Minyo Crusaders at PhilaMOCA
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“For Japanese people, min'yō is both the closest, and most distant, folk music” explains band-leader Katsumi Tanaka: “We may not feel it in our daily, urban lives, yet the melodies, the style of singing and the rhythm of the taiko drums are engrained in our DNA”.
Initially indifferent to min'yō, a tragic event in recent Japanese history set Tanaka on his current path: “Following the Tohoku earthquake of 2011, I reflected on my life, work and identity. A fan of world music, I began searching for Japanese roots music I could identify with. Discovering mid-late 20th century acts Hibari Misora, Chiemi Eri and the Tokyo Cuban Boys, I was captivated by their eccentric arrangements and how they mixed min'yō with Latin and jazz.” Lead singer Freddie fell for min'yō after hearing a song from his hometown on a TV competition whilst in a restaurant. It was a revelation – until then he had been an aspiring jazz singer yet was uncomfortable singing in English. The restaurateur told him a min'yō teacher was his neighbour and the two connected. Tanaka and Freddie formed Minyo Crusaders in 2011 in Fussa, a city where the US military Yokota Air Base is located, in western Tokyo.
Recruiting other local musicians versed in Afro and Latin rhythms they began hosting jam sessions in the “Banana House”, a building that was previously part of the US military air base and that used to house US soldiers. Following various member changes the band recorded their debut album. Released in 2017 itreceived huge acclaim in Japan and was picked up for an international release by Mais Um in 2019. A debut European tour followed including top class festivals (Trans Musicales, Le Guess Who, Oslo World Music and many other), then Womadelaide and Womad New Zealand. Since 2022, the worldwide tours of 20 countries 60 shows including Primavera Sounds Bogota, Roskilde, Fusion, Womad UK, Greenman, Lowlands, Sziget or Best Kept Secret have definitively established the Minyo Crusaders as the most dynamic representant of the Japanese world music scene.
“Minyo Crusaders played with such verve and good cheer that most of the Jazz Café was dancing by the first song… a concert quite like any other” ★★★★ The Times
https://www.minyocrusaders.com/
https://www.facebook.com/minyocrusaders/
https://www.instagram.com/minyocrusaders/
Initially indifferent to min'yō, a tragic event in recent Japanese history set Tanaka on his current path: “Following the Tohoku earthquake of 2011, I reflected on my life, work and identity. A fan of world music, I began searching for Japanese roots music I could identify with. Discovering mid-late 20th century acts Hibari Misora, Chiemi Eri and the Tokyo Cuban Boys, I was captivated by their eccentric arrangements and how they mixed min'yō with Latin and jazz.” Lead singer Freddie fell for min'yō after hearing a song from his hometown on a TV competition whilst in a restaurant. It was a revelation – until then he had been an aspiring jazz singer yet was uncomfortable singing in English. The restaurateur told him a min'yō teacher was his neighbour and the two connected. Tanaka and Freddie formed Minyo Crusaders in 2011 in Fussa, a city where the US military Yokota Air Base is located, in western Tokyo.
Recruiting other local musicians versed in Afro and Latin rhythms they began hosting jam sessions in the “Banana House”, a building that was previously part of the US military air base and that used to house US soldiers. Following various member changes the band recorded their debut album. Released in 2017 itreceived huge acclaim in Japan and was picked up for an international release by Mais Um in 2019. A debut European tour followed including top class festivals (Trans Musicales, Le Guess Who, Oslo World Music and many other), then Womadelaide and Womad New Zealand. Since 2022, the worldwide tours of 20 countries 60 shows including Primavera Sounds Bogota, Roskilde, Fusion, Womad UK, Greenman, Lowlands, Sziget or Best Kept Secret have definitively established the Minyo Crusaders as the most dynamic representant of the Japanese world music scene.
“Minyo Crusaders played with such verve and good cheer that most of the Jazz Café was dancing by the first song… a concert quite like any other” ★★★★ The Times
https://www.minyocrusaders.com/
https://www.facebook.com/minyocrusaders/
https://www.instagram.com/minyocrusaders/
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Where is it happening?
PhilaMOCA, 531 N 12th St,Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
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