Search - Masakaza Yoshizawa :: Kyori (Innervisions)

In Kyori: Innervisions, Japan's ancient musical traditions are shaded with Western tones and influences. The result is a resonant, rhythmical and mysterious confluence of cultures.The man whose innervisions come to life on this recording is Masakazu Yoshizawa. His desire was to blend the best of his own Japanese cultural roots with the best of the Eastern-style musical conventions in which he was educated. He succeeds beautifully, combining traditional themes and instruments in an arrestingly modern style. Yoshizawa who is a composer as well as a performer, plays the shakuhachi (bamboo flute). Two of the pieces are his intriguing solo compositions, one titled Conceptualism (Johakyu) and the other Mainstreams to Oneness (Kawai). Two other titles are fascinating ensemble pieces, Immortality (Fuma) and Divine Silhouettes (Yogo). For these, Yoshizawa brought in Osamu Kitajima to play acoustic guitar, koto and biwa, and Geoffrey Hales to play percussion. Once again, Yoshizawa aims to blend Japanese sensibility with Western idioms.With Kyori: Innervisions, Masakazu Yoshizawa creates fresh and innovative music using traditional Japanese instruments. The result is a dramatic atmosphere of movement and mystery, shadow and light.