| During a recent gig in Tokyo, a graphic designer working with the Shibusa Shirazu Orchestra wrote their name across an overhead screen, only to begin scratching it out, his inky scrawls quickly concealing the moniker of the thirty-strong performers onstage. |
 How appropriate, I thought. The collective's performances are filled with surreal highs and soaring crescendos, but their deconstructionist leanings follow them every step of the way. This is not to say that they love only to dismantle their exquisite compositions, but rather how they revel in rebuilding something glorious out of the rubble.  |
 Like their music, Shibusa Shirazu's history is long, complex and chaotic. Originally a small troupe of stage musicians, the group has gradually swelled its ranks to over fifty at some shows, with a revolving cast as diverse as it is collectively brilliant: hard bop saxophonists cavort with heavy metal guitars; afro-Cuban timbales punctuate an electric violin solo, a blues harmonica tiptoes around the blasts of gypsy-brass tuba. Like the director of some absurdist play, conductor, Fuwa Daisuke thrusts the spotlight across all of his cast, drawing out their talents while contorting them into new musical partnerships. And then, with a tap to his head or a wave of his hand, he corrals the din into a triumphant refrain, the cacophony of twenty musicians, washed away into the clean solace of melody |
| To classify Shibusa Shirazu's work simply as jazz-rock fusion or of the 'jam-band' ilk is grossly misleading. Ska, pop, and Japan's traditional Enka styles all find their way into the mix, as well, but it is the collective's theatrical predilections that make their sound uniquely powerful. |
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This is music is meant for the stage. Each bridge and chord progression that gives their 20-minute improvisations a framework recalls the dramatic sweep of Broadway, Opera, Vaudeville or a permutation of the three. The dancers only reinforce this aspect. The sultry swing of go-go girls contrasts with the writhing, bone-white Japanese butto dancers wandering the stage during live performances. In a certain way, they represent the performance itself: avant-garde, overwhelming and out of control, yet undeniably, even brazenly sexy. |
| It is easy to be seduced into Shibusa Shirazu's world. Over the last four years I have entered it as often as I could and have never had the same experience twice. Live performances are a spectacle, a riot of color and sound, and should not be missed. Like a phoenix that continues to rise from ashes, the Shibusa Shirazu orchestra burns hot, and shimmers with life so bright that no one will ever scratch it out. |  |
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report by jinki and photos by hanasan |
| photos : part1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
 mag files : 渋さ知らズ (Shibusa Shirazu) The Sweet Sounds of Destruction (05/04/17 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) : review by jinki, photos by hanasanOrganized Chaos (05/04/17 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) : review by shawn, photos by hanasanphoto report (05/04/17 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) : photos by hanasanA Global-A-Go-Go Tune-Up In Effervescence For A Slightly Slimmed Down 26-Piece Shibusa Shirazu (05/04/13 @ Kichijoji Star Pine's Cafe) : review by michael, photos by hanasanphoto report (05/04/13 @ Kichijoji Star Pine's Cafe) : photos by hanasan湧き出すエネルギー (05/04/01 @ Shinjuku Pit Inn) : review by joe, photos by hanasanphoto report (05/04/01 @ Shinjuku Pit Inn) : photos by hanasanはたして戦後に生きているのか？ (05/03/12 @ Ueno Suijo Ongaku Do) : review and photos by hanasanphoto report (05/03/12 @ Ueno Suijo Ongaku Do) : photos by hanasan |
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The official site(JPN) Shibusa Shirazu Orchestra 渋さ知らズ The official site(ENG) Shibusa Shirazu http://www.shibusa.org/ The latest album  "渋星 (Shibu Boshi )" |
The latest DVD  "天幕 - 宇宙を駆ける - " (6/10発売予定のDVD+CD。 こちらで予約可能。) previous album  "渋旗 (Shibu Hata)" 購入は地底商店にて可能です。 |
 2005The Sweet Sounds of Destruction : Shibusa Shirazu (17th Apr. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)2003CD review : LAST HEAVEN'S BOOTLEG : Thee Michell Gun Elephant (26th Dec.)
2002interview : Have Guitar... Will Travel : Melissa Ferrick (5th Jul.)interview : Hate Machine: The Parkinsons Come Out Swinging : The Parkinsons (5th Jun.)The Fat of the Land : FatBoy Slim Kicks Off : Fatboy Slim & Boom Boom Satelites (1st Jun. @ Makuhari Messe)Still "Perfect"... : Eddi reader (20th Mar. @ La Foret Musium Roppongi)interview : A Singing Angel Sings Free... : Eddi reader (20th Mar.)interview : 聞く人の心を揺さぶりたい... : Eddi reader (20th Mar.)Multi-ethnic Music-monsters, Ozomatli! : Ozomatli (14th Mar. @ Shinjuku Liquidroom)interview : Here come the people's music again! (JPN) : Ozomatli (24th Feb.)interview : Here come the people's music again! (ENG) : Ozomatli (24th Feb.)Ahh, Natalie, Natalie... : Natalie Merchant (6th Feb. @ Harajuku Laforet)Come on up, hipstars! : Katteni Shiyagare (3rd Feb. @ Shimokitazawa Basement Bar)
2001The band to watch for in the future... : The 3peace (30th Sept. @ Shinjuku Loft)
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