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Monsters of Shamisen w/Shamalamacord

Rhythmix Cultural Works
Alameda, CA

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Monsters of Shamisen w/Shamalamacord

Monsters of Shamisen offers audiences the most exciting and innovative examples of modern Tsugaru shamisen in the world! Pooling their respective musical backgrounds, the monsters draw inspiration from a wide variety of musical styles including baroque/classical, Balkan gypsy, American bluegrass, Irish folk music, and even modern rock/pop. To see this ensemble live is to experience one of the most unforgettable fusions of not only east and west but of past and future, good and evil!

MASAHIRO NITTA: Arguably the best shamisen player in the wold, he was Inspired by his father at the age of 14 to begin playing Tsugaru Shamisen. Masahiro won the Junior high school national championship title for Tsugaru Shamisen in 1998 after only playing for seven months. In 2000 and 2001 he was awarded the championship title at Kanagis national tournament and again won the championship title in Tokyo in 2002. In 2004 he starred as Oishi Seichiro in the motion picture Overdrive.

KEVIN KMETZ: First foreigner in history to win the honorary Daijo Kazuo Award at the Tsugaru Shamisen Championship Competition in Kanagi, Japan. May 5, 2005. Also took the"Judges Choice" Award at the Hirosaki Championship tournament May 4, 2005. In both 2006 and 2007, #Kevin placed Nyusho (runner-up) at Hirosaki and Jyun Yuusho (2nd place) at Kanagi.

MIKE PENNY: is the second foreigner ever to have been awarded for his performance in the national Tsugaru Shamisen Tournament held annually in Kanagi, Japan. There, he won 3rd place in his class out of over 200 competitors in the Spring of 2006. He also performs with Aaron Seeman (Duckmandu) in the accordion/shamisen duo, Shamalamacord.

Shamalamacord is Mike Penny on Tsugaru Shamisen and Aaron Seeman (Duckmandu) on Accordion. They formed an essential element of the acclaimed Gypsy band, Fishtank Ensemble.

Shamalamacord draws from a wide range of styles, including Balkan Gypsy music, Classical, Klezmer, 1920s Jazz, traditional and popular Japanese Music, and original compositions. As a duo and as solo players they are each actively engaged in extending the capabilities of their instruments.