Search - Yammamoto & Mitterer :: Masters of Zen

Haunting & beautiful

Phasedin | New Jersey | 04/12/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although listed as being a CD of Shakuhachi (flute) and Organ (an unusal combination for this type of music which is what prompted me to purchase it), their are other musicians and instruments on here as well. Some nice, subdued hand percussion at times, some voice, and also some bass Koto (a stringed instrument) which is used here sometimes to replace the organ. I was a bit disappointed with the fact that the organ does not appear on all the tracks, since this is what prompted me to purchase it in the first place, but, one can't argue with the music that IS on here, or the recording quality (which is a bit heavy on the echo but all the more give you a feeling of listening in a large temple instead of a recording studio).
It only runs 42 minutes, quite short for a contemporary CD of recently recorded music ('93 thru '97). This is the only reason i didn't give it 5 stars. Certainly worth the money and just different enough (and well recorded unlike some other CD's of "ethnic" music sometimes are)to warrant a place in your collection regardless of if you have other, similar recordings or are just curious about beautiful Japanese cultural music."