Phil Nyokai James is a professional

shakuhachi A is a Japanese longitudinal, end-blown flute that is made of bamboo. The bamboo end-blown flute now known as the was developed in Japan in the 16th century and is called the .

(

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

bamboo flute) teacher and performer as well as avant-garde composer. Born in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

in 1954, James studied shakuhachi with

Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin Ronald Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin ( July 3, 1947 – May 30, 2017) born in Brooklyn, New York (state), New York, was a noted ''shakuhachi'' player. Seldin studied theology at the New School for Social Research, then went to Japan where he studied th ...

and Yodo Kurahashi. After receiving his master's license (''

shihan is a Japanese term that is used in many Japanese martial arts as an honorific title for expert or senior instructors. It can be translated as "master instructor". The use of the term is specific to a school or organization, as is the process o ...

'' level), he began teaching and performing throughout the United States. His shakuhachi ''

dojo A is a hall or place for immersive learning, experiential learning, or meditation. This is traditionally in the field of martial arts. The term literally means "place of the Tao, Way" in Japanese language, Japanese. History The word ''d� ...

'' is in

Portland, Maine Portland is the List of municipalities in Maine, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine and the county seat, seat of Cumberland County, Maine, Cumberland County. Portland's population was 68,408 at the 2020 census. The Portland metropolit ...

Discography

* ''dreaming of waking up''. Phil James (solo shakuahchi), 2008. * ''First Places''. Phil James (solo shakuahchi), 2001. * ''Already Gone''. Phil James, 1999. For shakuhachi,

Native American flute The Native American flute is a musical instrument and flute that is held in front of the player, has open finger holes, and has two chambers: one for collecting the breath of the player and a second chamber which creates sound. The player breat ...

pedal steel guitar The pedal steel guitar is a console steel guitar with pedals and knee levers that change the pitch of certain strings, enabling more varied and complex music to be played than with other steel guitar designs. Like all steel guitars, it can play ...

, shakuhachi, drums,

turntables A phonograph, later called a gramophone, and since the 1940s a record player, or more recently a turntable, is a device for the mechanical and analogue reproduction of sound. The sound vibration Waveform, waveforms are recorded as correspond ...

, and electronics.

Selected Compositions

* ''Loudmouths'', 2009, for four tenor saxophones. * ''Simple Song'', 2009, for flute with violin, cello, and piano. * ''Bang Bang'', 2009, for two pianos. * ''Theme and Variegations'', 2009, for cello and marimba. * ''Prelude for Guitar'', 2009. * ''Hon Shirabe'', 2009, for trumpet and organ. * ''String Quartet'', 2008. * ''Crystal Earth Drum'', 2006, for electronics. * ''Ishi (stones)'', 2004, for

shinobue The ''shinobue'' (kanji: 篠笛; also called ''takebue'' (kanji: 竹笛) in the context of Japanese traditional arts) is a Japanese transverse flute or fue that has a high-pitched sound. Usage It is found in hayashi and nagauta ensemb ...

, shakuhachi, shō,

kokyū The is the only traditional Japanese string instrument played with a bow (music), bow. A variant of the instrument also exists in Okinawa Prefecture, Okinawa, called () in Okinawan language, Okinawan. The , like the , has its origins in Oki ...

, bass koto and percussion (o-daiko, tyappa, kin, and mokugyo). * ''Quiet Music'', 2004, for electronics (installation). * ''You Were Dazzle'', 2002, for untrained voices, shakuhachi, electric guitar, bass, cymbals, and video, 2002 (text by

Carole Maso Carole Maso is a contemporary American novelist and essayist, known for her experimental, poetic and fragmentary narratives which are often called postmodern. She is a recipient of a 1993 Lannan Literary Award for Fiction. Biography Carole Maso ...

References

1954 births Living people Shakuhachi players American male composers 21st-century American composers 21st-century American male musicians 21st-century flautists {{US-composer-20thC-stub