Minyo Crusaders
Minyo Crusaders | |
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| Origin | Tokyo City, Tokyo, Japan |
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| Website | minyocrusaders.com |
Minyo Crusaders (Japanese: 民謡クルセイダーズ) is a Japanese musical group that reworks traditional Japanese folk songs (min'yō) with arrangements inspired by various international music genres, including Caribbean, Latin and African music. The group was co-founded by Katsumi Tanaka and Freddie Tsukamoto, with the goal of reviving min'yō as a "music for the people".[1][2]
The pair played casually around Fussa for a number of years with an assortment of musicians dropping in and out and eventually including Fussa "drumming legend" Sono. The turning point came when Tokyo roots scene veteran DADDY U joined the band as bass player and provided connections to a varied pool of musicians working across Tokyo. Through him the rest of the band was introduced. [3]
They released their first album, Echoes of Japan in 2017 on P-Vine Records.[4] In the album the Minyo Crusaders attempt to bring back Min'yo back to its 'common man' origins, going against the recent trend that Min'yo at-large had of appealing to the upper classes despite its working class roots.[5] The album was later reissued on Mais Um in 2019.[6]
Members
[edit]The band's official Facebook page announced on 27 December 2019 that DADDY U was having difficulty touring and had played his last concert with the Minyo Crusaders.[7]
On December 11, 2023, Meg announced via twitter that she would be leaving the Minyo Crusaders. [8]
Support Members
[edit]Several musicians play and tour with the band regularly, some for several years, but are credited as "support members". [9] [10]
These include: Midori Takenoko (vo, musical accompaniment), Toshio ‘Digi’ Fujino (bass), Yusuke Noguchi (trumpet), Kayoko Yuasa (trombone), Madokorona Oya (congas).
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]| Title | Album details |
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| Echoes of Japan (エコーズ・オブ・ジャパン) |
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| Live at Le Guess Who? |
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| Tour of Japan (日本民謡珍道中) |
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EPs
[edit]| Title | Album details |
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| Minyo Cumbiero (From Tokyo to Bogota) |
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References
[edit]- ^ Romero, Angel (1 June 2019). "Artist Profiles: Minyo Crusaders". World Music Central. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ Houghton, Edwin (15 May 2019). "Minyo Crusaders Armor Japanese Folk Music for the Post-Modern Age". Bandcamp. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ Romero, Angel (1 June 2019). "Artist Profiles: Minyo Crusaders". World Music Central. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ "Echoes Of Japan = エコーズ・オブ・ジャパン". Discogs. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ Wiser, Danny (19 March 2021). "JAPAN: Echoes of Japan - Minyo Crusaders". 200worldalbums.com. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ Spencer, Neil (28 April 2019). "Minyo Crusaders: Echoes of Japan review – unlikely fusion's great grooves". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ "Minyo Crusaders / 民謡クルセイダーズ's post". facebook.com (in Japanese). 27 December 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ Meg [@megu_oykt] (11 December 2023). 《大切なお知らせ》この度、私/megは諸事情により民謡クルセイダーズを辞めることになりました。 [Important notice. I/meg have decided to quit the Minyo Crusaders for various reasons.] (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 January 2025 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Minyo is Back in Town 2025 New Year at Cotton Club". cottonclub.com (in Japanese). 3 January 2025. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ "Minyo Crusaders - 民謡クルセイダーズ｜Artists｜Blue Note Tokyo". bluenote.co.jp. 29 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
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