Irish Series

Fiddle: Takashi Komazawa
Reels are lively tunes in 4/4 time (eight eighth notes per measure) and are played during the Irish dance known as "reels." There are over a dozen different Irish rhythms, but I found reels particularly appealing and chose them for this piece.
This time, I focused on reels by Altan, an Irish traditional band based in Donegal, Ireland.
The only other song I played was "Toss the Feathers," a cover by the Irish folk band The Corrs, but I interspersed it with other songs.
Irish traditional music is often about everyday life, woven into people's everyday lives. It can be difficult to select compelling songs from numerous songbooks, but Altan has introduced compelling pieces to the world from their vast collection.
It is a blissful joy to be able to cover these songs and share them with other guitarists.

Acoustic Guitar & Recording, Mixing, Mastering: Keiichiro Akamine
I've always loved Irish music, which evokes a certain nostalgia. However, I remember struggling to understand it when it came time to play it myself. My only source of information at the time was audio recordings, so I listened to the music's unique rhythms, melodies, and chords over and over again, trying to grasp a sense of them and analyze them. Since chords can be played in a variety of finger positions, I spent my days figuring out which positions were best, and how to create the distinctive Irish rhythm of the reel. It was a process of trial and error.
"Yellow Tinker" is often the opening track at AKE's live shows. It's a bright and cheerful song that conjures up images of everyone dancing merrily at a party.

This unit, consisting of Takashi Komazawa and Keiichiro Akamine, is based in Kanagawa and Tokyo and performs at live music venues, bars, snack bars, event venues, commercial facilities, and welfare facilities. They play a wide range of music genres, including Irish music, pop, and Okinawan music. Please feel free to contact us with any inquiries or requests for performances, appearances, or work.