Steffen Basho-Junghans

Whether working with the paintbrush, the guitar or the pen, Steffen manages to conjure up works of extreme intensity, focus and creativity.
Initially, interested in the writings of Basho, the Japanese poet and diarist of 17th century…
Living on the ‘wrong’ side of the then still standing Berlin wall (wrong side for collectors of world music, probably the right side for internalising a persons unique creativity). Not everything from ‘out side’ culture penetrated through the wall, but fortunately two very important tracks did: Elk Dreamer’s Lament and Variations on Ezumi by 60s Guitarist, Robbie Basho. The style of playing heard on these tracks would be the start of a journey of fascination and homage for Steffen, a journey that would end some years later with Steffen Junghans becoming Steffen Basho-Junghans.

On hearing Robbie Basho’s playing, one can indeed hear the influence/similarities, but don’t be fooled, SB-J is certainly his own man. 

“ I think one of my very favourites (players) is Steffen Basho-Junghans, I’ve done like 5 or 6 gigs with him at this point and I think Steffen at his best, no one can really touch him, he’s just got such a unique approach to playing music and when I heard him do his Avant-garde stuff… like his more experimental stuff i was thinking, I wonder how this translates live, but he’s… you’re on the edge of your seat "

– Glenn Jones

Listening to a Steffen Basho-Junghans record takes is a unique listening style to be fully appreciated… there are often strong hidden double meanings and clues in the track titles. The music itself will evoke subtle moods and emotions and just as the intention of composers of Indian ragas that so strongly inspire SB-J, the listener needs to be in a particular emotional state before it can flow through.
Steffen’s world is presented though the steel string guitar and similar to the style that the records are produced they are best listened to solo... Intense solitude and depth of thought… or on the other hand walking though town with headphones watching the life flow by would work too, as long as you are alone with the music. It’s this emotional state of solitude and landscapes of character that the music inspires in the individual, that when SB-J plays Live, create this amazing and unique contradiction; solo listener music in a room full of transfixed spectators.

‘IS’ is Steffen’s first release in 3 years and his first ever UK release. It offers a world of micro trance subtleties as well as epic landscape raga journeys all brought to you on both 6 and 12 steel string guitars. With multiple releases all around the globe Steffen offers a very unique approach to the instrument. while taking clear influence from Robbie Basho, Steffen treads his own path from experimental simplistic minimal space to unexplainable complex finger picking (But never for the sake of it) as Robbie Basho said:

“Soul first – technique later“.

‘IS’ is the first full-length UK release by the long playing six and twelve steel string master. In tune with the intensity of the record we’ve gone for a 200gram super deluxe heavy weight Vinyl that comes with a free digital download for those long walks with the Ipod.
To get hold of a copy click here.

http://www.harmonicrooms.co.uk/shop.html

Painter, Guitarist, Composer and Free Author, currently living in Berlin and Thuringia
To find out more information on Steffen and Robbie go here:
http://www.bluemomentarts.de
Steffen on Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/steffenbashojunghans