Bruce Huebner
Shakuhachi Flutist
Tagline
"The Japanese Shakuhachi derives from an ancient instrument that had seven or eight finger holes. One innovation in Japan was to remove two of the holes leaving only five. It is easy to bore a hole in a flute, but to remove one is genius. This is another example of how the Japanese reduce an art to its essence. The shakuhachi is stoic, but also very expressive. My intention is to honor the tradition of this ancient and beautiful instrument while urging it into the present - to play it as an instrument of the world that is relevant no matter the time or place.”
-- Bruce Huebner
About Bruce
Before they hear him perform, Japanese people often ask why Bruce Huebner chose the shakuhachi, sometimes called the bamboo flute. “People here respond to me with great curiosity,” he remarks, “but if they have a chance to attend a concert, they recognize that they have missed something of great value that was always available to them, and they express gratitude to me for bringing the shakuhachi to their attention.” Terri Nii, Via Magazine 2014
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Evolution
Read about Bruce's journey from West to East and around the World here
Watch Bruce play with his Tokyo based band, CANDELA, while they perform at Roppongi's Sweet Basil here
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Passion Projects
Learn about Bruce's Passion Project Going Home here
Watch Bruce and Curtis Patterson at TEDxTokyo in English here
Watch Bruce and Jonathan Katz join monks of the Soto Zen Sect in Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture in a memorial concert here
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Interact with Bruce
Learn about ways to Book Bruce in the Concerts and Lectures section below.
Concerts and Lectures
This Concerts and Lectures Section provides an opportunity for you to learn about the various types of experiences Bruce can create for your audience. Feel free to work directly with Bruce to create your own experience by customizing a Concert or Lecture series for a specific audience or venue. The possibilities are endless! Get some ideas by reading the Concert and Lecture descriptions below and then go to the Book Bruce Tab to contact Bruce directly. There's a Message Box to ask questions and begin the dialog.
Shakuhachi: The Japanese Bamboo Flute
Employing a distinctive blend of lecture, hands-on practice and performance, Bruce uses the ancient Japanese bamboo instrument, the shakuhachi, to take his audience on a unique journey from the traditional to the contemporary.
- A unique journey from the traditional to the contemporary.
- Lecture and performance of a traditional piece.
- Learn to read traditional music notation and try the Shakuhachi.
- Download PDF Infosheet
- Watch Bruce on NHK television program BEGIN Japanology Japanophiles - - only viewable from Japan.
- Watch Bruce's 1997 recital of classical Japanese Chamber Music in Yamada Style, Chikubushima.
- Book Bruce
Tradewinds Pacifica
This Concert series offers its audience something totally unexpected by pairing the ancient shakuhachi bamboo flute with guitar, a Spanish folk instrument that has morphed into the giant of jazz, rock and pop of the West. The first time audience goer might wonder, "Can two such seemingly disparate musical worlds be joined in a meaningful way?" Yes they can, as Bruce and George demonstrate in this unique Concert and mini Lecture presentation.
- Experience both traditional and contemporary solos and duets.
- Combines original material with traditional.
- Hear stories and related history.
- Download PDF Infosheet
- Watch George and Bruce perform The Raven in Bali.
- Book Bruce
GOING HOME: THE ROLE OF MUSIC IN THE TOHOKU EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI OF 2011
Through music, imagery and storytelling, Bruce shares his experience playing shakuhachi in over 100 "Going Home" community concerts in Tohuko since the March 11th, 2011 disaster. Learn how musicians like Bruce played an important role in serving the people not only as performers but as listeners and witnesses.
- Listen to stories as Bruce presents his collection of images from the disaster areas.
- Meet and hear from guest musicians who participated in the Going Home Concerts.
- Enjoy performances of Tohoku folk and children's songs popular with the refugees.
- Download PDF Infosheet
- Watch Curt and Bruce perform and give an interview (in Japanese) for Iwaki Breeze TV shortly after the 3/11 disaster at the Jusano Shinpei Hall.
- Book Bruce
AEOLIAN DUO - A VOYAGE OF NATURE AND MUSIC .
The Aeolian Duo concert series was named for the ancient Greek God of the Wind. This Concert and Lecture option was founded in 2015 when guitarist Koufuu Suwa and shakuhachi player Bruce Huebner, met aboard a ship sailing from India ot Greece. Inspired by the beauty of the sea and the deep roots of their respective traditions, the two musicians created a wide-ranging and intimate program that is both familiar and new. Aeolian Duo invites the audience to take a musical voyage that evokes the sparkling waves of the Aegean, the deep pine forests of California, and the serene temples of Japan.
- Enjoy traditional music brought to life in a new context of folk, jazz and classical music.
- Experience a unique cross-cultural perspective by two veteran musicians.
- Customize this program to venue architecture, audience and surroundings.
- Download PDF Infosheet
- Watch Kofu and Bruce perform Forest in Black in Tokyo, 2016.
- Watch Kofu and Bruce perform Deep Forest in Tokyo, 2016.
- Book Bruce
SOLO SHAKUHACHI WORLD: A CONCERT AND TALK
Solo Shakuhachi World is a Concert and Lecture program based on Bruce's three decades long experience as a shakuhachi player in Japan and around the world. Customized to include group lessons, guest musicians, and audience participation, the audience will hear stories of Bruce's apprenticeship in a traditional guild and learn about his experience as the first non-Japanese student at Tokyo University Traditional Music Department.
- Listen to live music that provides a unique perspective on traditional music transformed.
- Take a visual tour of Bruce's grassroot concerts from California to Japan to around the world.
- Learn about how Bruce first encountered the shakuhachi, it's attraction, and how it has gone beyond Japan to become the Bamboo Flute.
- Download PDF Infosheet
- Watch Bruce Huebner playing shakuhachi in the charcoal kilns in Death Valley National Park, California.
- Watch Bruce Huebner playing shakuhachi at Mirror Lake in Yosemite National Park, California.
- Book Bruce
DROPPING THE BAGGAGE: MIYAMA AND BRUCE IN CONCERT
In this exciting and entertaining concert, Australian Miyama McQueen-Tokita and Californian Bruce Huebner take the traditional Japanese koto and shakuhachi far beyond the confines of guild and ethnicity.
Enabled by their unique backgrounds, their music draws from influences as wide ranging as African chant, Irish ballad, tone poem, tango, world jazz, Japanese classical and more. Join them as they revel in the shear pleasure of music-making. The duo presents a wide-ranging concert unfettered by the boundaries of genre.
- Enjoy seamless trasitions from classical to popular music.
- Awaken to the expressive potential and the breadth of dynamics of koto and shakuhachi.
- Download PDF Infosheet
- Book Bruce
Calendar
| 26th Feb, 2017 | Tradewinds Pacifica in Salt Lake City, UT |
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Tradewinds Pacifica offers concert goers a unique musical journey across the Pacific and around the world with Santa Barbara guitarist George Quirin and Tokyo-based shakuhachi master Bruce Huebner. $10.00 Sunday February 26th at 2:00 The Acoustic Space 124 S. 400 W. Salt Lake City, UT |
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| 3rd Mar, 2017 | Todd Isler Bruce Huebner Duo at Shapeshifter Lab, Brooklyn, NYC, USA |
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Todd Isler (Hand Percussion) Bruce Huebner (Shakuhachi) The Shapeshifter Lab: A great privilege to join my dear friend, back-packing partner, and world-class percussionist Todd Isler in this once-in-a-lifetime concert. Hand drums and bamboo, folk music form Tohoku, improvisation and original compositions in " a nice listening space." |
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| 11th Mar, 2017 | Aeolian Duo Concert and Dinner Show in Tokyo, Yanaka |
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Kofu Suwa (Guitar) Bruce Huebner (Shakuhachi) Modern and world music in a quant traditional setting, alongside delicious Japanese cuisine. For details call Bruce at 090-6015-4144 (after 3/9) or email him at bhuebner@gol.com |
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| 20th Mar, 2017 | Sakura Blossom Tour 2017 at Mitsuike Park, Tsurumi, Yokohama |
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Aeolian Duo live at the beautiful Mitsuike Park Centre. One of the most splendid displays of cherry trees graces the windows behind the stage. For Info on how to get there call Bruce at 090-6015-4144. |
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| 1st Apr, 2017 | Sakura Blossom Tour 2017 in Fukuoka |
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Aeolian Duo with special guest soprano Yoshiko Michishiro for reservations call Bruce at 090-6015-4144 or write to koufuuyoyaku@yahoo.co.jp |
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| 3rd Apr, 2017 | Sakura Blossom Tour 2017 in Kagoshima |
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Aeolian Duo with special guest koto artist Ai Kajigano for more information call Bruce at 090-6015-4144 (after 3/9) or write to koufuuyoyaku@yahoo.co.jp |
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| 11th Apr, 2017 | 桜前線ツアー２０１７年 守谷 |
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| 12th Apr, 2017 | 桜前線ツアー２０１７年 桑折町 |
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| 14th Apr, 2017 | 桜前線ツアー２０１７年 盛岡市 |
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| 15th Apr, 2017 | 桜前線ツアー２０１７ 秋田市 |
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| 16th Apr, 2017 | 桜前線ツアー２０１７年 大館市 |
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| 16th Apr, 2017 |
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| 16th Apr, 2017 | 桜前線ツアー２０１７年 守谷 |
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| 17th Apr, 2017 | 桜前線ツアー２０１７年 鶴岡市 |
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| 18th Apr, 2017 | 桜前線ツアー２０１７年 仙台市 |
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Video
Press
DROPPING THE BAGGAGE: MIYAMA AND BRUCE IN CONCERT
Booking Bruce
To book Concerts and Lectures with Bruce fill out the contact form below and either Bruce or Carol will get back to you ASAP.
USA Contact
- Carol Wetzel
- Phone: +1 240-475-1171
- Email: cwetzel@me.com
- Bruce Huebner
- Phone:
- Email: bhuebner@gol.com
