Album Notes

Foreword;

This is my new original guitar solo album, which is released 6 years after "Flying Seagulls"(1995). I'm afraid that it will need more 6 years again to get the next oppotunity, so I took up maximum numbers of the tune for this album.
Half tunes can be classified in classic rag form.
For me, these tunes are my loveliest works and interpretations of my life.
I hope you enjoy it.

1. Heartland (Takashi Hamada)
is a name of restaurant in Yamanashi county, Japan. It is 4 section classic rag.

2. Siberian Swing (Takashi Hamada)
It is 3 section half-classic north country rag, though it has the feeling of "western" swing.

3. Kitty Cakewalk (Kazutaka Muromachi & Takashi Hamada)
A work in collabouration with MUROMACHI Kazutaka. Kazu made intro-A-B part, and I made C-D part and total arrangement.

4. Katunay Rag (Takashi Hamada)
"Katunay" means a name of the river at my hometown Otaru city. It is 3 section classic rag.

5. Umurekkur Waltz (Takashi Hamada)
"Umurekkur" means "a married couple" in Ainu.

6. Ketahata (Ainu traditional)
Ainu traditional song. I added a few melodies in order to play it comfortably by guitar.

7. Orion (Takashi Hamada)
Classic rag in 4 sections. It has been influenced by David Thomas Roberts' "Franklin Avenue" etc.

8. My Secret Lover Came To Light (Takashi Hamada)
Latin flavored tune. Unfortunately, I have no lover.

9. I'll Remember You (Takashi Hamada)
Originally my Japanese song "Wasuremasen", including in CD "My Otaru"(1998/2001).

10. Shipworms' Song (Takashi Hamada)
I imagined shipworms living in Otaru Canal.

11. The Smiler (Takashi Hamada)
Another classic rag in 4 sections. It is different from the same title tune by Percy Wenrich.

12. The Light Of Dunedin (Takashi Hamada)
Dunedin here is not directly the city name of New Zealand, but a closed restaurant name in Otaru. This classic rag is one of my favorite works.

13. Babaria (Takashi Hamada)
I saw German Babarian band came in Otaru in every year. This tune is dedicated to them.

14. The Crown's Dream (Kazutaka Muromachi & Takashi Hamada)
Another collaboration with Kazu who made 1st theme, and it shows the new approach to Japanese modern ragtime.

15. Song Of Happiness #3 (Takashi Hamada)
This short piece is influenced by Leo Kottke, my guitar hero.

16. Research For The Legend Of Blind Joe Death (Takashi Hamada)
Dedicated to John Fahey, one of my favorite artist who passed away recently.

17. Flat Minor (Takashi Hamada)
I play it in my original "Flat Flat" tunings, same as 14. It is my musical challange by using Abm key and strange key moduration.

18. A Cat's Explain (Takashi Hamada)
Unique descriptive tune, imaged from a cat's comical figure.

19. Resting The Wings (Takashi Hamada)
Another descriptive tune of resting wild ducks at Katunay river.

20. Peaceful Morning (Takashi Hamada)
It has the form of classic rag, though I imagined some part as Terra Verde Music. Dedicated to an old man lived in my apartment house, who passed away recently.

March 2001
HAMADA, Takasi

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Personnel;
HAMADA Takasi: acoustic guitar.

Produced by Takashi Hamada & Otarunay Records
C & P 2001
All rights reserved.

This album is dedicated to David Thomas Roberts.

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Profile of HAMADA, Takasi (same as Takashi, his first name. HAMADA is his family name.)

HAMADA was born in Otaru City, Hokkaido Island, Japan on December 11, 1964. He is all-time guitarist playing on the street, his own live concert, or playing at restaurant as BGM.

And until now, he has composed over 40 classic rag style tunes and several ragtime influenced tunes for guitar. He loves modern ragtime too, such as David Thomas Roberts, Jack Rummel, Tom Shea, Tom McDermott etc. In Japan, few people knows about them, and he hopes that they become more popular in Japan.

He is Japanese, but he is also an editor of "Ainu-Times", which is a quaterly newspaper writing in Ainu language.


His Guitar Tuning;

His guitar style is quite unique. He can play in standard tuning, but more often plays in "Otarunay-Tuning" (EbAbCFCEb : 6 to 1). Using this tuning, he can always play the alternative bass, and can easily play ragtime in Ab key.
It fits to arrange piano rags for the guitar, and when he plays classic rags, it is always used. Also it is very helpful to avoid Russian sailor saying "please let me play your guitar!"