Damo

1st Set: Damo Suzuki with Plexus: Murray Ward (Guitar & Laptop) and Rod Warner (Guitar) 2nd Set: Damo Suzuki with David Teledu (Guitar, Analogue Synthesizer) and Black Carrot: Oliver Betts (Tenor Sax, Bass Recorder, Electric Piano, Percussion), Tom Betts (Drums), Stewart Brackley (Electric Bass, Contrabass, Voice) and Euan Rodger (Percussion, Tapes, Voice)
http://soundsandtexts.blogspot.com/2007/05/review-damo-suzuki-with-dragon-not.html

I guess I performed in this university city around 35 years ago. Hotel was near from railway station even I can reach by foot in 5 minutes. Yesterday was brake day I spend the time quite relaxed and also move to Glynn’s place..there were Glenn’s twin kids and after joined by Glynn’s brother. Meet up with Black Carrot percussionist Euan a bit of for sight seeing.There is the market which is largest covered-market in Europe.

Afterwhile He set me in an Restaurant….After dinner my stomach become uncomfortable and was not really good condition that for whole performance along. Pitty is that not that much audience. It’s new club in city also even very difficult to find it.

Two interesting performances with different formation. First one was trio without percussion, second one was with Black Carrot plus concert arranger David. 

1st Set: Damo Suzuki with The Gated Community:Mick Beck (Tenor Sax, Bassoon), Geoff Bright (Tenor Sax, Voice), Neil Carver (Electronic Effects), Charlie Collins (Vibes,Percussion), Anders Cox (Electric Bass), Karl D’Silva (Clarinet, Alto Sax), John Jasnoch (Plucked Strings), Tywi Roberts (Electric Guitar), Angie Rosenfeld (Cello), Derek Saw (Tuba,Brass), Paul Schatzberger(Accordian), Beatrix Ward Fernandez (Violin, Castanets) and Ben Woodrow (Electric Guitar) 2nd Set: Damo Suzuki with The Tajalli Vortex : Jonny Drury (Drums, Percussion, Guitar, Clarinet, Vocals), Matt Harling (Tenor, Soprano Saxes, Tajallifone), Glynn Heppenstall (Keyboards, Synths, Violin) and Dan Sumption (Bass Guitar, Noises)

Just I performed here in Sheffield 5 months ago and come back again. There are many experimental sound carriers in the city. Organiser Jonny arranged last my performance here also. Train ride from Glasgow took a quite a lot around 7 hours change train at Dancaster. So, naturally I had to wake up early. But, I can relax in train.

Train is most comfortable way to travel and I like most. You can move and much space, no security check, no seat belt…people changes.The venue is small without stage without PA. And many sound carriers share to 2 sets….oh, yes then 2 pieces hot meals. Now a days I perform 1 set 1 piece..which is normally 1 hour to two and half. You know I’m not that interesting to make music. I like to create energy to share. This is an experience for every body in that room.

So, small place like here to perform we have much contact to audience.It was full of sound carriers and friends. So, we are kind of unit all together in same time in same room and this experience. Matt who performed 2nd set developed Tajalifone, made by himself. it’s monster instrument as the owner/player he is over 2 meter high.

Many smiles in the room. I will come back to Sheffield again November..a couple of days later I’ve got offer from Jonny again. Improviser scene is getting bigger here ….we will see what will be happen.

Damo Suzuki with Hamish Black (Guitar) and Future Pilot AKA: Sushil K Dade (Bass, Electronics), Raymond MacDonald (Saxophones), Bill Wells (Keyboards), Douglas MacIntyre (Electronic Guitar) and Sace (Drums)

80 minutes flight from Cologne to Edinburgh. Picked up by man named Dave, a Celtic Fan (In Glasgow there are two soccer teams Celtic and Rangers sharing champion since more than 100 years in Scottish soccer league…I heard of since end of 19th century (!!!!)..I asked him if he is a guitarist and born in January…I smell some times from people…and I was right…Dave was quite surprised. He took position as driver at this Triptych Festival which is find in three different Scottish cities Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen every year. I am invited for Glasgow and Aberdeen parts. Tonight I perform on same stage with Einsturzende Neubauten, a well known 80’s successful German band.

I performed with selected sound carriers from Glasgow curated by Sishil, who has been in contact with me since long , willing to perform with Network..also Future Pilot, the band of his own released CD with one song with my voice. But, this time is first time to meet him in person as I did recording through telephone. Network tonight is rather big band. Drums, Bass, 2 guitars, 2 Saxophone, sound effects/melodica and I. Pity was just we had only 45 minutes. One of them was youngest Network sound carrier ever!!!…a 16 years old Hamish, who contacted me a couple of months before saying he like to perform with Network if I come next time to Glasgow. At that stage I had this performance fixed and I just invited him to Join….It’s nice start for him in front of 700 people as premier.

As usual at every performance I was quite often hanging around merchandising table. Merchandising personal (British guy and Australian lady) of Einsturzende Neubauten helped me to sell when I was not there (for own performance or whatever…). I saw there quite a few people I know. One of them was some times guitarist of Network John, and told me that sound carriers met last my performance here in Glasgow found good in chemistry and after that they formed the band. ……It’s really nice to hear such a story. Good luck to them. Also nice to see the lady from Edinburgh, she missed our show, but she was still cute and in nice mood. Send many greetings to Edinburgh!!!

Hamish father was there and he seems to be very proud of his son. Next day my son Marco has his first concert, but I’m on the road and I can not see him…. Every beginning of tour I sleep not really good. But, I had to wake up to catch the train to Sheffield…I am writing this in train to Lancaster. Sometimes I am too lazy to write down diary…but, Diary is so…write down when memories are still fresh….There are many thing I have to change.

Damo Suzuki with The Whole: Member (Bass, Electronics), Stolle (Guitar, Electronics) and Christian Wolf (Drums, Electronics)

Offenbach is near to Frankfurt I and Elke drived by car to the venue, around 2 hours drive from Cologne, nice friendly venue. Responsible person at this venue Michel is very worm person. Also the drummer of the band Christian is working here. I performed here two years ago with same band..The Whole. I know bassist of the band Member since beginning of 90’s. He performed with on same stage that time. My band was called Damo Suzuki and friends. They are musically one of few German band who stayed and trust in their music. It’s just pity at the moment in Germany…I can say it’s quite tragic…the band like this who is keen on making good music is not accepted. It was really nice to perform with them again.

Last time we performed together Michael made compilation CD for the venue and our piece called NUMBER ONE. Light show was fantastic Cosmic Klaus who came from Pforzheim, south Germany. I met him two years ago when I performed in Wuerzburg with Mani, Axel from Guru Guru, Mandog Keiichi Miyashita and two other guys.

After show some young people come to our dressing and drink beer and talk together. Very comfortable evening. Stayed as usual Jurgen’s apartment. 

(1st Set) Damo Suzuki with Aleksei Degusarov (Guitar), Aleksandr Leonov (Singing Saw, Folk Winds), Roman Nevele (Bass), Mikhail Ogorodov (Keyboards), Nikolay Rubanov (Sax) and Katerina Sidrova (Drums) (2nd Set) Above members, Andrew Lavrenenko (Djembe), Sergei (Djembe), and Aleksandr Vahivskiy (Djembe)

Normally, when I have a day off I will make a bit tourism. Yesterday I slept so long and when I wake up it was already around one o’clock afternoon. So, time was too late to visit Hermitage..a one of best known museum in the world. I had been there for one time and it’s really huge. In case you see all things they own (even including things they don’t show temporary) and in case if you take a minute to see each of them…..it’s take twenty years (!!!) ..I don’t know this is true…

I remember one of my Russian friend told me. So I was planned to visit there again….But, I was not able. Since I’m in Russia I drink quite a lots of this good vodka everyday. All part of my body seems to be salendered by vodka. Anyway Sasha invited Katja and some of his friends whom I know from several visits here in Peters for dinner. Sasha, his friend and I went to Market to buy fish and vegetables. Sasha said he can smoke fish at home and he is good with this business, So, there is no another answer ..I like to try homemade smoked fish and I will make soup and salad.

In market was funny, a woman was shouting when she saw me. “Orange from Columbia with bit of cocaine!”or some stand still and just watch at me very curious if they see one from an another planet. I like markets, to be there is just interesting,,one in Barcelona is great..my winter headquarter Melbourne has great market too Queen Victoria Market where I visit almost every day. It’s something really living. I was happy to have company that evening and cook for them. They are really enjoyed my foods as well. Sassha’s smoked fish was great too. Sure, there was again this vodka!!

Today I met Richard, an sound carrier friends from Austria, unfortunately he has gig at different venue in Peters with his project. He is really friendly guy, he moved to here a couple of years ago because of his sweet Russian lady. We went same Restaurant like the day before yesterday, Katja and Sasha took me. I found that place like Russia you can eat good is even Chinese Restaurant, taste much better than one in most western countries. They make chinese food with Russian flavor..and it’s really taste good even normal restaurant like here…always there is pretty girl serving. Was really pleased to meet Richard again and we promised in near future we make performance together again, he went for sound check.

Orlandina club is first time to perform. It’s on Monday. Some people were so friendly buy me vodka. Like the day before yesterday Sergey, manager of Aykton, a well known Russian band was there with his wife. Katja played drums. Nikolay the Sax player of Aykton has been performed with me many times….(even there is interesting live video with him from my very first Peters show) he is still old fox on his instrument.

Second set we sent three Djembes on the stage, Sasha brought his friend and young guy from the day before yesterday. Then other sound carriers went on stage. The stage was really full. With rhythm of percussion audience get into trans. There was one unit of energy in the room.

After this I took train back to Moscow. this time I was traveling alone. This is first time ever I travel alone with sleeping wagon in Russia. (Wait…I did it already in year 1968) Every cabin on sleeping wagon had four beds like youth hostel both side one lower and higher. This time no vodka…I’m not interesting to drink alone anyway. Alcohol is social drink. In Cabin there were 2 males, 1 female and me. Nobody spork anything and dark. I bought Russian Sushi at station…which was not really bad..rather good than many fake Sushi in another countries. Satisfied stomach and also this is absolutely first time since I’m in Russia being alone. so tiredness ruled my body. I went quite soon to sleep deeply..when I woke up train stay in silence….I couldn’t believe it’s already Moscow. Even most of people left train already. I heard someone say “Morning, Damo”…it was voice of Dan. We went to Boris’s place..he will back tonight. We’re off course watching soccer in TV. There was an another Manchester United fan.

We went out to get meal….It’s really better than fast food in west they have potato with many different souse. I wished to have potato with caviar…this time I didn’t eat caviar. In black market where you can get better one for cheaer were no caviar at all…. Boris and Katya came back from Kiev, then after we went to Japanese Restaurant.Boris means I have to try Russian Japanese food and I have to tell him if this would be Japanese food. Off course they didn’t have Uronhai also no Japanese rice snaps. But, taste there were not so bad. Better than I thought anyway. I ordered different things..but, one Sushi.Nigiri Sushi with “Black Gold”…Caviar.

Next day I had to wake up early in the morning to catch air plane, Katya and two other friends brought me to airport. Goodbye Russia for a while, this time also I enjoyed being here and perform with Russian sound carriers. My flight was not direct flight, via Munich to Cologne. Nowadays, you cannot buy liquid even after security check if you’re not fly directly to your destination since February 13th (I guess) in Europe. So, I could not keep Russian life at home in Germany. No, tasty good Vodka for home.

In Munich at security control even they wanted to keep Caviar, I bought at airport Moscow but, it’s not black gold,,it’s red one. “What is this” security woman asked me “It’s caviar” She didn’t know if she can keep or not. One security guy shouted We should try it!!” I said, OK, Ok you can do it …but where is champagne?” “OK you can go.…”