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, 1920’s 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.
The Tsugaru shamisen is the most powerful sounding and popular of the three major types of shamisen, the Tsugaru style comes from Northern Japan. It has enjoyed a resurgence among young people in the last twenty years in Japan, and is therefore a tradition very much alive.
Mike Penny:
Within two years of picking up the instrument, he competed in the annual Kanagi Tsugaru Shamisen competition in Northern Japan and received the "nyuusho" or "runner-up" award in his class out of a field of 200, an honor never before bestowed on a non-Japanese player. He also plays in the Tsugaru Shamisen trio, Monsters of Shamisen.
Aaron Seeman:
Also performs solo as Duckmandu, he holds a B.A. in Piano and a Masters in Composition from UC Santa Cruz. As Duckmandu, he has produced three CDs using accordion and voice to produce renditions of Punk Rock, Mainstream Rock which evoke to an astonishing degree the original music. Also as Duckmandu he recorded a solo CD of more traditional material.
Is "Danse de Ours" that once was in your player your original composition or an interpretation? If latter who did write it? However, it is great. And "Yiddishe Martsche" is the best. Have to figure this one out. Thanks a million for your music and best wishes for everything upcoming.
T'is not just a season, but it is the beginning. We are evolving and growing and becoming. We are going to make changes and honor within the goodness around us and inside us and then... We will generate this energy and surround our soul with all that makes us feel happy and whole.
And with this we share, with others of like mind, honoring all that is gentle and kind. We'll surrender the negative and with this be true, to a Happy New Year, as change has become due. We will address any problem and develop a solution, and we will move forward with Zen Evolution.
Happy 2009!
~~~NAMASTE~~~ Your Friends at Zen Evolution TV ..Adding a little bit of ZEN...to your EVERYDAY Life!' (tm)
Thanks for the friend request. (Used to play accordian myself many years ago - who knew it'd go with Tsugaru shamisen? :-) ) Love the Yiddische March, btw.
oh, thank you dear friends, it is a big pleasure to be one of your friends now. ah, you're a wonderful bunch of musicians, together. greetings from holland
I heard you guys outside the Bluegrass festival last weekend. I really like your unusual textures and arrangements, not to mention superior craftsmanship and exotic style.
