GOH KUROSAWA 黒沢豪
GK recent history
Having performed at Homeboy Industries (the largest gang rehabilitation program in the world), Goh Kurosawa’s list of completed events include concerts and workshops in US, Brazil, Mexico, Cuba, Canada, France, and Asia. Goh's history includes appearances at festivals: for community building, world music, jazz, rock, classical music, as well as engagements at schools, forests, temples in Japan, pagodas in Myanmar, churches, museums, plus embassy affiliated shows and street performances. During the pandemic, Kurosawa started Across Waters (AW); an ongoing online event for live music plus multi-cultural discussions with people in Japan, US, and beyond.
Click “HERE“ for newspaper article and photos from Grants Pass Museum of Art.
Bio
Residing in California and travelling the world from Japan, Goh is a musician armed with Honey Beast (his guitar), Lucky8 (his amp), fresh original songs, electrifying soundscapes, and stunning arrangements of familiar global melodies.
”Move to improve... and continue with quality." =「動け育て．．．そしてクオリティーと共に続け。」
Referred to by many as the Bicultural Music Samurai, all throughout his life, Kurosawa has been working to share honest stories and life connections though music, and his current tour is called Lovetap Tour (previously known as Broken Tour).
“It’s easy… it’s not hard… it’s fun!!!”
Having performed in a wide range of settings and festivals (for music, art, movement, schools, community centers, and public libraries), Goh has completed more than 20 tours in Japan since 2006, and has been conducting music workshops/seminars at universities, music schools, and other educational institutions. While at home in Los Angeles, in addition to the daily music activities, Goh works at a local food bank in Pasadena California by serving fresh food and everyday necessities to the community; while on tour, he frequents the Pacific Northwest (Seattle and Portland areas) and the Route 66 for seasonal performances. In addition, during the 2020 pandemic, he launched an online event with music and conversations (English & Japanese) called Across Waters. He has been actively touring locally and internationally since 2005, and recently completed two performances in Cuba at the historical Teatro Martí as well as the new and modern Fabrica de Arte Cubano. Both events were promoted by the Japanese Embassy in Cuba as a part of the 120th year anniversary celebration, commemorating the first Japanese immigration on September 9th, 1898. In 2025, Goh will have been touring for 20 years, and aiming to make Lovetap Tour “Big 20” to be a fresh celebration. To keep reaching wider and farther, Goh is continuing to make effort to recognize all environments in which music could shine.
"Two important things as an artist... doing good art & building relationships."
--Pete Morris (Metro DaVinci Watercolors)
Goh’s audience recognizes various expressive emotions while listening to his recordings and especially by experiencing him live. People have identified his music with concepts such as acoustic, rock, jazz, dance music, sit-down music, tap-slap, Brazilian bossa nova, Spanish flamenco, hip-hop beats, Latin grooves, Balkan rhythms, Electronica-sound-effects, prog-rock, metal, experimental, classical, and the “Yamato Soul (大和魂)” of Japan. To simplify, call it acoustic rock jazz. Goh continues his journey towards his own heart, sound, and soul.
"Stay true to yourself."
--Clare Graham (Artist/Collector/Shaman)
Unplugged, Goh embraces a single guitar to create an orchestra with drum beats, percussive grooves, bass lines, and memorable melodies. As an electric pedalist he tweaks, bends, and twists soundscapes. He puts on high energy performances along with elegantly powerful acoustic sounds and traditional classical chamber gestures; he is quiet, and he is loud. Life experiences and vivid awakenings are the primary sources of Goh’s songs; musical and technical influences would include everything and everyone from Paco de Lucia (flamenco) to creative jazz to high-gained biting electric guitar distortions to world percussionists and rock drummers.
"Don't hold back."
--Adam Levy (of Norah Jones’ Handsome Band)
Scott Yanow (journalist for AllMusic & LA Jazz Scene) expresses: "Goh Kurosawa's music is beyond any simple classification. The guitarist improvises melodically, is open to the influences of pop, rock, flamenco, classical, Latin and Japanese music, and has his own musical identity. Equally skilled on electric and acoustic guitars, he has mastered tapping and sometimes uses electrical devices to create a wide range of sounds yet is not shy to embrace a pretty melody; personable and eager to talk about his music and guitar tunings between songs, Goh put on a warm and entertaining show. His set included Bob Marley's No Women No Cry, My Family My Friends (original), a Japanese folk song, Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah (which he sang) and parts of a suite he recently composed."
“Sharpness is kindness, kindness is sharpness.”
Kurosawa is often referred to as the “Musical Wakonyosai (音の和魂洋才)” or the Bicultural Music Samurai. Wakonyosai (和魂洋才) is an approach to the Western knowledge with the Japanese spirit. Overall, he views himself as a world citizen, and lives in a countryside in the city of angels with Nyan Nyan, his blue eyed white tiger cat… send a note just to say hi, or send an offer for bookings (contact info at the bottom of this page).
“Keep it simple, believe, and live every day.”
Goh continues to be on the lookout to compose life.
“Blues in Ojai”
Click “HERE“ for Blues in Ojai (an extended letter about GK’s background and inspirations).
Festivals & Recognitions
Performances (concerts and workshops) at
-Ruth Asawa School of the Arts 2024 & 2023
-Eclectic Music Festival in Los Angeles 2023
-Stockton Flavor Fest 2023
-Homeboy Industries Christmas Fest 2021
-Across Waters (online event)
-Zojoji Temple Nenbutsu Festival 2019
-First Night Monterey 2019
-Japan Sagan Music Festival
-Taiwan Spring Scream Rock Fest
-Los Angeles Lotus Festival 2005-2019
-Owner's B-Day @ Wild Buffalo (Bellingham,
WA) since 2006
-Biwako Jazz Fest in Japan 2015
-Zihuatanejo International Guitar Fest in
Mexico 2005/2013/2014/2018
Received
-On the cover of Pasadena Weekly 2020
-Wilson School Alumni Achievement Award 2019
-Certificate of recognition from city of Los
Angeles 2007-2019
-2015'S Hot 100 of Music Connection
Magazine
-Semi-finalist for International Songwriting
Competition 2014/2015
-TOP 25 of Music Connection Magazine 2013
2017 JPF Awards
Six nominations for an international awards
-Sharp Three Zero Cool for "Best Instrumental
Rock" album
-Energy/命 for "Best Solo Guitar" album
-Boom! for "Best Instrumental Rock" song
-El Fuego for "Best Instrumental Rock" song
(by Kai Kurosawa, Goh's brother)
-My Family My Friends for "Best Solo
Guitar" song
-Fruit Bunny III for "Best Solo Guitar" song
Endorsed by
Elite Acoustics (Sunburst Gear)
Jack Sanders Guitars (builder & repair
specialist)
Mooer Audio
Kaminari Guitars
Acoustic Image Amps
Stansell Guitars (flamenco & ukulele guitars)
TV and radio appearances on
LA18 (in Los Angeles)
Saga TV (in Japan)
Zihua FM (in Mexico)
Minor7th Podcast (click below / read "HERE")
Community building
Performances in Myanmar
Goen Projects Lucky Field
with All Nippon Airways
(click “SONG OF MYANMAR” for documentary)
Homeboy Industries
Performance at the largest gang rehabilitation
and re-entry program in the world
Friends In Deed
Serving fresh food and everyday necessities
to the community
Life Stage (in Kyusyu Japan)
Educational enhancement performances
and camping activities with the members
Creative Arts Group (in Sierra Madre California)
Educational enhancement performances
TYME Foundation Ceremony since 2010
Performance with an organization that teaches
young men and women excellence
The Boys & Girls Club
Conversational and musical exchanges with
the kids at Notes for Notes
L.A. Musical Artists Uniting to Help Japan (click “HERE” for documentary)
Quotes
"Guitar savant GOH brings a stuffed burrito of influences that includes everything from Japanese folk and Paco de Lucia-style flamenco to Elvis and Guns N' Roses!"
--Monterey County Weekly (by Adam Joseph)
"Cool CD!"
--Guitar Player Magazine
"Besides excelling in a myriad of musical styles ranging from Jazz, to Classical, even to Hard Rock/Metal, he portrays a substantial amount of knowledge and ability in various instruments. GOH can also take these vastly different styles and make them his own."
--Shane Gibson (of Korn & shred-guitar)
"GOH is an acoustic guitarist who performs using his entire instrument harmonically and percussively with original songs that will take you on a journey to new worlds and expressive arrangements of familiar songs that will bring you close to home."
--Geli Wuerzner (musician & author of "Breaking the Bend")
Collaborators include
Kelli Ali (Linkin'Park, Bootsy Collins, and Marilyn Manson) John Bergamo (Frank Zappa's Abnuceals Emukka Orchestra, John McLaughlin's Shakti, and Hands On'Semble) Mon David (jazz artist) Roland Dyens (modern classical guitarist) Josué Tacoronte (Cuban flamenco guitar) Charlie Haden (Grammy winner jazz artist) Abe Lagrimas, Jr. (drums/ukulele/vibes) Charmaine Clamor (Philippine harana jazz artist) Thomas Leeb (finger-style) Adam Levy (Tracy Chapman, Norah Jones, and Ani Difranco) Pete Morris (Metro DaVinci Watercolors) Alan Paul (of the Manhattan Transfer) Sharp Three (Kai Kurosawa, Chuck van Haecke, and Nick Terry of Los Angeles Percussion Quartet) Miroslav Tadic (The Grand Mothers Reinvented, David Torn, and Dusan Bogdanovic) Misawa Mataro (Masaharu Fukuyama, and Mika Nakashima) Masaki Yamada (of the Japanese rock band Loudness)
Publications
Grants Pass Daily Courier 2022 (read “HERE“)
Pasadena Weekly (read "HERE")
LA Jazz Scene (read "HERE")
Los Angeles Times (read "HERE")
The Tribune (read "HERE")
Downbeat Magazine (read "HERE")
JazzTimes (read "HERE")
Acoustic Magazine (read "HERE")
Guitar Player Magazine (listen "HERE" or click below / read "HERE")
Contact Goh
Gmail (contact Goh directly):
yohgoh(at)gmail.com
Bookings:
lovetaptour(at)gmail.com
Phone (voice only):
1.323.863.three-three-four-seven
Support Goh:
composelife.com/supportgoh