Hermit Jazz: Solo Bass Shakuhachi with Cornelius Boots
Boots Returns to the Bay. With Special Guests.
In the very old days, fluting had HEFT.
Return to the root with 100% breath-powered, original compositions on an uncommon, deep-toned flute, born from decades of devotional practice, patient listening and wandering in the woods.
" ... vigorous ... energy and creative expression abound along with his mastery of a difficult instrument." - Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)
Previously known as the founder of the world's only composing bass clarinet quartet (Edmund Welles 1996-2015), Boots is a celebrated composer, shakuhachi grandmaster and lifelong respirational explorer.
As Philadelphia's premier rustic virtuoso, he creates and presents self-sufficient, solo woodwind music rooted in rural blues, Zen chant and riff rock.
Although it is crafted specifically on the bespoke tonal capabilties of bass shakuhachi, Hermit Jazz is nevertheless also an archetypal demonstration of the art of self-sufficient solo music in general. Featuring original compositions and possibly a Coltrane or Black Sabbath arrangement, this is a limited-seating, intentional presentation of the soul-shifting tone of this rare low-pitched, root-end bamboo flute and of this emerging, polyvalent instrumental song style.
At the crossroads of solo recital, porch blues, spiritualist séance and cave ritual, we will shift to an elemental perception and participate in a woodwinding odyssey that is both rustic and virtuosic – earthy and ethereal. It will engage subtle-perception and transmit a range of vital and primeval energies.
Watch some videos from the links below to sample the elemental nature music you will be experiencing up close in this intimate space. I am celebrating 25 years of studying, practicing, teaching and conjuring a new voice for this ancient instrument. The program will include 9 selections from my growing catalog (about 77 originals and arrangements) of compositions written specifically for the bass shakuhachi, contextualized by green man folklore, breathing secrets and tales from my variegated woodwinding life.
Videos
World Shakuhachi Festival 2025 - Watch on YouTube
Ithaca College 2025 - Watch on YouTube
Tiny Desk Contest 2026 - Watch on YouTube
Coltrane Tune in Ireland 2024 -Watch on YouTube
Artist Bio
Cornelius Boots is an internationally active composer-performer, lifelong innovating woodwinder and inventor of chthonic breathing. He is a licensed grandmaster of Zen shakuhachi, creator of progressive rock, jazz and blues styles and repertoire, and a former bass clarinet pioneer. As Philadelphia’s premiere rustic virtuoso, Boots’ purpose is to transmit the spirit of primeval nature through the rigorous artistry and unique tone of the bass shakuhachi flute, honoring the dual regional lineages of John Coltrane (cosmically creative musicianship) and the Wissahickon hermits (devotional nature spirituality).
The founder of Black Earth Shakuhachi School, Boots was a featured performer and lecturer at World Shakuhachi Festivals 2016 (Prague), 2018 (London) and 2025 (Texas), World Bamboo Congress 2018 (Mexico), Clarinetfests 2008, 2011 and 2013 and his Sony E3 2018 Ghost of Tsushima live performance has over 6 million views on YouTube. In addition to grants, awards, commissions and many recordings, he composes for and leads the world's only bass shakuhachi quartet, The Wood Prophets.