Wednesday 23 September 2015, 8pm
Yukihiro Isso is a Japanese Noh flutist (hayashi-kata fue-kata) from a family that has been playing this instrument since the 16th century. An acclaimed performer of classical Noh repertoire, Isso is also a accomplished improviser and has performed with the likes of Cecil Taylor, Peter Brötzmann, and John Zorn. Tonight he performs in a duo with great drummer and percussionist Roger Turner.
Born into a familiy of Japanese Noh flute of Isso School (hayashi-kata fue-kata) which has been playing the instrument since the 16th century, Yukihiro received his initial instruction in Nohkan flute playing from his late father and master Yukimasa Isso . His first Noh stage performance was when he was nine years old.
Yukihiro’s diverse interest and love of music has led him to perform western music, particularly baroque, jazz and world music. Yukihiro has a deserved reputation for improvisation. He is associated with many different forms of the performing arts and has collaborated with top performers in several diverse fields including Cecil Tailor (Jazz piano), Evan Parker (sax), Roger Turner ( percussions), John Edwards (bass), Min Tanaka (butoh dance), Mansai Nomura (kyogen), Kaiji Moriyama (contemporary dance), Kaori Muraji (guitar), as well as the Saltzburg Mozaruteum (Octet).
In 2011 Yukihiro performed Ikuma Dan’s Symphony No. 6 Hiroshima for soprano, nohkan, shinobue and orchestra (1985) with the Yomiuri Symphony Orchestra conducted by Tatsuya Shimono, which went on to receive the 24th Music Pen Club Award (Classical Music Section).
In 2012 Yukihiro started his concert series “Let’s Go to Noh Theatre”, aiming to encourage Japanese audiences to enjoy the experience of Noh theatre. Yukihiro recently appeared in music clubs in London at Café OTO, IKLECTIK and The Victoria in Hackney (Neoclassical) and took London audiences by surprise with his improvisation skill and simultaneous playing of 5 flutes.
Over decades Roger Turner has brought the renowned volcanic power and finely-honed precision of his drum work to ensembles that have forged substantial connections with musicians both sides of the Atlantic and more recently from Japan. In addition to pioneering an acoustic percussive language that can run in tandem with approaches to contemporary electronic instruments, he has worked extensively in the microscopic laboratory of the acoustic duo situation where he acquired a highly developed sense of detail and of dynamic control. One of that select group of world-class players who have collectively redefined the language of contemporary percussion, in Turner's hands minute inflections of tension can shape the group's musical direction and galvanise a new level of audience experience.
a.melodie consist of self-made synthesizers and electronic devices that are hooked up to an array of plants. The plants shape the sound of an oscillator. Because of physiological reactions, mainly due to their defence system, the plants modulate the frequency they produce, creating an alive and ever morphing sound. On stage, a.melodie composes with the sounds produced and modulated live by the plants.
