Yasuaki Shimizu
When
Doors: 7:00 pm | Show: 8:00 pm
Where
Price
$20.00-45.00 (+ $2.00-4.50 fee)
About
In Sheep’s Clothing x dublab x JACCC present the legendary Japanese composer, saxophonist, producer Yasuaki Shimizu for his first performance in Los Angeles in over a decade at the iconic Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo. A contemporary and longtime collaborator of members of Yellow Magic Orchestra, Shimizu helped define the sound of '80s Japan. He is known worldwide for his 1983 Japanese folk synth-pop fusion classic “Utakata no Hibi” with his band Mariah and his cult favorite 1982 solo album “Kakashi.” For this must-see performance, the maverick saxophonist will be performing material from across his catalogue, including songs from ‘Utakata No Hibi’, as well as ‘Music From Commercials’, ‘Kakashi’ and more.
Things To Know
Artist Bio
Yasuaki Shimizu Composer, saxophonist, music producer
Musical boundaries are no barrier to Yasuaki Shimizu, whose forty-year career spans an impressively broad range of genres. He is recognized for his crossover albums, film soundtracks, and high-profile installations and collaborations. His peerless back catalog reached a wider audience following the 2015 reissue of his band Mariah’s 1983 classic Utakata no Hibi, a masterful hybrid of Japanese folk and pop idioms. Also reissued in 2017, cult favorite Kakashi playfully weaves together minimal dub and musique concrète. In 2018 Shimizu took these reissued albums on a six-nation European tour that included the Roskilde Festival, one of continent’s largest music events.
In the mid-1990s, Shimizu’s passion for the music of J.S. Bach surfaced in two groundbreaking recordings of the entire Cello Suites—the first-ever tenor saxophone interpretations of these pieces. Shimizu has also recorded as Yasuaki Shimizu & Saxophonettes, and in 2006 he relaunched the Saxophonettes as a saxophone quintet. Following the release of Pentatonica (2007), an album of original and traditional pentatonic tunes, Shimizu returned his focus to Bach, releasing his arrangement—for five saxophones and four contrabasses—of the Goldberg Variations in 2015.
A prolific composer for film and TV, Shimizu has produced soundtracks for, among many others, the Oscar-nominated documentary Cutie and the Boxer (2013), which won Outstanding Achievement for Original Music Score at the Cinema Eye Honors. Shimizu’s boundary-breaking approach to music goes beyond composition and performance. He views physical space as an extension of his instrument, and often “plays the space,” making use of unique acoustic environments in which to record and play.
Bar
Enjoy our cash-free bar* with select Japanese whiskey, beer, and wine.
*JACCC has a Social Responsibility & Designated Driver Program — click here to learn more.
Accessibility
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To be respectful of those with allergies and environmental sensitivities, we ask that you please refrain from wearing strong fragrances. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact info@jaccc.org.
Plan Your Visit
JACCC is a 7-minute walk from the L.A. Metro Rail's Little Tokyo/Arts District Station, which connects to both the A and E lines via the Regional Connector.
For additional transportation options and parking details, check out Go Little Tokyo's Guide to the area here.