Ryusuke Seto
Guitarist, composer, arranger originally from Nasu, Japan. Ryusuke studied classiclal guitar skill under Yasuo Ohshima from a young age, started to play guitar in a band when he was 20 and learned jazz guitar on his own. After that, Ryusuke met Atsushi Katano and studied under him. Ryusuke has played in a lot of bands, gigs and supported many artists in Tokyo and Tochigi. He also organized his own band “Ryusuke Seto Group” and have had a lot of live concerts with his original episodic compositions. Now, Ryusuke got a scholarship from Berklee College of Music and entered in 2006. He was majoring in Jazz Composition and graduated as a summa cum laude in 2008. He is also a winner of “Quincy Jones Award” in 2008 and performed his composition at Berklee Performance Center.
In 2013, Ryusuke invited by Yokosuka Jazz Cruising Vol. 3. In the same year, Ryusuke released his original composition “Seasons of Nasu” and made a guest appearance at “2014 Nasu Short Film Festival” by collaboration with photographer Yasunari Hirayama.
The concert held at the Nasushiobara City Council in 2018 was broadcast on NHK and published in the Mainichi, Sankei and Shimotsuke newspaper.
Ryusuke is currently, Vocal & Guitar duo “Kimiko & Ryusuke” etc. active mainly in Nasu.
Works
Live Performance, Composition, Arranging, Recording, Private Lesson, Ensemble, etc. Please feel free to contact me.
Compositions
Seasons of Nasu
Composed in 2013. This original song was created with the background of photographs, time-lapse videos, and videos of the changing seasons in Nasu taken by photographer Yasunari Hirayama between 2011 and 2018.
Beyond
Composed in 2009. An original piece for jazz big bands with the image of “far away in the universe”. I’m sorry that I’m using MIDI sound sources because I don’t have a live performance source, but I think you’ll be able to understand the feel of the song.
Prologue
Composed in 2008. The final project in Jazz Composition Major at Berklee was a 10-minute piece that would incorporate everything I had learned up to that point.
Frame Juggler
Composed in 2007. It was made as a jazz counterpoint for two saxophones, but the audio is for a guitar quartet.
A Road to the Field
Composed in 2007. It’s a song about the road leading to a “secret place” that only you know about as a child. The song is structured in a 12-bar blues form.
Arigatou
Composed in 2007. To the people who supported my activities at that time.
Castello
This is an original counterpoint canon composed in 2007.
Un Giorno Completamente Nuovo
This is an original chorale composed in 2007.
Unexpected
Composed in 2007. An unexpected event that suddenly befalls us.
Dawnscape
Composed in 2005. This is the first piece I wrote for my Berklee Scholarship Audition.
Arranging
Nasu Yumomi Uta
Yumomi (stirring the hot spring water) is a tradition that has been continued in Nasu Onsen since the Taisho era. We have arranged the “Nasu Yumomi Song” that is sung during this “Yumomi” ritual.
Shiobara Kouta – Ujo Noguchi Medley
Shiobara Kouta was written by Izumi Yotaro (real name Tashiro Taihei, 1908-1996) and composed by folk song researcher Fujii Kiyomi (1889-1944), and was released in 1929. Izumi Yotaro was a student of the poet Noguchi Ujo, so for this piece I have arranged a medley of two songs written by Noguchi Ujo: “Shabondama” and “Nanachin no Ko.”
Sougo Kuyo Wasan
Goeika was born about 1300 years ago on the pilgrimage. At the time, it was a life-risking journey, as people would push their way through paths that didn’t exist and visit shrines. During such journeys, there were times when people would lose heart and think, “Maybe I can’t do this. This is the end of my journey.” At such times, it was Goeika that lifted their spirits.
Momiji
I edited it together with footage I had taken locally.
One Summer’s Day – from ”Spirited Away” Solo Guitar with TAB
An insert song from Studio Ghibli’s “Spirited Away.”
Merry Go Round of Life / Solo Guitar with TAB
A solo guitar arrangement of “Merry-Go-Round of Life” from Howl’s Moving Castle, composed by Joe Hisaishi.
Travels / Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays
This is an a cappella arrangement for saxophone quintet.
Live Performances
2008: Berklee Performance Center
2013: Yokosuka Jazz Cruising Vol. 3
2014: Nasu Short Film Festival
2018: Nasushiobara City Council
2019: Twin Ring Motegi Fireworks and Sound Festival “New Year Fes”