Akira Kosemura: The Live House Performance

It’s an unusually mild August evening. A bout of afternoon storms has washed away the humidity, leaving  Shanghai, in a state of moderate serenity. For sure, some traits remain. The horns of cars still intermittently rip through the air. These sounds arrive in similar waves of noise to those made by the cicadas which are housed within the many tree-lined streets that fill this city.

One such road is Tonglefan Lu, a relatively non-descript street made popular by its inclusion of several Chinese nightclubs and bars.  However, at this relatively early stage of the night (it is approaching eight o’clock), the atmosphere on Tonglefan, much like the temperature, is subdued.

Hidden away, round the back of an unassuming lane off the main road is Kento’s Live House. The venue, particularly amongst the ex-pat communities here, is not a well-publicised one. In spite of this, it is full to bursting with an expectant audience who has come to see Japanese pianist Akira Kosemura. He is in Shanghai as part of a China wide tour to promote a new record: “How My Heart Sings.”

As a dimly lit piano rests on stage, awaiting the grace of its performer, the audience mingles amongst themselves. The clinking of martini glasses coupled with the faint smells and wafting swirls of cigar smoke highlight the cabaret style set-up that this venue possesses, before a diming of the lights acts as a precursor to the show commencing.

The performance begins with a gentle melody molded together with some field recordings of birds singing, and light ambient glitches. The venue’s acoustics are refined with the rich, emotive qualities of the playing accurately portrayed through the speaker system. As the song reaches its conclusion, the pianist gestures with his left hand as if drawing a full stop, bringing his musical paragraph to a close.

Accompanying Kosemura is a large projection that features a series of animations and visuals by Stephen Higgins. Like the music that emanates from the piano, the visuals are calm, soothing and minimalist in approach and as such form a suitable support to the music being played.

As the set expands, the crowd hears tracks largely collated from the artist’s new record. The songs are longer compositions to those found on the musician’s previous collection of vignettes: “Polaroid Piano.” They, still retain the articulate, melodic approach found before but are bolder, more expansive affairs and hold many of the qualities found in the creations of Joe Hisaishi, albeit on a less grand scale.

The show continues to progress and as those watching assume a greater familiarity with the performer; the intimacy of the music takes hold of them. Couples embrace one another, holding hands or resting their heads together. Other audience members sit, eyes closed in a meditative trance as they ingest the notes that float throughout the room, while more zealous fans snap photos and upload them to their social networks, informing those not in attendance of the majesty of the performance. This is a night for romantics or those touched by the striking qualities of solo musicianship.

When the show closes, fans that await an encore are left disappointed when one doesn’t arrive. Indeed there is an eerie feeling in the air as the room, remains dimly lit but nothing happens. Eventually the artist reappears to a rapturous applause, encouraging fans to take photographs and queue for autographs. It is here the impact of the evening is fully acknowledged as a passion for this music and its creator is universally embodied by the enthusiasm expressed by the fans in attendance.

The evening has now advanced, and while the air outside Kento’s still holds an uncharacteristically gentle temperature for the time of year, the reveling found on Tonglefan Lu is now in full flight. Fuzzy, bass drones seep out of the nightclubs, drinkers enjoy their beverages al fresco and queues of taxis line the road as they either drop off or collect people visiting the street. Yet for those leaving the Live House, all the chaos that is gradually growing around them is offset by the tranquility laid upon them by Akira Kosemura’s performance. Like the rain that fell earlier during the day, the audience of tonight’s concert is cleansed by the music on show and can now tackle the city’s hectic qualities with a newfound sense of calm.

- Josh Atkin for Fluid Radio

www.akirakosemura.com