We’re incredibly excited to welcome two Japanese experimental legends Toshimaru Nakamura and Tetuzi Akiyama to the Elastic stage for a special duo performance. The two will be supported by a set from Superposition (Michael Hartman + Todd Carter) and Sarah Lutkenhaus. Nakamura is a pioneer of no-input mixing as a primary instrument while Akiyama is a guitarist, violinist, and instrument maker. Both have been prolifically producing music since the 1990’s and collaborated with countless international improvised music luminaries. Superposition consists of two old friends, collaborators, and prolific musicians. They explore deep textures via modular synth, electronics, and computer. Lutkenhaus is a somewhat new Chicagoan in town for studies at SAIC. She uses modular synthesis, field recordings, and vocal improvisation to build layered compositions. The work explores emotional extremes, physical limitations, and vulnerability of the human experience in modern daily life. This will be a very special night of music. Join us!

$15 / $10 w/ Student ID – Tickets Available at the Door

Artist Bios

Toshimaru Nakamura
http://www.toshimarunakamura.com

Toshimaru Nakamura’s instrument is the no-input mixing board, which describes a way of using a standard mixing board as an electronic music instrument, producing sound without any external audio input. The use of the mixing board in this manner is not only innovative in the the sounds it can create but, more importantly, in the approach this method of working with the mixer demands. The unpredictability of the instrument requires an attitude of obedience and resignation to the system and the sounds it produces, bringing a high level of indeterminacy and surprise to the music. Nakamura pioneered this approach to the use of the mixing board in the mid-1990’s and has since then appeared on over one hundred audio publications, including nine solo CD’s. He has performed throughout Europe, North America, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, Korea, China, Singapore and Malaysia, performing and recording both as a soloist and in collaboration with numerous other musicians. As an active organizer of concerts in Tokyo, Nakamura has helped many musicians coming to Japan find places to perform, both with himself and with others. From 1998 to 2003 Nakamura and Tetuzi Akiyama ran the concert series Improvisation Series at Bar Aoyama and then later the Meeting at Off Site series of concerts. Both these concert series were crucially important in exposing a new manner to improvised music (referred to as Electro Acoustic Improvisation) to the Japanese public and to foreign musicians visiting Japan, making Tokyo one of the global hotspots for this new approach to music.

Tetuzi Akiyama
https://besompresse.bandcamp.com/album/thaumaturgy

Tetuzi Akiyama (Akiyama Tetsuji) (born 1964) is a Japanese guitarist, violinist, and instrument-maker. Akiyama specializes in creating music with elements of both primitivism and realism by connecting his own aspirations, in a minimal and straightforward way, to the special instrumental qualities of the guitar. Sometimes delicately and sometimes boldly, he controls sound volumes ranging from micro to macro, in an attempt to convert the body into an electronic entity. Akiyama formed the improvisation group Madhar in 1987, and the classical ensemble Hikyo String Quintet in 1994 (which also included Taku Sugimoto on cello). In 1995, Akiyama and Sugimoto formed a guitar duo, and played at venues in New York City, Chicago, and Detroit. During this time, Akiyama was also a member of Keiji Haino’s Nijiumu outfit. Akiyama also formed Sutekina Tea Time (a duo with Takashi Matsuoka) and Mongoose (a trio with Taku Sugimoto and Utah Kawasaki). In 1998 Akiyama began organising a monthly concert series,[1] The Improvisation Meeting, with Toshimaru Nakamura. In December 2006 he began a regular duo with Hervé Boghossian (France), they toured in Europe (France, Portugal, Switzerland, England) several times in 2007 (in May, October and December) and also played in Tokyo during Hervé Boghossian Japanese tour in August/September 2008. In 2009 he worked with David Sylvian.

Superposition

Superposition was first sparked in 2004 by TV Pow members Todd A. Carter and Michael Hartman. They have been inseparable friends, collaborators, and musicians for 30 years, first performing in Kalamazoo as members of the ambient band Liminal. Together they craft music that blends improvisational richness with intentional compositions, exploring uncharted territories and redefining the art of sonic expression. Superposition members have also performed in larger group contexts including Galactic Unity Ensemble, Chicago Sound Map, Ensemble Noamnesia, and Lightbox Orchestra.

Official Website

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Tags: Chicago, David Sylvian, Elastic Arts, Elastro Series, Elastro: Toshimaru Nakamura / Tetuzi Akiyama, Hervé Boghossian, Keiji Haino, Logan Square, Michael Hartman, Sarah Lutkenhaus, Superposition, Takashi Matsuoka, Taku Sugimoto, Tetuzi Akiyama, Todd Carter, Toshimaru Nakamura, Utah Kawasaki