When I first heard Watazumi-doso on a CD about 10 years ago, I did not
like his sound at all. Perhaps it was very low quality recording of
that album put out by Legacy International: The Art of the Japanese
Bamboo Flute. Actually half that album is not even Watazumi-do playing!
Anyways, as my shakuhachi studies deepened I began to appreciate the
beauty of Watazumi-do's playing and sound more and more. Finding better
recordings of his music also helped. Then hearing all the strange and
funny stories from various people who have met him personally and
reading about him from spurious articles made me contemplate the deeper
meaning of playing shakuhachi (for me). Thinking about him, I feel a
deep sympathy for him, as he went greatly against the grain of Japanese
society, and must have suffered a great deal from societal pressures to
conform. I don't know...
What I do know is that he has had a profound impact on me and my
shakuhachi life. Although now dead, I feel he still teaches.
al
On Saturday, August 7, 2004, at 07:32 PM, Justin . wrote:
> Hi Ron,
> Thanks very much for your reply. Yes I have listened
> to 3 of his albums. And I did kind of like them. But
> the more I play, the way I listen changes. That`s not
> just for Watazumi but all the shakuhachi that I listen
> to. But I still think I`m not hearning what people
> might admire so much about Watazumi. Let`s say my
> friend who is a jazz trumpet player. It`s really nice
> to listen to jazz with him, because he loves it so
> much. And the way he listens, or the slight comments
> he makes, really enhance my enjoyment and feeling for
> the music. Know what I mean? Like he opens a gateway.
> So that`s why I was asking all you shakuhachi people
> about Watazumi. And for a whiel, no-one gave their
> views - I thought you were all more interested in
> whether it is called a "shak" or not (Watazumi would
> be laughing no doubt!!), but finally you have shared
> with me your views, so thank you Ron. Certainly I can
> hear he is wild. And I do like that. There is one
> album I heard with much minyo on it. And that it just
> totally wild. Not shakuhachi I think. Maybe he is
> playing hitoygiri or something? But so so wild and so
> much control!
> Okay, best wishes
> Justin
>
>
> --- Ronald Nelson <ron@komuso.com> wrote:
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Hi Justin,
>
> I think it is best to judge for yourself by listening
> to one of his CDs.
>
> The reasons I find him interesting are mostly that he
> was a very dynamic
> and wild and accomplished player, that he taught the
> great player
> Yokoyama Katsuya, that he claims to have had no
> teachers, that his
> Zen music tradition is different from most what most
> people are selling,
> that his recordings are very rare and hard to find.
> To me he was kind
> of a crazy monk and expressed that in his music with
> rawness, energy,
> dynamics, and unique interpretations. I don't know
> another player with
> such mystique and energy.
>
> Ron
>
>
>
>
>
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