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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 1996)
ju s t o u t ▼ January 5 , 1 9 9 6 ▼ 2 7 TONGUE IN GROOVE A ngel R omero Remembering the Future RCA Victor an I say how much I like the irony of the title for this CD? Can I also go on to mention that the unusual mix of world, pop, Latin and jazz music, coupled with Angel’s expert “classical” guitar virtuosity truly made this CD enjoyable? At times, his music reminds me of the Gipsy Kings’ lively Latin beats, until something really C USIC bluesy would emanate from my speakers. Then there comes that moment when I almost wish I knew how to rhumba and was in some enormous ballroom with Romero’s music blaring. Y o ko O no Rising • Capitol Records revity not being one of my strongest talents, I actually do have one word to somewhat describe what I think of this latest release: ayoko, which in Tagalog literally means “I don’t like!” To be a bit more elaborate, I actually enjoyed part of this CD—the background music part, that is. Yoko collaborates here with 19-year-old son Sean’s band, Ima. • v^ISs What many people don’t know is that Yoko, besides being “John’s widow,” is a classically trained pianist and has delved in experimental music, film, paint ing and sculpture. Which ex plains the performance art-like feel of Rising. Although Im a’s blend of music fits well with each track, Yoko can’t seem to get away from sounding like what she is— a performance artist. Without a performance to behold, these auditory stimuli are pointless. B T L ic k s PssstlC’mere... I’mgoingto let you in on a little secret. I’m gonna tell you about my next life. Yep, I now reveal to the whole planet that, after this brief venture as a writer-audiophile- technojunkie, my next incarna tion will be as an almost-forgot ten musical instrument—one that belts out amaz ing sounds so incredibly fantastic that people will realize how wonderful I really am. But you prob ably are thinking that this all depends on whose nimble fingers are “playing me,” eh? And which instrument am I babbling about, anyway? Ah, not to worry, for I would be none other than Ritsu’s electric violin. Ritsu Katsumata is an incredibly talented musician who is grabbing—or maybe yanking— everyone’s ear in the Northwest music world. At the recent Jimi Hendrix Guitar Competi tion held in Seattle, Ritsu was one of eight final ists. She made it to the final cut, from the 150 original entrants, despite the fact that she was not playing an electric guitar at the Gibson Guitar- sponsored event. Playing a newly designed five- string electric violin called a Jensen, Ritsu made quite an impression on the judges and audience members at the fully packed Seattle Opera House. How could she not? When I first saw Ritsu perform at the East Avenue Tavern during its regular first Saturday of the month event, Girls’ Nite Out, I thought I had been caught in some weird episode of Twilight Zone. I’ve listened to other electric violinists before—like Jean-Luc Ponty and Noel Pointer, both of whom take a normally classical instrument toward a more con- temporary style, such as jazz. Ritsu, on the other hand, really just likes to rock and roll, particularly Jimi Hendrix-style. Two years ago Ritsu moved from New York to Portland, to redefine herself as a musician. After experimenting with several styles, Ritsu chose rock and roll as her medium and Jimi Hendrix as her chief inspiration. “I am interested in Jimi Hendrix as a com poser,” she says, “not just a showy guitarist that sets his amp on fire. He’s got more depth and innovation than most players, making him a chal lenge to study.” That statement makes it pretty obvious that her music isn’t just a bunch of cool-sounding gobbledygook that would make one say “Duuude, she rocks!” No, her roots are actually in classical music. Growing up on the mean streets of South Philly, Ritsu showed a talent for music at an early age and began playing the violin at age 9. Two years later, she debuted as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Over the years she played with the Philadelphia Pops, Philadelphia Pro Musica and the National Orchestra of New York, among others. But, for Ritsu, the world of Debussy and Lizst The Community’s Home Loan Resource ► New purchase ► Refinance/cash out ► 100% equity loans ► Pre-approved loans ► Pre-qualification by phone or fax ► Residential, commerical & investment property' ► Appointments at your convenience 66 I ’m available when you are! ” Office 274-1500 Evenings/Weekends Colleen Weed "We'd like to get to know you" A special introduction; Mention you saw this ad in Just Out and CUSTOM FRAMING IS Assembly is fr e e - You pay for the materials • Complete Projects only • Uniframes excluded ‘P ictu re This’ FRAMING GALLERY 2801 SE Holgate • Portland • 236-1400 Plenty of FREE parking at our convienent Eastside location Mon.-Fri. 9:30 am - 6 pm • Saturday 10 am-5:30 pm Applies to complete projects only. Not to be combined with other offers RÉÉ s G A Y M E N ’S H E A L T H A D V O C A C Y T R A IN IN G The Oregon Health Division announces a unique HIV prevention training for gay/bisexual men. asty V « *+ / A W twilit'«- Ivl « ritM w iu •» v i l j> i v • w * t *. j 780-1561 We’re looking for men who want to: c/ empower themselves to become health advocates in their community in order to reduce HIV transmission; aficionados seems to have become too confining. She says, “The classical music scene has become a stodgy institution that rejects change at all costs. Other musicians told me that I had an attitude problem, that my playing was ‘too intense.’ So, I looked around and thought, ‘No one ever told Jimi Hendrix he was too intense.’ ” Intensity is definitely one thing that Ritsu does not lack. I’ve seen her perform with a great bass guitar player, Debbie Smith; sitting in with Doris Daze; and with her newly formed Atomic Violin Power Trio (with Paul Herbst on a mean bass and Collin Colebank beating the drums like hell). Each of those times, I, along with many in the audience, could do nothing but watch in awe. The only thing that sets me apart from the rest of them is that I know that when my next life comes, I’ll be really, really happy. Get nuked: See Ritsu and her Atomic Violin PowerTrio at East AvenueTavem (727 E Burnside St.) on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 9:30 pm. The cost is $5. Reviews by Rachel Ebora. Don't hesitate to contact me about shows that / should know about. Check the general Just Out info fo r address and phone information. For the cyber heads out there, I ’m e-mailable at: f r ) \ i , < • tongueout®aol.com. learn ways to provide prosocial prevention events and activities at the local level in order to reduce high risk behaviors; ^ increase the ability for gay/bisexual men to become a mentor for other men dealing with the emotional effects around HIV disease, and: ^ develop a network of gay/bisexual men willing to work with local health departments, local planning groups, and community-based organizations in order to prevent HIV transmission. DATES: Friday, February 2, 1996 6:00 p.m. until Sunday, February 4, 1996, 4:00 p.m. LOCATION: On the central Oregon coast COSTS: Lodging, meal, and training costs will be provided. Selected participants must provide their own transportation to the training site. For further information and an application form, please call David Lane, Ph.D. at (503) 731-4029 > t > . t
