Ryuzen Shakuhachi: Events Calendar

Events Calendar 2010 (latest events first)

Isshin Denshin Live: Carving the Air: an evening of sonic sculpture

Date: Saturday, August 28, 2010
Time: 8:00pm - 11:00pm
Location: Tozenji Buddhist Temple, 209 Jackson Street
City/Town: Coquitlam, BC

Description:

Isshin Denshin (Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos and Kirk Watson)
Live at Tozenji

Featuring guest muscian Joseph "Pepe" Danza and calligraphy artist Etsuko Inoue.

Join us for our monthly concert series at the beautiful Tozenji Buddhist Temple in Coquitlam!

The Tozenji Concert Series evenings will feature multi-disciplinary sonic explorations based on the music of Isshin Denshin. The mission of this series is to explore various avenues of sound, light, movement and art; to dissolve the barriers between audience and performers; and to blissfully manifest in a shared experience.

Isshin Denshin is an electro-acoustic ensemble dedicated to creating sonic atmospheres of beauty, mystery, love, and danger. Isshin Denshin is the creation of Ryuzen (Alcvin Ramos) and 1000snakes (Kirk Watson), and explores the depth and pushes the boundaries of the Japanese shakuhachi bamboo flute within the context of electronic ambient music. The result is an intoxicating blend!

http://www.myspace.com/isshindenshin
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Isshin-Denshin/132692346763270

Tozenji is one of the most lovely examples of neo-traditional Japanese architecture in Canada. Please come and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of art, culture, music, spirit, and nature!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129269370445478

Doors open 7:30 pm
Concert starts 8:00 pm

Address:

209 Jackson Street
Coquitlam, B.C.
V3K 4C1
(near the Braid Skytrain station)

http://maps.google.ca/maps/mm?ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=49.235582%2C-122.876917&spn=0.010368%2C0.02635&t=h&z=16

Price: $15.00 (general)
$10.00 (students w/id)

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Ryuzen

Ryuzen (Alcvin Ramos) is one of the leading performers and teachers of the shakuhachi, Japanese bamboo flute, in the world today, and the first Canadian to attain the level of Daishihan, grand master of the shakuhachi. He is also also a composer and player of a variety of other instruments such as shinobue , hichiriki, biwa, guqin, and the didgeridoo, and has been experimenting with new ways of playing these traditional instruments as well as merging them with synthesized electronic music. He has taught and performed all over North America, Europe, and Japan, and pursues an active as well as collaborative career, playing with such distinguished artists as Bill Laswell, Hun Huur Tu Mongolian Throat Singers, Toshinori Kondo, Celso Machado, Joseph “Pepe” Danza, and Uzume Taiko. He has opened for Anoushka Shankar and the Yoshida Brothers and has recorded both solo classical Japanese shakuhachi music and electronic fusion pieces with the group Dharmakasa. When he is not performing, Ryuzen is busy crafting hand-made bamboo flutes at the Ryuzen Shakuhachi Studio on the beautiful Sunshine Coast of British Columbia which also doubles as Bamboo-In, Canada’s first and only Shakuhachi Retreat Centre. He is also the founder of the Shakuhachi Society of British Columbia and conducts pilgrimages to Japan every few years to harvest bamboo, visit shakuhachi/komuso temples, and connect with the masters.

http://www.bamboo-in.com/

and

http://www.myspace.com/alcvinryuzenramos

1000snakes (Kirk Watson)

1000snakes (Kirk Watson) was born in California and began playing bass guitar during the mid-70s. In the 80s, inspired by the works of Tangerine Dream, Wendy Carlos, Vangelis, Brian Eno, Steve Roach and the many other pioneers of electronic music, Kirk began working with synthesizers and sound manipulation in the 80s. His electronic music has been released on the Broad Vista Music and Hypnos Recordings labels and has received airplay on “Star’s End” and other genre related radio broadcasts. After years of concentrating on the tools of synth and sample based music, Kirk's first instrument, the electric bass has been reincarnated (via the use of sound processing pedals and other forms of sonic manipulation) as a new colour on his electronic music palette.
http://www.myspace.com/thousandsnakesmusic

Special Guests:

Joseph "Pepe" Danza

Etsuko Inoue

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Look forward to seeing you there!

Shambhala Music Festival

http://www.shambhalamusicfestival.com/

Date: Friday August 6-9, 2010
Time:. Dusk till Dawn
Location: Salmo River Ranch in Salmo, BC, Canada. The Ranch is located on Hwy #3, 6km east of Salmo, BC. The ranch is accessible by a 6 km dirt toad.

Deep in the Kootenay Mountain range, the Salmo River Ranch begins its annual transformation. Pristine pastures evolve into a city of 12,000, where nature and technology coexist harmoniously. A community rises, sharing a common goal; celebrating a collective love and respect for music, art and humanity. For five days and four nights time ceases to exist.

Isshin Denshin Live: Carving the Air: an evening of sonic sculpture

Date: Saturday, July 24, 2010
Time: 8:00pm - 11:00pm
Location: Tozenji Buddhist Temple, 209 Jackson Street
City/Town: Coquitlam, BC

Description:

Isshin Denshin (Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos and Kirk Watson)
Live at Tozenji

Featuring guest artists Eien Hunter-Ishikawa (taiko/drums/percussion) and Whale Groover (Lisa Walker) (violin/electronics/percussion).

Join us for our 1st monthly concert series at the beautiful Tozenji Buddhist Temple in Coquitlam!

http://www.myspace.com/isshindenshin
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Isshin-Denshin/132692346763270

Tozenji is one of the most lovely examples of neo-traditional Japanese architecture in Canada. Please come and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of art, culture, music, spirit, and nature!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129269370445478

Doors open 7:30 pm
Concert starts 8:00 pm

Address:

209 Jackson Street
Coquitlam, B.C.
V3K 4C1
(near the Braid Skytrain station)

http://maps.google.ca/maps/mm?ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=49.235582%2C-122.876917&spn=0.010368%2C0.02635&t=h&z=16

Price: $15.00 (general)
$10.00 (students w/id)

---------------------------------------------------

Ryuzen

http://www.bamboo-in.com/

and

http://www.myspace.com/alcvinryuzenramos

1000snakes (Kirk Watson)

Special Guests:

Eien Hunter-Ishikawa

Eien is a highly versatile drummer, percussionist, and taiko player with a multifaceted musical background. Born in Japan, his passion for drumming started at an early age through the involvement of a youth taiko ensemble directed by Yutaka Ishizuka, a founding member of the greatly influential taiko ensemble Sukeroku Daiko. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education at Central Michigan University, where he performed, recorded, and toured as a member of the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble under the direction of the late Robert Hohner, and his Master of Music at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. During his time in Honolulu, Eien performed and toured extensively as a member of the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble throughout the United States and Europe and taught classes at the Taiko Center of the Pacific, a school of traditional and contemporary taiko. Currently based in Vancouver, British Columbia, he has toured internationally with Uzume Taiko and is an active performer, instructor, and composer involved in a wide range of projects spanning multiple genres and creative disciplines.

Whale Groover (Lisa Walker)

Lisa is a classically trained violinist, composer, tribal drummer and whale researcher. Fascinated by the possibility of music existing in other species, Lisa began her study of whale song nearly 15 years ago. Walker was first introduced to Humpback Whales in 1996 when she joined a team of researchers in southeast Alaska studying the acoustics of this animal. It was thought that with her classical music background she might be able to identify subtle patterns in the acoustic activity of the whales that might not be evident to the scientist. Since then she has dedicated herself to obtaining a scientific understanding of these animals in order to provide insight as to how the music in other species might be investigated. Her electronic music album “Grooved Whale” was released in 2001 to rave reviews and chronicles the beginning of her independent research. She is now preparing to release “Music For Other Ears”, an album which draws upon possible permutations of musical organization to take the listener deep into the world of the whale.

Sound:::Music:::Science

http://www.groovedwhale.com/

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Look forward to seeing you there!

Mela! Festival

http://www.melafestivals.ca/artists.html

Date: Thursday, July 1, 2010
Time: 11:00am - 8:00pm
Location: Granville Island (near Emily Carr Institute)
City/Town: Vancouver, BC

Description:

Join us for our 5th annual FREE outdoor Mela on Canada Day (July 1st, 2010) at Granville Island!

MELA! Festivals has been at the forefront of creating new and unique cultural celebrations that transcend the barriers of language, race and religion. Our event draws a crowd of exuberant fun lovers to Granville Island for a day of parading, eating and dancing in the sunshine.

This is a day of world rhythm music, food, and culture. Featuring an International Pavilion with local singers, musicians, dancers, and other artists taking centre stage to entertain throughout the day. This festival brings together many distinct cultural heritages including Middle Eastern, South American, African, Caribbean, Asia Pacific, Mediterranean, South Asian and more.

Over the years, the Festival has grown into one of the largest Canada Day events on the local calendar and with tens of thousands of attendees, possibly the largest cultural event of its type on Canada Day in BC.

The performances are from 12:00pm to 8:00pm. To view the performance schedule, please visit: http://www.melafestivals.ca/events.html and for more information on the performers visit: http://www.melafestivals.ca/artists.html.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Entheos 2010 Solstice Conference and Festival

http://www.entheosgathering.com/home

Date: Friday June 18-21, 2010
Time:. Dusk till Dawn
Location: This year, Entheos will be held in beautiful BC, in the picturesque Fraser Canyon, 12 kms north of Boston Bar in the Nahatlach Valley.

Description:

The Entheos Summer Solstice Conference and Festival will take place in a beautiful outdoor location just north of Hope BC from June 18th-21st 2010.

The 4th generation vessel creates a precision engineered multimedia environment intentionally designed to activate your human evolutionary processes through sound, light, movement, intelligence and connectivity.

Our mission is to explore the next levels, to inspire higher states of existence, to bring the vision into reality by connecting your self with the whole, to bring optimism into now and our collective future.

A wide variety of music will be deployed to get your body moving, ranging from digital audio to live bands, all presented over 4 days and 3 nights on multiple stage platforms.

Entheos 2 features a conference, workshops, a kids zone for families, a tea lounge, a temple, art gallery, a market place and sanctuary. A green team of environmental engineers works to inspire you and ensure we gather with minimal impact, fostering environmental responsibility and ongoing future sustainability.

The lightship is landing. Grab a friend, come aboard and be involved in your evolution.

Kurimoto Japanese Garden Spring Festival

Date: Sunday, June 6, 2010

Time: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Devonian Botanic Gardens, University of Alberta, Edmonton
(5km north of Devon on Highway 60)
Fee: Regular admission rates apply. No registration required.

Description:

The Consulate General of Japan, in partnership with the Devonian Botanic Garden is pleased to present a unique opportunity to celebrate Japanese Culture in a very special setting – the Kurimoto Japanese Garden. Martial arts demonstrations, Japanese art, dance and music, and authentic tea ceremonies are only part of the entertainment at this unique event that the whole family will enjoy. Featured again this year, the Kita no Taiko Drummers will be providing a spectacular opening and closing to the festival. Special guest from Vancouver, shakuhachi master, Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos will also be giving a solo shakuhchi concert in the tea house.

For more information on events in Edmonton visit Asian Heritage Month 2010 Edmonton.

Resounding wholeness: Group sound healing

Date: Friday April 16, 2010
Time:. Doors at 7pm....sound beds by 7:05...sonic wholeness at 7:30
Location: Sonic Temple, Vancouver
2120 Front St. North Van. http://sonicalchemy.com/events_schedule.htm

Remember and retune to your balanced completeness.

connect to your deep akashic memories through rhythm.
connect to others through melody.
connect to spirit through harmony.

healing properties of agave and yucca didgeridoo, shakuhachi bamboo flute, singing bowls, guitars, shakers, drums and low reververations of bass.

Using our voices and yours as well as breath and movement.

We invite you to come Meditate, Rest, Reveal, Receive and Resound
as we journey into the Healing World of Sound.

Featuring:
Sparrow Deviyani Tiffany (vocals, guitar, singing bowls)
http://www.living-mantras.com
Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos (shakuhchi, didgeridoo, vocals),
http://www.bamboo-in.com/
Kirk Watson (bass, percussion)

Suggested gift of 20.00

A Talk by Wayson Choy: Navigating Multiculturalism Music by Dharmakasa

Date: Sunday, April 11, 2010
Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: CHAN SHUN CONCERT HALL

Presented by the UBC-Laurier Institution

2010 UBC-Laurier Institution Multiculturalism Lecture

Wayson Choy explores his personal view that many of us - whether recent arrivals or long-established citizens - suffer fears that may damage Canada's quest to become a multicultural nation. As an "in-between citizen" all his life, growing up between values and cultures, he proposes some challenging antidotes - "remedies" - that have both lightened and enlightened his life.

Music will be offered by world music fusion duo, Dharmakasa.

O-hanami at Nitobe Gardens

Type: Music/Arts - Exhibit
Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010
Time: 12:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: Nitobe Gardens, UBC, Vancouver, Canada

Description:

Escape the stresses of everyday life at Ohanami, the 29th annual celebration of cherry blossoms presented by the Vancouver Mokuyokai Society at Nitobe Memorial Garden and the Asian Centre at the University of British Columbia in cooperation with the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research and Shakuhachi Society of British Columbia.

Find peace of mind beneath the splendor of cherry blossoms as you drink in the tranquility of an authentic Japanese tea ceremony and relax to the soothing tones of shakuhachi (bamboo flute) from Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos and koto (Japanese zither) by Kozue Matsumoto. Take a guided tour of the authentic Japanese garden, sip some refreshing matcha, try making some origami creations, try on a yukata and enjoy a traditional Japanese bento dinner.

Top off your day with a tour of the garden by lantern-light, a magical, once-yearly event at Nitobe that should not be missed. Nitobe Memorial Garden is considered to be the one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in North America and among the top five Japanese gardens outside of Japan.

This event runs rain or shine.

Special option only available for Mokuyokai members to pre-register for bento or 12:00 and 4:00 tea ceremony sittings. On-site registration is on a first-come first-served basis at the garden entrance for all other tea ceremonies and garden tours. Please see below for more information.

Ocean of Sound- Journey through Japan and Beyond!

Type: Music/Arts - Listening Party
Date: Sunday, March 28, 2010
Time: 7:00pm - 11:00pm
Location: 1220 Kaslo St, Vancouver BC

adies and Gentlemen, welcome to the FIFTH Ocean of Sound

After a haitus during the Olympics, we are bringing it right back to its source.. to create a powerful experience of sound and community inside of a warm space to uplift consciousness and serve the divine..

This time,we have a VERY special guest playing with us.

Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos- A world renown Shakuhachi master who has traveled the world, delivering his deep experience of the traditional Japanese flute to enraptured audiences

He brings a quality to this instrument that words can barely scratch at, suffice to say it is deeply moving and profound. The concept of Ocean of Sound began when Alcvin and Pepe combined forces at Chai Gallery and created such a powerful experience that all who listened remained entranced for a long stretch of time after the performance had been completed..

Alcvin will be playing with our very own Pepe Danza, Vancouver's premier world musician, who will be bringing out his arsenal of instruments such as the crystal bowls, metal bowls, and shakuhachi's to create a powerful vibratory experience to lift your consciousness into new states of expansion.

Joining this powerful duo will be Zamir Dhanji on the Hang Drum, and Imran Dhanji with Vocal Percussion.

Here's a little bit about Ocean of Sound:

Ocean of Sound is a concept generated by Pepe Danza, which serves to uplift consciousness through music and sound. Pepe's life work has a deep spiritual underpinning in the realization of all being as vibration and light; our beings respond to music on all levels, and the external sounds are a manifestation of internal intentions and consciousness.

Through Ocean Of Sound, the listener is taken on a journey across time, countries, era's, and genre's into their own heart, from meditative crystal bowl toning to explosive Djembe drum solos!

Pepe is a world multi-instrumentalist with a collection of over a thousand instruments that he PLAYS! At regular events, he can only bring a few of those instruments.. at his home, he has his pick the whole evening.

Zamir Dhanji plays the Hang Drum, a fascinating, meditative instrument created only 10 years ago in Switzerland. It is currently among the most sought out instruments in the world, as only one family makes them. He also ac company's Pepe on the Dumbek, Tambur and other instruments.

Imran Dhanji is a professional Beatboxer who has traveled the world performing his music. He takes the concept of vocal percussion outside of Hip Hop, and uses his chords with any instruments to create entirely new musical concepts and rhythms.

BYOC- Bring Your Own Cushion, we have some, but usually not enough for everyone! We will have extra chairs in the back this time for those who want to sit comfortably.

Donation $15-$30, whatever you can afford. We want to cover costs, but not exclude anyone for monetary reasons.

We look forward to seeing you all there at the Revival of the Original Ocean of Sound!

Namaste

Let Earth Touch the Sky: A Prayerformance

Type: Music/Arts - Listening Party
Date: Saturday, March 27, 2010
Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Sonic Temple, Vancouver
2120 Front St. North Van. http://sonicalchemy.com/events_schedule.htm

Music is the bridge between heaven and earth. Come build it with us.

Come, come whoever you are

As devoted Sound workers, and ambassadors to the healing potential of

sound and vibration... we offer you this special evening as we move to

stillness in an evening of musical elements.

We invite you to come Meditate, Rest, Reveal, Receive and Resound
as we journey into the Healing World of Sound.

Featuring:
Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos (shakuhachi, didgeridoo, vocals),
http://www.bamboo-in.com/
Sparrow Deviyani Tiffany (vocals, guitar, singing bowls)
www.living-mantras.com
Prashant Michael John (bansuri, cumbus, vocals, perc.)
Boris Sichon (percussion, horns, flutes)
Kirk Watson (bass, percussion)

Using the power of Intention, Imagination, Ceremony, Crystal
Medicine Songs, Chants, Tones, Musical instruments, and love.

Doors open at 7 pm and it will begin at 7:30 pm.

Suggested gift of 20.00

Reserve a space as seating is limited.

Shakuhachi Chakai (Shakuhachi Tea Gathering)

This Sunday, March 14, at 1 PM, the SSBC is planning to have their

semi-formal shakuhachi yearly tea gathering once again at

the tea house of Ayako Sakaino. There will be semi-formal

shakuhachi performances by all attending shakuhachi players

after a formal tea ceremony by tea master, Ayako Sakaino.

The address is:

4209 West 16th Ave., Vancouver, BC Tel: 778-371-1350

Sakaino Sensei has been practicing Japanese tea ceremony

for over 30 years and is one of the leading teachers in Canada.

Suggested donation: $10.00.

RSVP to ramos@dccnet.com.

World Tea Party

Location: Centre A, 2 West Hastings, Vancouver, BC

date: February 12 - March 21, 2010

time: TBC

fee: FREE!!!

Chinese New Year Coundown

Location: Aberdeen Mall, 4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond

date: February 13, 2010

time: 11:00pm – 12:10 midnight, Central Atrium

fee: FREE!!!

The Countdown Night is a cultural extravaganza loaded with spectacular stage shows featuring endless music, games, dances & Chinese martial arts; meet and greets with the Chinese God of Fortune and of course, a live countdown to the Year of the Tiger!

Tozenji Benefit for Haiti

Location: Tozenji Buddhist Temple, 209 Jackson St., Coquitlam. 604 939-7749

date: February 7, 2010

time: 1:00-5:00 PM

Haiti Photo Exhibition by: Tallulah

Musical performances by:

Tim Gerwing (playing selections from his new electronic ambient music cd

“Chikatetsu”)

Kozue Matsumoto (koto)

Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos (shakhachi)

Tea Ceremony by: members of Urasenke Vancouver

All donations (and tea ceremony fee: $10 per guest) will be given to the Humanitarian Coalition, the collaborative effort of Save the Children, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam Quebec, and Care Canada.

Even if you have already donated elsewhere, please come and enjoy the day’s activities.

Shakuhachi Workshop w/ Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos

Before the whole world descends upon Vancouver for the Olympics, we've got another exciting opportunity for you to enjoy an afternoon immersed in some traditional Japanese music! JETAABC is proud to present a musical workshop by renowned shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) artist and musician, Mr. Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos! Born and trained in Japan, Mr. Ramos is one of the most well-known shakuhachi teachers and performers in North America today.

Check out a solo by Mr. Ramos here: http://www.vimeo.com/6126087

And here! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je7SsJ1AtJ0

Mr. Ramos' website: http://www.bamboo-in.com/

Participants will be taught how to play the shakuhachi and Mr. Ramos will be hand-carving flutes for each participant, which you can take home with you!

What's more, local koto artist Ms. Kozue Matsumoto (who presented the JETAABC koto workshop last November) will be joining Mr. Ramos to give an ensemble performance of the koto and shakuhachi!

* Date: Saturday, February 6, 2010.
* Time: 1:00pm to 4:00pm
* Place: Renfrew Park Community Centre, 2929 East 22nd Avenue, Vancouver BC - Room 108

*Accessible by Skytrain from 29th Avenue Station on the Expo line (take the 16 Arbutus/Downtown bus) or from Renfrew Station on the Millennium line (take the 16 29th Avenue bus) and get off at East 22nd Avenue. http://maps.google.ca/places/ca/vancouver/e-22nd-ave/2929/-renfrew-community-centre

* Cost: $25.00 per person, with light refreshments.

This event is open to all JET alumni and friends.

RSVP with name, and JET year/prefecture (if applicable) by Wednesday, January 27 to Dinah at newsletter[at]jetaabc.ca

Participants *must* pay in advance by Monday February 1st and can do so by:

1. Sending a cheque payable to "JETAABC"
JETAABC, Bentall Centre, Box 48121, Vancouver, BC V7X 1N8
2. Or pay Eric Chan or Dinah Linsangan or another JETAABC Board Member at a JETAABC event by February 1st. Cash/cheque is acceptable.

Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos and friends: Concert for Haiti Relief

location: 2128 Front Street, North Vancouver

date: February 5, 2010

time: 8:00 PM

Shakuhachi master Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos will be giving a concert featuring traditional Japanese zen shakhachi music to contribute to the Haiti relief effort. Very special guest is Australian didgeridoo master, Shine Edgar!

The Second half wil feature Isshin Denshin Atmospheric Ensemble with deep ambient atmospherics by Kirk Watson on shamanic-electronics.

Please come and support the effort. Proceeds go to the relief effort in Haiti. Thank you!

Hope for Haiti Benefit Concert

location: Location: The Wise Hall - 1882 Adanac Street (the corner of Victoria Drive and Adnac St.) in Vancouver.

date: January 28, 2010

time: 7:00pm - 12:00am

Tickets: $20.00 (incl. taxes)

On Thursday January 28th, 2010, join us for a musical extravaganza to raise money on behalf of Doctors Without Borders / MSF to provide emergency medical care to those who were injured in the devastating earthquake. 100% of the proceeds from this event will go to Doctors Without Borders / MSF.

Please visit us at http://www.benefithaiti.ca to purchase your tickets securely through PayPal. The website will also give you information on the wonderful performers that we have lined up for the evening. This is a standing room only event.

If you cannot make it to the event, but would still like to donate, please visit: http://www.benefithaiti.ca/buy-tickets and click the donate button.

2010 Shakuhachi Society of British Columbia Shinnenkai

location: Peter's house

date: January 9, 2010

time: 12:00 noon

As usual, this event is a potluck so bring please bring a tasty (and healthy) goodie! We'll all play a piece to blow in the new year RSVP to ramos@dccnet.com by Jan. 5. Hope to see you there!