Tetuzi Akiyama

Alongside Otomo Yoshihide, Taku Sugimoto, Toshimaru Nakamura and Sachiko M, Tetuzi Akiyama is an essential figure in the world of improvised music. Akiyama, also known as 'The Captain' by his colleagues, has been releasing a multitude of solo and collaboration pieces recently, and this new record is an important and not to be missed addition to these releases. Route 13 to the gates of hell : live in tokyo is a complete document of Akiyama's guitar solo performance at the uplink factory on may 7th, 2004. The album is divided into two parts, the first including his performance of his imaginary soundtrack music, while the second is centered around his classic 'Don't forget to boogie!'. Both performances are the most melodic and rocking of his pieces to date. The first half of his performance incorporates elements from country and blues, utilizing slide and finger picking techniques. The way in which he changes tunings while he plays subdued and melancholic phrases, resonates with the free-folk movement that is happening worldwide centered around groups such as charalambides. The latter half of the record is based on Akiyama's renditions of the stunning boogie album Don't forget to boogie! released only on vinyl on idea records from Texas