enough to have caught the show where that last clip was shot, (had to be one of the most brain melting gigs to hit the Rio Theatre). Yoshida seems to have a ravenous appetite for playing... I'm on the hunt for the stuff he's done w/ Tsuneo Imahori (Tipographica guitarist)... anyone know if he's on any of the Unbeltipo recordings???

[Scrotum Scissor]

IMHO, there was never anyone like him in rock music - ever.

This guy is spectacularly gifted, both creatively and technically, and he's NOT an educated, trained or at least "scholared" musician. The fact that he still performs with high profiles that indeed ARE (such as Satoko Fuji, the genius female pianist/composer/improvisor), various "serious" art ensembles and orchestras who deal in extremely demanding musical terrain, should tell more than sufficient.

Of course, most of his own music is much too "eccentric" and overtly progressive to ever warrant any recognition with the usual "prog-crowd", but all the better for it. Most prog-metal drummers would go into hiding if they heard Yoshida.

The Ruins Alone clips on YT usually brings every "who's the best"-discussion to a sudden halt.

[walt]

I have (and dig) some of Yoshida's duo improv cds with guitarist extraordinaire Kazuhisa Uchihashi.Truly, a musical meeting of giants.

[Udi Koomran]

One of my favorite musicians
Here is a track from an album I did with him
http://soundcloud.com/udi-koomran/tatsuya-yoshida

Here are a few favorite Yoshida releases

Ruins - Live At Mandala
Koenjihayakkei - Live at Doors DVD
Koenjihayakkei - Angherr Shisspa
Koenjihayakkei - Viva Koenji
Yoshida - Magaibutsu
Yoshida with Sakoto Fuji - Toh-Kichi
YOSHIDA & Eiko Ishibashi -Slip Beneath The Distant Tree

[marinaorgan]

I've stuck a bunch of early Ruins vids on here: http://otherrockshow.wordpress.com/category/bandcomposer/ruins/

Will never forget the day Burning Stone dropped through the door for review...

Update - I'm shoving a load of direct links to the Skin Graft Records Ruins/Koenji/Ruins Alone free sample mp3 collection right now!

[Steve F.]

I am particularly fond of Korekyojinn, but everything Yoshida-san does is worth a careful listen.

[Scrotum Scissor]

I am particularly fond of Korekyojinn, but everything Yoshida-san does is worth a careful listen.

I would agree; even his coops with enigmatic post-apocalyptic troubadour Keiji Haino actually succeeds in making some sense of that dude's alleged genius. I got rid of all my Musica Transonic-releases except for Incubation (the only one with Keiji on it) due to the blistering spontaneous chemistry between the two.

I'd even go as far as recommending Zubi-Zuva, Yoshida's beyond-total-oddball acapella-trio, and especially their release on Tzadik some 13 years back.

[Zeuhlmate]

Recently I was lucky enough to experience half a Korekyojinn koncert - I was completely blown away by those 3 wizards!

It was only half a concert because I had a free ticket to The (Beefheart) Magic Band who started one hour earlier another place in town.
I got my priorities wrong there, should have skipped the magic band, allthough they werent bad.

[JAMOOL]

I may have to check out some of the Korekyojinn albums. Exactly what kind of music is it??

[Scrotum Scissor]

I may have to check out some of the Korekyojinn albums. Exactly what kind of music is it??
Korekyojin is essentially a form of instrumental, quirky and at times extremely energetic avant-rock; partly very composed or arranged, but also veering into completely free improvisation. Although highly powerful and sometimes quite dissonant, it never really gets too inaccessible either; most definitely challenging (as with everything Yoshida is involved in), but not that difficult a listen. Initially it was a power trio, with Yoshida and ace guitarist Kido Natsuki (from heavy zeuhl/worldmusic band Bondage Fruit and Piazzolla-disciples Salle Gaveau etc.) and bassist Nasuno Mitsuru (from Altered States, Ground Zero and numerous other seminal 80s/90s/00s nippon acts) - but they were later augmented by the virtuoso violinist from fusionmasters KBB. However, Korekyojin are neither "fusion" nor your "average" instrmental progressive group (in regard to those "prog" medleys); think rather '74-era Crimson rhythm section merged with Last Exit and a snippet of "weirdo" experimental rock (Mayo Thompson, Eugene Chadbourne or whatever). I'd start with their very first album, Korekyojin from 1999 - released on John Zorn's label Tzadik (on the subseries of 'New Japan'). Though others will probably recommend some other title.

But, to be quite honest, if you want to check out Yoshida first hand, I'd recommend you start with Koenjihyakkei's Viva Koenji. And be prepared for a serious blowoff.

[Udi Koomran]

I may have to check out some of the Korekyojinn albums. Exactly what kind of music is it??


http://soundcloud.com/gingers-studio/korekyojin-arabesque

[NogbadTheBad]

I have Koenjihyakkei's Viva Koenji and Angherr Shisspa, and Bondage Fruit I, so I think I'll be exploring Korekyojin next.

[Kavus Torabi]

Jackson on Tundra are very good starting points for Korekyojin, although as I said before, you generally can't go wrong with Yoshida. He's such an auteur.

[Lino]

I have Koenjihyakkei's Viva Koenji and Angherr Shisspa, and Bondage Fruit
Funny, I think that's all i have too. LOL But have seen him twice with Koenjihyakkei, and once with Samla Mammas...he's the real deal baby.

[NogbadTheBad]

I saw him at RIO, just him and a saxaphone player, I really liked the stuff he did with the Sax player (which was about half the set) but was a bit nonplussed with his drum solo stuff. It consisted of about 20 pieces all no longer than 30 to 40 seconds, all played at blistering speed with a "thank you" then jumpimg into the next track. Bizarre.

[Scrotum Scissor]

It consisted of about 20 pieces all no longer than 30 to 40 seconds, all played at blistering speed with a "thank you" then jumpimg into the next track. Bizarre.
It's his Ruins Alone "signature piece", mainly a medley on outtakes from a dozen-or-so songs (!) from the old Ruins roster. There's a 10-minute clip of this on YT which has had some near 200,000 viewings, I believe. Quite breathtaking, both artistically and physically, especially the sense in which he manages to keep in conjunction with the MIDI synth tracks. This is probably where most "casual" or accidental listeners leave the ferry, though. You have to know Yoshida's music and concept to fully appreciate this far-out approach, but if and/or when you do, there are some profound rewards to be had.

[AndyB]

I was lucky enough to catch him at this year's Supersonic festival in Birmingham (UK) playing with Zeni Geva (in a two-piece alongside KK. Null) and as Ruins Alone and rarely have I been more mesmerised by a musician. I've long been a fan of Ruins and Koenjihyakkei, and recently discovered the album Tundra from Korekyojinn (which, fact fans, literally translates as "This Giant" in honour of his two favourite bands, This Heat and Gentle Giant!), but seeing him live, playing just feet from my face, goes down on my list of "favourite musical moments" ever, which I keep in my head.

[JAMOOL]

What's the relation to Bondage Fruit?

[NogbadTheBad]

What's the relation to Bondage Fruit?


Korekyojin initially it was a power trio, with Yoshida and ace guitarist Kido Natsuki (from heavy zeuhl/worldmusic band Bondage Fruit and Piazzolla-disciples Salle Gaveau etc.) and bassist Nasuno Mitsuru (from Altered States, Ground Zero and numerous other seminal 80s/90s/00s nippon acts)
The guitarist Kido Natsuki from Bondage Fruit is also in the band Korekyojin with Yoshida.

[JAMOOL]

Alright. I'll have to give them a shot then too. My Yoshida wishlist is about a dozen albums long at this point!

I picked up the Ruins comp 1986-1992 which is easy to get now and has a lot of real early stuff and everything's remastered to some extent. Everything I've heard from that period outside of Burning Stone has had kinda lo-fi production which suits the music but does obscure how great a drummer he really is. For all the Vander comparisons I think he really plays a lot more like Carl Palmer; so many times I didn't notice he's playing the same "melody" as the bass, similar to how Palmer would mimic Emerson.

[Udi Koomran]

Alright. I'll have to give them a shot then too. My Yoshida wishlist is about a dozen albums long at this point!
For all the Vander comparisons I think he really plays a lot more like Carl Palmer; so many times I didn't notice he's playing the same "melody" as the bass, similar to how Palmer would mimic Emerson.

Yoshida told me he can't undetstand why people compare his drumming to Vander Charles Heyward is his main insspiration

[Zeuhlmate]

He is not a jazzdrummer at all, as Christian Vander basicly is.

[Scrotum Scissor]

Yoshida told me he can't undetstand why people compare his drumming to Vander Charles Heyward is his main insspiration
You can clearly hear the Hayward influence in Yoshida's playing if you listen to the former's input with Quiet Sun, some of the Camberwell Now recordings and particularly Hayward's work in improvisation (Pierre Vervloesem's Grosso Modo etc.).

And it's true that Yoshida isn't really a "jazz" drummer, a fact that makes his playing with Satoko Fujii all the more interesting (check Zephyros).

[spacefreak]

Saw RUINS opening for ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE some ten years ago. I lost my head over this guy...

[marinaorgan]

Yoshida told me he can't undetstand why people compare his drumming to Vander Charles Heyward is his main insspiration
Interesting!
I was lucky to see his show with Charles Heyward at the Serpentine Gallery a few years ago. A set each from Heyward and Yoshida, and a dual improv to finish!

[JAMOOL]

IMHO, there was never anyone like him in rock music - ever.
This guy is spectacularly gifted, both creatively and technically, and he's NOT an educated, trained or at least "scholared" musician. The fact that he still performs with high profiles that indeed ARE (such as Satoko Fuji, the genius female pianist/composer/improvisor), various "serious" art ensembles and orchestras who deal in extremely demanding musical terrain, should tell more than sufficient.

Of course, most of his own music is much too "eccentric" and overtly progressive to ever warrant any recognition with the usual "prog-crowd", but all the better for it. Most prog-metal drummers would go into hiding if they heard Yoshida.

The Ruins Alone clips on YT usually brings every "who's the best"-discussion to a sudden halt.

I didn't know he had no formal training. It makes sense though because he really doesn't sound like anyone else out there and I am beginning to have my doubts that he can play a straight beat - I think "Hail" off Stonehenge is as close as he ever gets. I've been listening to a ton of Yoshida and Autechre lately and it's occured to me that there is actually something of a similarity there. They both write the type of music that can easily go over your head unless you really dig beneath the surface and really analyze how everything plays off each other - the difference is that Yoshida does this live. Also they both seem to work best if you're willing to rewire your brain a little. I don't know if I'm more impressed with the fact that he can imagine all this stuff of that he can actually play it. I've tried to map out some Ruins and Koenji stuff and it's ridiculous - even something simple like "B.U.G." takes a stupid amount of dexterity.

[Udi Koomran]

Check it out
https://soundcloud.com/udi-koomran/tatsuya-yoshida

http://aurismedia.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-the-head

[TheH]

Koenjihyakkei, Korekyojin and Bondage Fruit are all marvelous. Ruins is good fun for one or two songs, otherwise it is total bullsh*t.

[Lebofsky]

Ruins is good fun for one or two songs, otherwise it is total bullsh*t.

Wait... what? Burning Stone by Ruins is probably my favorite album he ever worked on. Some parts of Hyderomastgroningem are totally brilliant as well. To each their own, I guess.

- Matt

[Scrotum Scissor]

he really doesn't sound like anyone else out there and I am beginning to have my doubts that he can play a straight beat - I think "Hail" off Stonehenge is as close as he ever gets.

There's this quite "famous" quote by John Zorn on Yoshida, going something like "[...] this guy even breathes in 5/4"! :lol

But there are "straighter" beats in some of his playing with Korekyojin (especially the earliest stuff) and on Hoppy Kamiyama's Meaningnessless [sic] album, for instance. In the latter case it probably has something to do with the strictness of those large band arrangements, prompting Yoshida to keep more in track.

[Udi Koomran]

But there are "straighter" beats in some of his playing with Korekyojin (especially the earliest stuff) and on Hoppy Kamiyama's Meaningnessless [sic] album, for instance. In the latter case it probably has something to do with the strictness of those large band arrangements, prompting Yoshida to keep more in track.

His playing on Lars Hollmer's Sola proves he can also be restrained and more simple in a very impressive manner

[walt]

There's a DVD-Audio release out of more improvs by Yoshida and guitarist Kazuhisa Uchihashi.Recorded live in 2004-2012.36 tracks.;titled Improvisations 4.I'm gonna pass on this.I have 2 of the previous 3 Improvisations cds(multi cd sets) and that's enough for me...........for now.

[Scrotum Scissor]

There's a DVD-Audio release out of more improvs by Yoshida and guitarist Kazuhisa Uchihashi. [...] I'm gonna pass on this.I have 2 of the previous 3 Improvisations cds(multi cd sets) and that's enough for me...........for now.

I've got so much Yoshida stuff that I couldn't possibly ever get through it all without losing track of things. There's just such an incredible abundance of music and sound there.

But to be fair, Kazuhisa Uchihashi has to be heard (or seen!) to be believed; he's one of the "magic three" Jap guitarists (along with Tsuneo Imahori of Tipographica and numerous - and Kido Natsuki, of course), and as a guitarist myself I doubt if there's anyone besides arguably Mick Barr or Nels Cline who has even come close to making such an impression on me these past 15+ years. I saw him once with Altered States, and it changed my perception of the guitar as instrument forever - much in the sense that I've heard from people who witnessed Glenn Phillips or John Fahey in the 70s. There's no end to Uchihashi's abilities when it comes to actually exploring the axe and make use of whatever he finds.

[walt]

Kazuhisa Uchihashi Altered States

Bluffs,Bluffs ii and especially,Live In Tokyo, are Altered States cds that are state of the art electric trio improv(spontaneous composition).Telepathic interplay that, at times, leave me slack jawed in amazement.Too bad there are no clips from these cds available, afaik.

[JAMOOL]

Sounds very interesting...whats a good place to start with that guy?

I haven't heard the stuff you mentioned; when I made that comment I was listening to his first solo album Magaibatsu and just noticed that the drum tracks are always more complex than they appear, even when the drums aren't the focal point. I think the point Zorn is making is spot on - he makes playing in odd time signatures (sometimes against the melody) feel so natural. In Ruins, a lot of times it feels like he's just freaking out on the kit but there's actually some odd logic to it. He really does seem superhuman. That said I guess if he's doing band stuff where he ISN'T writing material I can see why he'd need to tone it down a little..

[walt]

Sounds very interesting...whats a good place to start with that guy?
.

I'm only familiar with Yoshida based on the duet cds with Kazuhisa Uchihashi.Other posters here are far more more knowledgable about Yoshida's discography and work than I.

[JAMOOL]

oh no - I'm talking about Kazuhisa Uchihashi

though your post came in before mine so I think i'll just start there

[Scrotum Scissor]

Sounds very interesting...whats a good place to start with that guy?

I'd say ALL the Altered States albums I've heard (about five, I think) have something significant going for them, but if I was to choose I'd pick Alteres States 4, recorded live at the Knitting Factory (N.Y.) sometime during the early 90s. It features one short and two lengthy pieces where the band's concept of "aleatoric" rock comes out in full force and glory, and the sound is outstanding.

Their approach was a sort of middle route between Fred Frith's Massacre and the improvising KCrimson of '73/74, with a little Sonny Sharrock or perhaps even James Blood Ulmer antics added. They'd have arranged "theme-heads", sometimes very intricate ones, which they would execute by way of a rather meticulous set of either played or physically signalled hints, venturing into free form improv and impressively tight networks of chords, rhythms and sounds - to the point where It'd be almost impossible to discern the two. They also had a couple of great collab CDs released, of which I find the live Cafe 9:15 with esteemed saxist Ned Rothenberg the most inspiring. This is all improv, though.

And btw, Altered States bassist Nasuno Mitsuru is also in Korekyojin, who share some of the more "composed" aspects with the old AS (whom I believe dropped the more arranged parts during the early 00s).

[walt]

oh no - I'm talking about Kazuhisa Uchihashi



Gotcha.I'm acquainted with Uchihashi's playing through a couple of solo cds, a few duet cds with Tatsuya Yoshida and his most recent recordings with Altered States.I first heard Uchihashi on a FMP duet cd with the late Hans Reichel(the other half of that cd were duets with Reichel and Fred Frith).I recommend Bluffs ii and/or Live In Tokyo.Bluffs ii is a studio session from 2005.

[Dana5140]

Koenji is just killer.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40cN_yId1Dc&feature=related

[Udi Koomran]

I like most of the Altered States - have not hear the Live In Tokyo on ( its on my list though)
Here is a good example from the first one

https://soundcloud.com/gingers-studio/altered-states

[JAMOOL]

Listening to Hyderomastgroningem on a good system = mind blown. I've come to realize that it's the interplay between the two that really makes that one. There's a lot of riffing on those odd off-time melodies that sounds like improv but there's just no way that can be true. I loved the album at first but there are all these moments I'm picking up on where the bass will start to morph into something else and the drums sort of follow along in an inverted way, like his drum patterns are constantly evolving with the lead. I don't really know how to describe it. I was going to make a comparison to Autechre only to find out that I already made it three months ago.

[Just Eric]

I am particularly fond of Korekyojinn, but everything Yoshida-san does is worth a careful listen.
That's how I roll as well. Love Korekyojinn and Koenji .... well and just about anything else he does. As for "best drummer" discussions I only have two names, his and Chambers.

[adewolf]

:up

[aith01]

Yoshida is a phenomenal drummer and musician/composer. I am only familiar with his work on the four Koenjiehyakkei CDs, the three Daimonji discs, and Hoppy Kamiyama's album "A Meaningful Meaninglessness" (which is absolutely killer, by the way). I'd love to branch out into more of his projects, but Ruins seems a bit too avant garde for me at this point.

He sounds like a force of nature behind the drum kit. I love that guy. :)

Are there any recommendations you might make to a newbie like myself?

[Udi Koomran]

Jamool do you know / dig Ruins Live @ Mandala 2000 ?
One of the most amazing live performances ever "caught on tape "
Mind boggling stuff
Take listen to this track and follow the outrageous bass playing+ realtime pedal manipulation here
http://soundcloud.com/udi-koomran/ruins-verresto-mandala-2000

[JAMOOL]

That one's on my wishlist! Sounds incredible, as you mention - I had always thought that Yoshida's albums had some measure of overdubbing on them but after watching some videos on Youtube it seems like this isn't the case. I've heard a lot of great things about that one so I'll probably pick 'er up soon.

[Udi Koomran]

Here is another track off the Yoshida album I recorded
This is the sort of improv / realtime composition that I find really cool
https://soundcloud.com/udi-koomran/tatsuya-yoshida

[JAMOOL]

From following Yoshida on Facebook, I surmise another Koenjihyakkei album is coming? Thank Christ!!

[markinottawa]

Amazing talent. Lucky enough to have seen him a number of times


Yoshida with Sakoto Fuji - Toh-Kichi


including this show at FIMAV

[Zeuhlmate]

https://soundcloud.com/magaibutsu/korekyojinn-new-album-fall-line-digest

KOREKYOJINN / Fall Line
magaibutsu lmited MGC-47
7/15 on sale. distributed by Disk Union

Breathless 6:18
Dislocation 9:03
Island Man 6:25
Gulch 9:10
High Time 6:54
Eventide 7:25
Clean Cut 6:43
Fall Line 8:55
total 61 min.

[Hobo Chang Ba]

^ Ordered and eagerly waiting.

[proggosaurus]

I have a bootleg of Korekyojinn from 2012. anyone know if track 6 is really untitled or what it might be otherwise. someone is speaking at the end of Watershed about the next song but I can't really make out what he's saying too well. it does sound like he's saying "it's something new"

Korekyojinn, Barcelona, 2012-10-14

1 - Arabesque 6:26
2 - Swan Dive 8:31
3 - Tundra 7:41
4 - Kaleidoscope 9:15
5 - Watershed 8:28
6 - Untitled "C" 6:30
7 - Exodus 5:27
8 - Isotope 7:00
9 - Jackson 7:06

[JAMOOL]

Awesome - but where's the 5th Koenji album?? :P

[chalkpie]

Listening to the newest Koenji album, but really focusing on Yoshida right now. He's such a badass, what a talent.

[chalkpie]

Ruins Pallaschtom is SICK. Wow. Not only is the music and performance insanely great but this music also really stretches one as a listener. I mean, if you really want to attempt to follow every minute detail, lick, jam, melody, counterpoint, etc etc it takes some serious concentration and I think I'm using a part of my meatball that seems to be dusty.....but willing. Ruins!

PS - unrelated but I've also been on a bit of a Coltrane binge....there are no words. Especially '63 on...

[Zappathustra]

Ruins Pallaschtom is SICK. Wow. Not only is the music and performance insanely great but this music also really stretches one as a listener. I mean, if you really want to attempt to follow every minute detail, lick, jam, melody, counterpoint, etc etc it takes some serious concentration and I think I'm using a part of my meatball that seems to be dusty.....but willing. Ruins!

PS - unrelated but I've also been on a bit of a Coltrane binge....there are no words. Especially '63 on...

Yes, this is great and it contains the full spectrum of Ruins versatilie music. Did we say in the other thread that this one is a very good starting point for beginners (the sound is much clearer)?

As for old John, I was listening to Transition the other day and was completely taken by its relentless force. Elvin Jones sounds like he had just eaten John Bonham for breakfast and then sat on the stool to play. Demolition mode.

But my main binge these days is Zappa. I am currently getting acquainted with his posthumous releases - whose existence I refused to acknowledge all this time - and there is some incredible music in there (Imaginary Diseases anyone?). Anyway, off topic.

[Scrotum Scissor]

Muppet Drummer!!

[JAMOOL]

Ruins Pallaschtom is SICK. Wow. Not only is the music and performance insanely great but this music also really stretches one as a listener. I mean, if you really want to attempt to follow every minute detail, lick, jam, melody, counterpoint, etc etc it takes some serious concentration and I think I'm using a part of my meatball that seems to be dusty.....but willing. Ruins!


totally - it's so rare to find music that's constantly shifting like that. you almost can't believe someone sat down and wrote it. Autechre give me a similar feeling, though obviously in a much different genre (though really, if you're digging those late-period Ruins albums, Autechre may be right up your alley)

[tommy_n_chucky]

Following.

[chalkpie]

Yoshida melted my nosehairs.

[tommy_n_chucky]

Time for a Commercial Break! (https://tantra-tokyo.com) :lol


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