Jonathan Bockelmann is a classical guitarist and composer based in Munich who first made waves in 2023 with his debut album ‘Childish Mind’. His entry into composing were arrangements he had made of pieces by Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. Some of these have been released digitally in three editions and are now available on vinyl for the first time. The record comes in high quality packaging with an embossed art print and features both some of Sakamoto’s lesser-known works like the ‘Suite for Krug’ as well as iconic pieces like ‘Bibo No Aozora’.


Recorded by Noël Riedel
A1, A3, A5, A7 recorded by Martin Brugger
Mixed and Mastered by Martin Ruch
Produced by Martin Brugger
Designed by Maximilian Schachtner

"I have always been fascinated with the music of Sakamoto. He manages to communicate his musical ideas with only a few notes - something that merely a handful of composers are capable of doing. And no matter what instruments he writes for, you can always hear an underlying constant, a signature in his sound. It was a revelation to me when I finished my first transcriptions of his music and realized how incredibly well they actually work on the guitar. Somehow this instrument is suitable for capturing the spirit of his compositions and I think it's because of the unique and colorful tone of the instrument. It even f e e l s great to play those pieces. Sometimes I spend so much time studying them that they start to sound to me as if they were originally written for guitar.
During the transcription process I had to take on different challenges. When the original score was available it was much easier to transcribe a composition because I had different instrument sections separately - like the string section of ‚Blu’, for example. This way I could figure out how and where to play it on the guitar. For some pieces though, like 'Dream', there was no score available and I had to figure out the notes by ear.
In the end the whole process gave me so much joy and inspiration, not least because I felt that I have created a whole new repertoire for the classical guitar, one that is wonderful to listen to and a joy to play."
- Jonathan Bockelmann

  • Zen Sounds

    03.06.23

    Back in February, I reviewed German classical guitarist Jonathan Bockelmann’s debut album “Childish Mind”, released on Munich-based experimental jazz imprint Squama. Label co-founder Martin Brugger had discovered Bockelmann through his innovative guitar transcriptions of Ryuichi Sakamoto pieces but had encouraged him to write his own songs for his first album.

    After the passing of the Japanese ambient and contemporary classical master, they’ve now decided to record four of these transcriptions and release them as a stand-alone EP, “Sakamoto on Guitar”. The first tune “Opus” – originally included on Sakamoto’s mid-career solo piano album “BTTB (Back to the Basics)” (1999) – has been released with the pre-order.

    I’ve been listening to it on headphones today, sitting in my garden and watching my dog play. It’s so gentle, peaceful and slightly melancholic – the very definition of the Japanese concept of mono no aware.

    Read Review

  • Jonathan Bockelmann


    The Munich-born musician has studied classical guitar for about two decades, perfecting his technique and gaining mastery of the instrument alongside work with his electronic duo GLASKIN. With GLASKIN, which features Jonathan and his brother Ferdi, he has explored his compositional vision, weaving genres like IDM, Ambient, jungle, and techno together.

    • Sakamoto on Guitar

      180g vinyl, first pressing comes with an embossed art print
      *Pre-order item. Ships around November 2024*

      € 27
      • Childish Mind

        180g vinyl

        • Stil:
        € 25