The true Japanese master of crossover

By GILBERT WONG

Vocal artist Makigami Koichi subverts oriental stereotypes. Which is another way of saying that if he assumes a martial arts stance while howling like a scalded cat a la Bruce Lee, then that's okay.

In Japan he is a true crossover artist, moving from the avant garde to the mainstream on stage and screen.

In New Zealand he remains an oddity. How odd? Well, take his 1995 CD Kuchinoha, which runs to nine vocal improvisations running from inane gibberish to the surprisingly beautiful. Koichi demonstrates genuine vocal agility, mixing Tuuvan throat-singing (which he studied in Mongolia) with Japanese traditions and pastiche rock mannerisms. As Netbeat summed it up: " No effects, no overdubs, no edits - it's creative, humorous and utterly delightful."

At home in Tokyo Koichi leads one of Japan's longest-running underground bands, Hikashu, which has evolved from an electronic pop band to embrace world music, improvisation, noise and other styles. Koichi has recorded two previous albums on his own, including the star-studded Koroshi No Blues.

In Auckland Koichi is one of the headliners at the alt.music festival. Curator David Watson met Koichi at a Knitting Factory performance in New York in 1994. Koichi's project at the time was a compilation of Japanese pop songs from different eras helped out by some big names - Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth, Matthew Sweet, John Zorn and Otomo Yoshihide, among others.

Among his skills is mastery of the jaw harp. An easy instrument to tour with.

* Makigami Koichi and The Jon Rose Experience, alt.music, Galatos, Galatos St, 8 pm Monday.