Philip Gelb profile picture

Philip Gelb

Philip Gelb shakuhachi player, vegan chef

About Me

I am a shakuhachi player and teacher and a vegan chef.
Although i play a very old instrument from Japan, i tend to focus on modern music; improvised and composed; collaborating with many composers and performers to premier numerous works. As much as i enjoy studying (and teaching) honkyoku, the traditional music for shakuhachi, i am very interested in working with composers and improvisors, bringing the instrument into the immediate, contemporary world. I perform in a variety of contexts from solo concerts to concertos for shakuhachi and orchestra and have collaborated with numerous dancers; Eri Majima, June Watanabe, Anna Halprin and Koichi Tamano.
Some of my favorite musicians to perform with are: Jie Ma, Tim Perkis, Chris Brown, Shoko Hikage, Alex Cline, Jane Rigler, Dana Reason, Pauline Oliveros, Gino Robair, Tetsu Saitoh .
Freelancing in various collaborations in numerous genres is something i greatly enjoy! Some ensembles i play with:
Natto Quartet: w/ Shoko Hikage - koto, Tim Perkis - computer, Chris Brown - piano.
We have played together since 2002 and have released 2 CDs, "headlands" and "Thousand Oaks", both of which recieved rave reviews.
a trio with Alex Cline - percussion and Dana Reason - piano
Recently started a duet project with pipa player, Jie Ma
Besides teaching at my home in Oakland, i am on the performance faculty at Mills College and at the Lark Music Camp. And i prepare food everywhere i go :)
http://philipgelb.com [email protected] Gallery
.. duet with Jie Ma (pipa), March 2008

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/25/2006
Band Website: philipgelb.com
Band Members: Philip Gelb - shakuhachi

Natto Quartet is:
Philip Gelb - shakuhachi, Shoko Hikage - koto, Tim Perkis - computer and Chris Brown - piano

duets with Jie Ma - pipa
Influences: Wang Kar Wai, Pauline Oliveros, tofu, Morton Feldman, Toru Takemitsu, Watasumi, John Coltrane, Yoshio Kurahashi, Yuji Takahashi, sake, Evan Parker, AMM, Rothko, Guston, Totoro, Sesame oil, Richard Linklatter, Jean-luc Godard, mirin, Yasujiro Ozu, Ikkyu, Anthony Braxton, Shohei Imamura, Jim Jarmusch, Yokoyama Katsuya, Akikazu Nakamura, kombu, Bob Marley, shoyu, Kenji Mizoguchi, Peter Hammill, Joelle Leandre, Ki Duk Kim, Ryokan, Kazue Sawai, smoky single malts, Jane Rigler, olive oil, Tsuruta Kinshi, Butch Morris, George Lewis, bagels, Claire Marchand, Robert Dick, John Cage, Zhang Yimou, Michiyo Miyagi, Miso, Erik Satie, tamari, Giacinto Scelsi, Frank Gratkowski, the AACM, Barre Phillips, Eri Majima, tempeh, Lindemanns Pomme Lambik, Jie Ma, Kyle Bruckmann, Wild Hog Vineyards.

Always in my memory, 2 of my favorite people who have departed recently bass player and dear friend of many years, Matthew Sperry
Painter and someone i was fortunate to know the last few years of his life, Bob Kostka. My favorite CD of my own, Headlands is blessed with one of Bob's masterpieces on the cover.
Sounds Like: an american who has studied a traditional Japanese music and is discovering his own approach
Record Label: 482 music http://482music.com has released several
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Check out this video: Meridian Gallery

a short duet performance of Jie Ma and myselfCheck out this video: Meridian Gallery ..Add to My Profile | More Videos...
Posted by Philip Gelb on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:09:00 PST

duet with Kyle Bruckmann on Tuesday in San Francisco

i am quite excited about this performance. We have performed together in the SF Sound ensemble, in the Triaxium Ensemble and in Gino Robair's opera but this is a long overdue duet project.Philip Gelb ...
Posted by Philip Gelb on Fri, 07 Dec 2007 07:21:00 PST

duet/ w/ Jie Ma and solo by Kyle Bruckmann and lots of food by me September 22

A Jewish New Years feastfeaturing a solo concert byKyle Bruckman - oboe, english hornand opening invocation (aveenu malkenu) by Philip Gelb, Jie Ma duet Chef: Philip Gelbassistants Jie MaSaturday, Sep...
Posted by Philip Gelb on Tue, 28 Aug 2007 07:33:00 PST

invitation to International Shakuhachi Festival

Much to my surprise, i recieved an invitation to be a performer at the International Shakuhachi Festival, to take place in Australia, in July 2008!Riley Lee, organizer of the festival sent me an email...
Posted by Philip Gelb on Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:16:00 PST

recently on NPR

Recently had a bit of music on NPR. A performance at the chapel of the chimes in Oakland for their annual solstice festival was featured on NPR. This year, i was performing with the wondeful pipa play...
Posted by Philip Gelb on Thu, 05 Jul 2007 10:25:00 PST

some reviews (food and music)

some nice reviewsodd when an underground series starts getting reviews. :)In the recent issue of Signal To Noise, a journal for experimental music, the March dinner/concert series with Frank Gratkowsk...
Posted by Philip Gelb on Tue, 03 Jul 2007 10:54:00 PST

serious car accident

Last week, thanks to the incredible generosity of my cousins Ruth and Bob, i received a 1998 Honda Accord with only 51,000 miles. They upgraded to a Prius and gave me their old car. Never recieved a g...
Posted by Philip Gelb on Fri, 22 Dec 2006 07:54:00 PST