George Abe

Photo: Steve Miyagawa

George Tetsuo Abe is a consummate player of Japanese musical instruments: Shakuhachi, Fue, Yokobue, and taiko. He has played in the Japanese American community for years. George was born in Manzanar California, raised in the Seinan area (Westside, L.A.). He began with clarinet, and went on to play oboe and sax in high school. His music can be heard in KARATE KID II, and in productions at East West Players – OMEN; AND THE SOUL SHALL DANCE; and PACIFIC OVERTURES. His Shakuhachi playing was featured in the film Nisei Fisherman, and his playing can be heard on Makoto’s cds.

In the 70s, George was instrumental in founding and running AmerAsia – the first Asian American Bookstore. And under the leadership of Sensei Mas Kodani of Senshin Temple, George was a founding member of Kinnara Taiko, the first all American Taiko Group in the country, he has performed and led workshops and classes throughout the U.S. From this first American Taiko group along with the founding father of Taiko in America, Sensei Seichi Tanaka’s San Francisco Taiko Dojo, Taiko has now spread throughout the world. George also plays Ryuteki and Komabue in the Kinara Gagaku Group.

KulTone Records is proud to bring George’s music out to the world so people outside the Asian American community can also enjoy it. His CD should be available sometime next year.