Photo: supplied
Takeshi and Machiko (Mari) Yamauchi. Takeshi (guitar) and Machiko (vocals) have been playing in Phnom Penh for many years, often as a duo, and in recent years in a bossa nova combo, Blue Wave, teaming up with Keiko Kitamura (percussion) and Colin Grafton (harmonica). This weekend they are doing a mini-tour of Siem Reap, playing Fellini on Friday, Luxury Angkor Resort on Saturday, and New Leaf on Sunday afternoon.
How did they end up playing bossa nova?
Takeshi: Because Machiko sings bossa nova. I also like Stan Getz, who was the first American jazz musician to bring bossa nova to a world audience, through his collaborations with Astrud (The Girl From Ipanema) & Joao Gilberto in the sixties.
Machiko: When I sing bossa, I feel relaxed and happy.
Do you have a pet musical hate?
Takeshi: I like any style of music, but I don’t like people talking loudly.
Machiko: People speaking during the music is no good.
A private musical indulgence:
Takeshi: Listening to Japanese Showa era songs, especially from ‘50s and ‘60s.
Machiko: I don’t listen to music so often, but once I find my favorite kind of song, I listen to it for many hours repeatedly.
The year you first came to Cambodia:
Takeshi & Machiko: In 2013.
An early music memory:
Takeshi: When I was an elementary school student, I was blown away by live performances by Japanese pop music bands, what was called gurupu saundzu, which was the name given to the type of 8-beat music which featured electric guitars and musicians with long hair. They are categorised into pre-Beatles and post-Beatles – a good example is The Ventures, who were extremely big in Japan. Junior high school Takeshi was impressed specifically by gurupu saundzu between 1965 and 1969 (not 1970!). There is a Japanese onomatopaeic term which describes this kind of music: Den deke deke deke (the ‘e’ being pronounced as in ‘Fred’) or Teke teke, the sound of strumming called tremolo (or toremoro) and glissando (grisudaun) picking.
Machiko: When I was a kid, my father was listening to an opera record. I thought the record was scratched and kept spinning in the same place. But later I found it was the best part of the opera where the singer was singing a very long note. The singer had a long breath.
The last thing you had to eat:
Takeshi: Sushi.
Machiko: Delicious unajyu, broiled eel served over rice in a lacquered box.
A country you want to visit:
Takeshi: Spain
Machiko: Spain – I want to see flamenco!
A book or movie you keep going back to:
Takeshi: Le Mans, with Steve McQueen
Machiko: I Girasoli (Sunflower) with Sophia Loren
What languages do you have?
Takeshi & Machiko: Japanese
Your primary instrument, and when you started playing it:
Takeshi: Guitar, when I was a junior high school student.
Machiko: Organ at my kindergarten, when I was 5.
Something people might be surprised to know about you:
Takeshi: Nothing particular.
Machiko: I have been lucky – Takeshi and his friends educated me in music.
You have a time machine and a magic ticket to one gig or festival in the past. What do you choose?
Takeshi: Concerts by Joe Pass and Wes Montgomery
Machiko: A Michael Jackson concert
Special thanks to Keiko and Colin for coordination and translation.
Originally published 1 September 2022