22 April 2007

SECOND SUPER QUIZ NIGHT APRIL 28TH BETWEEN 19:00 & 22:00



On the 31st of March we had our first Quiz Night, organized by those saucy girls at whynotjapan.com, and a great success it was too. The only problem being the ratio of 3 girls to every boy, great for the lads that came, but a senseless waste of spare talent-if you know what I mean, squire?
The quiz is in English and Japanese, but don't worry, the orgnizers will make up the teams for you, so there is always a Japanese member. The next one will be on April 28th between 19:00 and 22:00, and will be a more streamlined and action packed affair. To enter the quiz costs ¥1,500 per person with teams up to 4 people. The minimum first prize is ¥10,000 and a bottle of bubbly, second prize is two bottles of wine, third prize is, amazingly, ONE bottle of wine.

So get those thinking caps on and show us your brains, baby!

13 April 2007

TAK TAMURA. On The Fiddle


On May 3rd from 20:30, we have the pleasure to introduce one of Japan's foremost fiddlers, Tak Tamura. Tak has devoted himself to the study of Traditional Irish Music focussing on the fiddle. Ten years spent gigging around Ireland have earned him the respect of his peers in Ireland and abroad. Well, don't just take my word for it, check out some toons on his web site!!! www.geocities.jp/irishfiddlemusic


プロフィール


Tak Tamura first studied the fiddle at the age of 19 under Nick Farrelly in England and continued his studies in Galway from 1995. He then spent many years playing professionally around Sligo, Galway, and County Clare becoming well known and liked among the local music community. This led to a teaching position at the Galway School of Traditional Irish Music, where his original approach to teaching made him very popular with the students.

In July 2004, Tak teamed up with Danish accordionist, Anders Trabjerg, to produce his first album, 「For the same reason」. In the same year, he was part of a memorial CD produced by the Willie Clancy Summer School with James Kelly、Brian McNamara、Claire Keville. The CD reached number 7 on the Irish Music Magazine’s traditional music charts.

Tak returned to Japan in 2004 and currently teaches the fiddle privately and gigs all over Japan. For more information check out his web page at:
www.geocities.jp/irishfiddlemusic

横浜生まれ。18歳で渡英、19歳でフィドルを始める。

英国シェフィールドでの恩師 Nick Farrellyの助言を受け、1995年にゴールウェイへ移住。その後、スライゴーやゴールウェイ東部、クレア西部のフィドル音楽の美しさに魅せられ、そのスタイルを独学で学ぶ。現地ではセッションやギグを数多くこなし、地元のミュージシャン達の中でも熟達したフィドラーとして知られる。旧ゴールウェイ伝統音楽学校(GSTIM)では非常勤講師を務め、独自のアプローチ、教え方によって人気を得る。

2004年7月、デンマーク出身のアコーディオン奏者 Anders TrabjergとCD「For the same reason」をリリース。同年「Willie Clancy Summer School」でJames Kelly、Brian McNamara、Claire Kevilleらと合同CD発売記念イベントに参加。地元ゴールウェイではCrane Barでの発売記念ギグを行う。

ネイティブでないギャップを感じさせない質の高いアルバムとしてClare FM、Galway Bay FM、Radio Na Gaeltachtといった地元ラジオ局で取り上げられ、アイリッシュ・ミュージック・マガジン(Irish Music Magazine)の月間チャート、ゴールウェイ部門7位となる。

2004年11月帰国。現在、東京を中心に演奏やワークショップ、個人レッスンなどの活動を続ける。www.geocities.jp/irishfiddlemusic