You guys have to check this out

[Austin Koerner]

I was watching some Song Of The Mountain on public TV, and when Takeharu Kunimoto and Last Frontier came on I was so amazed.

I have never heard of him before.

Awesome! (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=138995539)

[Joel Spaulding]

They just played in Hyden, KY last week - would have been cool to see. They are now on my radar screen - Thanks, Popogamwich!

BTW -LOVE the artistic 'stache, but Hobbits or Halflings are generally not known for prodigious facial hair http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Jordan Ramsey]

About 2004, I had been at ETSU for maybe a year when Takeharu showed up to as a cultural ambassador from Japan in the bluegrass program. His time at ETSU playing in the Pride Band, and the friendships that evolved there eventually became the Last Frontier band. I first remember him as a good mandolin player and a super nice guy, although it was hard to understand him because his English was pretty rough when he first arrived. It was my first introduction to the native Japanese shamisen, a square-headed, three stringed, fretless banjo played with a pick, but it worked so well with bluegrass, you have to hear him to believe it. It's like a perfect marriage between bluegrass, old-time and plectrum banjo, and the band had a hoss named J.P. Mathis playing Scruggs-style banjo, so the shamisen shared the role of the mandolin. I could definitely tell his shamisen playing was Monroe influenced, lots of rapid down strokes and Monroe style licks involved, it was very interesting to hear. I have fond memories of those guys, wish they could make it out to Colorado sometime. Definitely check them out on popo's link to hear how a shamisen sounds with a bluegrass band.

Jordan Ramsey
www.myspace.com/crosspicker (http://www.myspace.com/crosspicker)

[cooper4205]

About 2004, I had been at ETSU for maybe a year when Takeharu showed up to as a cultural ambassador from Japan in the bluegrass program. His time at ETSU playing in the Pride Band, and the friendships that evolved there eventually became the Last Frontier band. I first remember him as a good mandolin player and a super nice guy, although it was hard to understand him because his English was pretty rough when he first arrived. It was my first introduction to the native Japanese shamisen, a square-headed, three stringed, fretless banjo played with a pick, but it worked so well with bluegrass, you have to hear him to believe it. It's like a perfect marriage between bluegrass, old-time and plectrum banjo, and the band had a hoss named J.P. Mathis playing Scruggs-style banjo, so the shamisen shared the role of the mandolin. I could definitely tell his shamisen playing was Monroe influenced, lots of rapid down strokes and Monroe style licks involved, it was very interesting to hear. I have fond memories of those guys, wish they could make it out to Colorado sometime. Definitely check them out on popo's link to hear how a shamisen sounds with a bluegrass band.

Jordan Ramsey
www.myspace.com/crosspicker (http://www.myspace.com/crosspicker)
good to see you on here, Jordan. I was wondering where you had run off to.

[man dough nollij]

Here's another one (http://youtube.com/watch?v=D2jVpRCyNR8).

[mandopete]

I dig those ice-scraper picks!

[Mattg]

Very cool! thanks for posting

[Jkf_Alone]

to me it was a bit boring. i think the shamisen was overpowered by the other instruments being too idiomatic. put it with a parlor guitar and an oval hole mandolin, and it might match a bit better.

[JEStanek]

I really enjoyed it. I would love to see them in concert or in a dance tent at a festival. I like the mixing of instruments within the style and the flavors they bring. Thanks!

Jamie

[morristownmando]

sort of sounds like a b%#jo

[herbsandspices]

Woah.