J.C. Schütz. Peacebird. Blog.2012-05-19T00:56:29ZJohan Christher SchutzCopyright 2012, Johan Christher SchutzSPHPBLOGRetrato em Branco e PretoI always loved RETRATO EM BRANCO E PRETO, the classic song by Tom Jobim & Chico Buarque, which I first discovered in the recording of João Gilberto, but which has been recorded by most Brazilian artists.
Of course, I was then very happy when Swedish jazz singer Nina Ripe wanted to record my English translation of the song for her debut album "Apaixonada". It was released in 2011, and I have mentioned it on this blog before. I wrote three of the lyrics for that album, all fully authorized.
The arrangement is great, and the accordion is awesome.
She's just uploaded a youtube video for it, so check it out!
NINA RIPE - Picture in Black and White (Retrato em Branco e Preto)
]]>http://blog.johanchristherschutz.net/index.php?entry=entry120515-0104062012-05-15T00:00:00Z2012-05-15T00:00:00ZBalans (bossa remix)In 2009 I made a bossa nova remix of the song 'Balans' from C'EST LA VIE. It was previously only available on a download compilation, and many people never heard it.
Finally, it's now available from my Bandcamp page with a simple black-and-white cover.
The remix has more energy than the original. The guitar is different, so are the drums. However, all other instruments and vocals are the same, so I don't know where the energy comes from!
Peace! ]]>http://blog.johanchristherschutz.net/index.php?entry=entry120504-0147022012-05-04T00:00:00Z2012-05-04T00:00:00Z#52 on Amazon JapanI just want to share this great news that reached me through the internet:
On AMAZON JAPAN's Bestseller ranking of POP albums, 'Peacebird' is number 52!
As the release was 6 months ago, I think it's really awesome!!!
Good news as I'm just finishing a second Peacebird album...
Peace! ]]>http://blog.johanchristherschutz.net/index.php?entry=entry120415-0942162012-04-15T00:00:00Z2012-04-15T00:00:00ZFavourite songJust have to share this song.
It's one of my favourite songs of all time, with an amazing lyric. It took some time for this album to grow on me when it was released in 1997, but now I think it's BOB DYLAN's best.
The title is NOT DARK YET, and my favourite lines are:
Behind every beautiful thing there's been some kind of pain
I was born here and I'll die here against my will I know it looks like I'm moving, but I'm standing still
I keep coming back to this song over and over. The slow tempo reminds me of being in a dream, trying to walk away from something that haunts you. I think it fits the lyrics perfectly.
Peace! ]]>http://blog.johanchristherschutz.net/index.php?entry=entry120414-0115422012-04-14T00:00:00Z2012-04-14T00:00:00ZPhotos from francfrancHere are some photos from last Tuesday's event at Aoyama Francfranc with J-WAVE and the navigator Rachel Chan.
With Rachel Chan during the small talk session before my gig:
And another photo, of me singing and playing the cavaquinho (you can see it through the green plants if you look carefully):
Peace! ]]>http://blog.johanchristherschutz.net/index.php?entry=entry120326-1517352012-03-26T00:00:00Z2012-03-26T00:00:00ZSetlist from SaravahHere's my setlist from the gig at Saravah:
1. This Sadness 2. Difficult 3. You Can Discover (John Martyn) 4. This Is Forever 5. Changes Changes (new song) 6. Slow Down 7. Möten Och Avsked (my Swedish translation of Encontros e Despedidas by Milton Nascimento/Fernando Brant) 8. Over The Rainbow (Arlen/Harburg) with special guest Chihiro Fujita 9. Balans
I took the opportunity to play some of the songs I don't play so regularly, to give some variation for those of you who heard me live towards the end of last year.
Here's a photo I borrowed from Chihiro's twitter, which she took of me during the soundcheck:
And here's a photo I took of Piece of Peace during their soundcheck, from backstage. From left to right: Chihiro, Ben, and special guest at the grand piano Tetsuro Yafune:
And a photo of me, taken between cups of coffee while waiting for the clock to turn 19, so I could go out and listen to the DJ:s.
After my performance, I met the owner for the first time, Atsuko Barouh, and could talk with her a little about music.
Thank you Toru Hashimoto, as always from the bottom of my heart, for inviting me to play at your event at great Saravah.
Peace! ]]>http://blog.johanchristherschutz.net/index.php?entry=entry120326-1449102012-03-26T00:00:00Z2012-03-26T00:00:00ZSetlistsHere are the setlists from my two recent gigs in Tokyo. Sunday's gig at Setagaya Volunteer Center was lovely, the audience was very warm and receptive. I also did an improvised session with Keico Yoshida (vocals) Hitomi Yamakami (tenor saxophone) and Yuichiro Hiraoka (guitar), which was great fun!
If you're free, come down to Shibuya. It will be a great night!
Peace!]]>http://blog.johanchristherschutz.net/index.php?entry=entry120321-1404342012-03-21T00:00:00Z2012-03-21T00:00:00Z4 new live videos @ youtube4 "new" live videos are now available @ youtube!
They were all recorded at the Tokyo release party for "Peacebird", in October at Aoyama Tsuki Miru Kimi Omou. The sound is the natural camera sound, so it's a bit "pumping", but the overall feeling is great. Watch them when you get a moment!
That time, the Peacebird live band was:
me (vocals/guitar) with Kazuya Saka (keyboards) Takero Ogata (percussion) Keisuke Tanaka (bass) Toshiyuki Sasaki (drums)
and special guest Chihiro Fujita (backing vocals & shaker)
All contents are in Japanese, except for some headlines, which are in English because they are expressions usually being used in English.
BIG and WARM thanks to Tae-chan for helping with the texts.
www.peacebirdmusic.com ]]>http://blog.johanchristherschutz.net/index.php?entry=entry120316-1053302012-03-16T00:00:00Z2012-03-16T00:00:00ZRendez-Vous Voyage release event Next Tuesday, March 20, I'm invited to perform a few songs live at the release event for RENDEZ-VOUS VOYAGE, the new compilation album from J-Wave's program Rendez-Vous!
Place: AOYAMA Francfranc Live: 18:30
The Rendez-Vous host, Rachel Chan, will also be there between 18-19:30!
The release date in shops is March 21, but of course, you can buy the CD already on Tuesday, and get both Rachel's and mine autographs!
]]>http://blog.johanchristherschutz.net/index.php?entry=entry120313-0042402012-03-13T00:00:00Z2012-03-13T00:00:00ZMarch scheduleDuring March 2012 we'll be recording my new Peacebird album in Tokyo! I'll also be doing a couple of gigs (see below).
On March 21, a compilation CD is released from J-Wave programme Rendez-vous - RENDEZ-VOUS VOYAGE. It includes one of my songs, "I Love You"!
Here's the live schedule for March:
3月18日 (日)
東京
おたがいさまフェスタ
Open 10:30 / Close 15:00
Music live shows 12:00 start
entrance free!
Setagaya Volunteer Association
OP. ／ ST. 19:00 ～ midnight
Charge：￥2,500（23:00 ～ ￥2,000） ※ドリンク別
'Saravah!'
Live：
ヨハン・クリスター・シュッツ（Peacebird）
Piece Of Peace
ヒロチカーノ（La Bossa）
和知 里
優河
DJ：
橋本 徹（SUBURBIA）
小林 恭（ima）
吉本 宏（bar buenos aires）
高木慶太
中村智昭（MUSICAANOSSA）
富永珠梨（usen for Cafe Apres-midi）
山本勇樹（Quiet Corner）
ユズル（Lots Of Lovin'）
Saravah 東京
東京都渋谷区松濤1丁目29-1 渋谷クロスロードビル B1
]]>http://blog.johanchristherschutz.net/index.php?entry=entry120308-0127112012-03-08T00:00:00Z2012-03-08T00:00:00ZPeacebird Japanese websiteThe small version of my website, the "mobile phone site", is no longer available, as a first step in creating a new website in Japanese.
The mobile version was created especially for people in Japan accessing my site from their phones, but the new website, which will be completely in Japanese, will also be fully accessible from phones.
We are still deciding on colours and design, so at this moment, there is just a landing page and a few links, but feel free to check it out. The address for the Japanese site will be: www.peacebirdmusic.com
Peace! ]]>http://blog.johanchristherschutz.net/index.php?entry=entry120301-1351272012-03-01T00:00:00Z2012-03-01T00:00:00ZMusic on facebookFinally found a good application to add music to my facebook page. I have all my songs on Bandcamp, and they now offer a very smooth app for this. Maybe its' not new, but I discovered it today!
Peace! ]]>http://blog.johanchristherschutz.net/index.php?entry=entry120221-1049242012-02-21T00:00:00Z2012-02-21T00:00:00ZNew Peacebird album!I have just finished demos of 8 songs for my next Peacebird album. It was initially meant to be a mini album, but I couldn't limit myself to writing only 5 or 6 songs...
I always think too big, maybe I'm a megalomaniac!
However, I'm really pleased with the songs, and the new album will be based on the following instrumentation:
Acoustic guitar/Cavaquinho Grand piano Acoustic bass Drums/brushes
If I manage to play well, one of the songs will have me playing piano and singing (no overdubs) for the first time on record. I've done it live a couple of times, and the audience has really loved it. They say they can feel more of "the real me" pouring out from my music when I play the piano and sing. I don't know why, because I can barely play the piano!
=)
Recording is scheduled in Tokyo for March, and release for June 2012. If you haven't heard it yet, the first Peacebird album is available on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/album/peacebird/id468937532 and from all Japanese record shops, Amazon etc. The new album will be more intimate, though. The title is not decided....
Peace! ]]>http://blog.johanchristherschutz.net/index.php?entry=entry120131-0855242012-01-31T00:00:00Z2012-01-31T00:00:00ZSaturday: Japanese radioOn saturday night, January 14, there's a pre-recorded radio special about my Peacebird album at the FM station K-Mix. The program is reprised on the night between January 16 and 17, about 4 in the morning.
I think that in Japan, you can listen on radiko or on your mobile phone. Computers in other countries I think can't access the streaming... Sadly limited Japanese business thinking. English and Swedish radio for example, is listenable online all over the world.
The show, hosted by Yoshi Nagato and Kazuo Dobashi, is about 45 minutes, and contains a long interview with me, interspersed with songs from the CD, and I also sing one song live in the studio!
Peace! ]]>http://blog.johanchristherschutz.net/index.php?entry=entry120111-0337282012-01-11T00:00:00Z2012-01-11T00:00:00ZThe musicalThe website for the musical is up! I chose the working-title A WORLD BETWEEN, a very suitable name I think.
Click the player in the top corner to listen to highlights of the music, in recordings with me singing. I will not sing in the musical! But I made the songs, so I had to make the demos!
I'm very happy with the site, both design and feeling. Let me know what you think!
* Momo -- mezzo-soprano (of East/Southeast Asian descent) * Benjamin -- baritone/tenor (of Caucasian descent) * others -- at the moment unspecified voices.
If you like the songs and the idea, drop me a message from the website. You need to be fluent in English and have experience from performing in Musicals (pretty obvious!) and preferably living in U.K. or Sweden.
Peace! ]]>http://blog.johanchristherschutz.net/index.php?entry=entry120111-0327212012-01-11T00:00:00Z2012-01-11T00:00:00ZBlog updateThe database for my blog is being updated, so all previous posts will be unavailable for some time from now. Please have patience! It's the holiday season =)
Let me take the opportunity to write a little about 2011, a year filled with hard work and wonderful audience reception for my music.
PEACEBIRD
The PEACEBIRD album had a wonderful reception, lots of radio play and I've been fortunate to meet many of my Japanese fans during this year. I'm now writing songs for a new Peacebird album, which is planned to be released in late spring (the recording is scheduled for February and will be done in Tokyo).
THE MUSICAL
I'm just finishing a website for my musical, and will post an update here when you can all enter and check it out. I know that some of you are very very curious, after all I've been talking about it for soon three years.
Those of you who have joined my Fan Club (the VIP CLUB) have already heard some of the songs, as I'm giving away one free unreleased song or recording every month, only to members. You can join here at www.jcschutz.com/register
The recordings for the Musical, have started, and will be finished during 2012. With a little help from Shigeru Umebayashi, the awarded Japanese film music composer, I'm hoping to be able to create the magic, movie-like atmosphere that I wish for, as I'm using Japanese instruments such as Shakuhachi, Koto, Taiko drums and the Chinese Erhu, all some of my favourite instruments in the world.
Japanese Nihonga artist Masako Kurokawa is sketching for the CD design/booklet and we've been discussing the emblem of the Musical, the image with the title (I guess you also might call it a 'logotype'), one single image expressing the essence of the story. As the recording will not be totally finished until next autumn, earliest, we are still on the brainstorming stage.
To be honest, I never thought I would finish the musical. But once I started, it was impossible to stop writing the songs, and here we are... It's my biggest project ever, and I'm so happy that I continued even "when the going got tough". Working with such a project is like entering a different world, and that's hopefully the same feeling it will give the audience.
Next Tuesday, March 20, I'm invited to perform a few songs live at the release event for RENDEZ-VOUS VOYAGE, the new compilation album from J-Wave's program Rendez-Vous!