Phil Nyokai James
Encyclopedia
Phil Nyokai James is a professional shakuhachi
(Japanese
bamboo flute) teacher and performer as well as avant-garde composer. Born in New York
in 1954, James studied shakuhachi with Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
and Yoshio Kurahashi. After receiving his master's license (shihan
level), he began teaching and performing throughout the United States. His shakuhachi dojo
is centered in Portland, Maine
.
James' performances often juxtapose traditional Japanese meditative pieces (honkyoku
) with electronic noise music
. He frequently works with postmodern choreographers
and butoh
dancers.
Shakuhachi
The is a Japanese end-blown flute. It is traditionally made of bamboo, but versions now exist in ABS and hardwoods. It was used by the monks of the Fuke school of Zen Buddhism in the practice of...
(Japanese
Music of Japan
The music of Japan includes a wide array of performers in distinct styles both traditional and modern. The word for music in Japanese is 音楽 , combining the kanji 音 with the kanji 楽...
bamboo flute) teacher and performer as well as avant-garde composer. Born in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1954, James studied shakuhachi with Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin is a noted shakuhachi player.He studied theology at the New School for Social Research, then went to Japan where he studied the shakuhachi, receiving the name Nyogetsu in 1975. By 2001 he received his Grand Master's license at the level of Kyu-Dan. and was given the...
and Yoshio Kurahashi. After receiving his master's license (shihan
Shihan
- Title of "Master" is a Japanese Honorific Title, Expert License Certification used in Japanese martial arts for Master Level Instructors. The award of the Expert License Certification is if designated by the qualification by virtue of endorsement by the [A] Association of Chief Instructors or [B]...
level), he began teaching and performing throughout the United States. His shakuhachi dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
is centered in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
.
James' performances often juxtapose traditional Japanese meditative pieces (honkyoku
Honkyoku
Honkyoku are the pieces of shakuhachi or hocchiku music played by mendicant Japanese Zen monks called komusō. Komusō played honkyoku for enlightenment and alms as early as the 13th century. Honkyoku is the practice of suizen...
) with electronic noise music
Noise music
Noise music is a term used to describe varieties of avant-garde music and sound art that may use elements such as cacophony, dissonance, atonality, noise, indeterminacy, and repetition in their realization. Noise music can feature distortion, various types of acoustically or electronically...
. He frequently works with postmodern choreographers
Postmodern dance
Postmodern dance is a 20th century concert dance form. A reaction to the compositional and presentation constraints of modern dance, postmodern dance hailed the use of everyday movement as valid performance art and advocated novel methods of dance composition....
and butoh
Butoh
is the collective name for a diverse range of activities, techniques and motivations for dance, performance, or movement inspired by the movement. It typically involves playful and grotesque imagery, taboo topics, extreme or absurd environments, and is traditionally performed in white body makeup...
dancers.
Discography
- dreaming of waking up. Phil James (solo shakuahchi), 2008.
- First Places. Phil James (solo shakuahchi), 2001.
- Already Gone. Phil James, 1999. For shakuhachi, Native American FluteNative American fluteThe Native American flute has achieved some measure of fame for its distinctive sound, used in a variety of New Age and world music recordings. The instrument was originally very personal; its music was played without accompaniment in courtship, healing, meditation, and spiritual rituals. Now it...
, pedal steel guitarPedal steel guitarThe pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it also uses pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal"...
, shakuhachi, drums, turntablesTurntablismTurntablism is the art of manipulating sounds and creating music using phonograph turntables and a DJ mixer.The word 'turntablist' was coined in 1995 by DJ Babu to describe the difference between a DJ who just plays records, and one who performs by touching and moving the records, stylus and mixer...
, and electronics.
Selected Compositions
- Loudmouths, 2009, for four tenor saxophones.
- Simple Song, 2009, for flute with violin, cello, and piano.
- Bang Bang, 2009, for two pianos.
- Theme and Variegations, 2009, for cello and marimba.
- Prelude for Guitar, 2009.
- Hon Shirabe, 2009, for trumpet and organ.
- String Quartet, 2008.
- Crystal Earth Drum, 2006, for electronics.
- Ishi (stones), 2004, for shinobueShinobueThe shinobue is a Japanese transverse flute or fue that has a high-pitched sound. It is found in hayashi and nagauta ensembles, and plays important roles in noh and kabuki theatre music. It is heard in Shinto music such as kagura-den and in traditional Japanese folk songs...
, shakuhachi, shō, kokyuKokyuThe is a traditional Japanese string instrument, the only one played with a bow. Although it was introduced to Japan from China along with the shamisen, its material, shape, and sound are unique to Japan...
, bass kotoKoto (musical instrument)The koto is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument, similar to the Chinese guzheng, the Mongolian yatga, the Korean gayageum and the Vietnamese đàn tranh. The koto is the national instrument of Japan. Koto are about length, and made from kiri wood...
and percussion (o-daiko, tyappa, kin, and mokugyoMokugyoA wooden fish , , , , sometimes known as a Chinese block, is a wooden percussion instrument similar to the Western wood block . The wooden fish is used by monks and laity in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition...
). - Quiet Music, 2004, for electronics (installation).
- You Were Dazzle, 2002, for untrained voices, shakuhachi, electric guitar, bass, cymbals, and video, 2002 (text by Carole MasoCarole MasoCarole Maso is a contemporary American novelist and essayist, known for her experimental, poetic and fragmentary narratives often called postmodern. She received a B.A. in English from Vassar College in 1977. She is the recipient of a Lannan Literary Fellowship for Fiction, an NEA fellowship, and...
).