Tiki Parlour’s latest CD features nineteen solo fiddle and banjo tracks from the Japanese old-time master Bosco Takaki. The physical release contains extensive liner notes and photographs from Bosco’s archive. Artwork by old-time musician/folk artist Howard Rains.
Order HERE. (The official release date is April 7th, 2023.)
Over four decades ago, several journeys were made into the depths of American traditional music culture by a curious young musician from Japan. His name is Takaki Kosuke. However, he’s best known in the world of old-time music as Bosco.
As a child, Bosco’s obsession for the music of the Carter family and Woody Guthrie led him to study the guitar and mountain dulcimer. Soon after, his obsession for fiddle and banjo brought him to America where he befriended and learned directly from many of the legendary elders who are practically worshipped as musical gods by today’s old-time aficionados: Tommy Jarrell, Melvin Wine, Burl Hammons, Maggie Hammons, Joe Birchfield, and the list goes on.
Bosco’s style is a virtual musical time capsule containing the mystical “old sounds” that countless folk musicians strive to conjure on their instruments. His photographs of the great old masters are sacred treasures for fans and students of the genre. Additionally, the CD showcases the artwork and design of old-time musician and folk artist Howard Rains.
Through Bosco’s solo fiddle and banjo recordings, the careful listener will be transported into secret spectral spaces that echo the near-forgotten drones and rhythms of a vintage America.
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Bosco’s wonderful playing will propel you through light and dark paths back into the past, to musical forefathers and heroes he visited with years ago. Every tune is so expressive and beautiful and brings those moments right into the present, right in front of us. I love this recording! — Bruce Molsky
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Bosco set an example during the 1970s interest surge in southern Appalachian old-time stringmusic. He may not have intended that. He was simply following his love of a corner of American
culture. But in traveling most of the way around the world to spend time with his musical heroes, he demonstrated something to Americans who met him: this rock-ribbed music has
value.
I loved and still love seeing him at fiddlers’ conventions, jamming with folks young and old. Always friendly, always authentically himself, he brings a different cool to our lives, and to the
music with his take on it. Decades after his first trip, Bosco continues to quietly unite people and stoke enthusiasm. He also welcomes his musical friends to Japan, helping them comprehend the ancient andsometimes threatened traditional cultures of his own land – and making sure the American old-time music flame keeps burning there. Yep, he’s special.
Listen to this collection. It’s American old-time, it’s traditional in the big sense, and most of all,
it’s soulful and inspiring. – Paul Brown
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Bosco is a seeker who journeyed far to find his musical home in Appalachian old-time music. This collection showcases the depth of his dive into the tradition, absorbing its intricacies into his own mesmerizing approach and now sharing his music with the community in this lovely recording.”—Scott Prouty
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I’ve always felt a special kinship with Bosco because our musical paths ran parallel, both of us coming from far away countries, both of us with the same consuming passion for old time music which led us to visit old masters and assimilate their music into ours. Bosco is one of the finest interpreters of the oldest West Virginia styles I know of and this recording is the culmination of his decades long devotion to the craft. —Rafe Stefanini
1. Drunken Hiccups 2:45
2. Old Sledge 2:53
3. Falls of Richmond 2:44
4. Walking in the Parlor 2:13
5. Drunk Man’s Blues 2:54
6. Old Christmas Morning 2:30
7. Pretty Little Girl 2:30
8. Cherry River Line 2:36
9. John Roberts’ Tune 2:49
10. Indian War Dance Piece 2:16
11. Yew Piney Mountain 2:34
12. Sourwood Mountain 2:25
13. Walking in the Parlor 2:24
14. Shakin’ Down the Acorns 2:19
15. Nancy Rollin’ 2:47
16. As Time Draws Near 2:04
17. Train 45 2:36
18. Sherman’s Untitled A tune (Cripple Creek) 2:32
19. Yew Piney Mountain 2:56