Gerald Oshita (1942–1992) was an American musician, composer, and sound recordist.
Oshita, who was of Japanese ancestry, lived in the
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, often referred to as simply the Bay Area, is a populous region surrounding the San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bay estuaries in Northern California. The Bay Area is defined by the Association of Bay Area Go ...
and specialized in unusual wind instruments, particularly those of especially low register. He performed and recorded with straight alto
saxophone
The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed on a mouthpiece vibrates to pr ...
, tenor and baritone saxophones,
contrabass sarrusophone
The contrabass sarrusophone is the deepest of the family of sarrusophones, and was made in three sizes. The EE version was the only sarrusophone that was ever mass-produced in the United States. It was made by companies such as Gautrot, Couesnon, ...
, and Conn-o-sax, and also made
shakuhachi
A is a Japanese and ancient Chinese longitudinal, end-blown flute that is made of bamboo.
The bamboo end-blown flute now known as the was developed in Japan in the 16th century and is called the . (Japanese bamboo flutes).
Oshita's music drew on elements of jazz as well as contemporary classical music, and was often partly or wholly improvised. Among the musicians with whom Oshita frequently worked were
Roscoe Mitchell
Roscoe Mitchell (born August 3, 1940) is an American composer, jazz instrumentalist, and educator, known for being "a technically superb – if idiosyncratic – saxophonist". ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz'' described him as "one of the key figures ...
and
Thomas Buckner
Thomas Buckner (born 1941) is an American baritone vocalist specializing in the performance of contemporary classical music and improvised music. In his work, he utilizes a wide range of extended (non-traditional) vocal techniques.
Buckner als ...
, and this trio released two recordings on the
1750 Arch Records label. His work shows the influence of Asian music and philosophy, and he is considered one of the seminal musicians in the development of
Asian American jazz
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
.
In 1994, the Gerald Oshita Memorial Fellowship was established in Oshita's memory by an anonymous donor. The fellowship is presented annually to a composer of Asian, African, Latino, or Native American heritage, and supports a residency at the Djerassi Resident Artists Program on the Program's ranch in
Woodside, California
Woodside is a small incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, United States, on the San Francisco Peninsula. Woodside is among the wealthiest communities in the United States, home to many technology billionaires and investment manager ...
.
Discography
Space
with
Roscoe Mitchell
Roscoe Mitchell (born August 3, 1940) is an American composer, jazz instrumentalist, and educator, known for being "a technically superb – if idiosyncratic – saxophonist". ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz'' described him as "one of the key figures ...
and
Tom Buckner
Thomas "Tom" Christopher Buckner (born 16 April 1963) is an English former long-distance runner who finished fifth at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, British Columbia,Canada, and reached the semifinals in the Barcelona Olympics as well a ...
(1750 Arch Records, 1984)
Jam Rice Sextet - Jam Rice Relaxin’ ('
Frasco 1976)
Compilation
New Music For Woodwinds And Voice / An Interesting Breakfast ConversationMutable Music
2000)
As sideman
With Roscoe Mitchell
Roscoe Mitchell (born August 3, 1940) is an American composer, jazz instrumentalist, and educator, known for being "a technically superb – if idiosyncratic – saxophonist". ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz'' described him as "one of the key figures ...
*'''' (Black Saint, 1983)
With Yosuke Yamashita Trio
*'' Yosuke Yamashita Trio, Gerald Oshita - Arashi'' (Frasco, 1977 – FS-7019.20)
External links
Gerald Oshita Memorial Fellowship page on Djerassi Resident Artists Program website
See also
*Asian American jazz
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oshita, Gerald
American male composers
American male saxophonists
1942 births
1992 deaths
American musicians of Japanese descent
20th-century American composers
20th-century American saxophonists
20th-century American male musicians