PENTATONICA

2007 (CD)
Victor VICL-62359
  • 1
    Dolomiti Spring
  • 2
    Hibi no Awa
  • 3
    Hattorun
  • 4
    Tokyo Taboo
  • 5
    Atame
  • 6
    Pentatonica
  • 7
    Dolomiti Spring (solo)
  • 8
    Yoitokosassa
  • 9
    Hoho Jugatsu
  • 10
    Tèw Semagn Hagèré
  • 11
    Kiwa
  • 12
    Koega
  • 13
    Endeneh Belulegn
  • 14
    Sarasa
  • 15
    Hiru

Shimizu swan-dives into the magical, sensuous realm of the pentatonic scale, venturing through the wonderlands of the musical scale that forms the foundation of so many ancient songs of Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas. From the pirouetting rhythms of the modern-dance inspired “Dolomiti Spring,” to the shimmering, stoic beauty of “Hattorun,” or the gently teasing vocal track “Tèw Semagn Hagèré,” Shimizu and his all-saxophone band transcend every limitation of genre in this dynamic and profoundly original journey.

LINER NOTES
  • Mystery and savage sentence: to do together and Matsuyama Shinya Ethiopia pentatonic (5 scale), which is inspired by the music of music, the 7 scale music to be used in the usual Western-type pop music. I think it was about two years ago had heard such a idea from the beginning to Yasuaki Shimizu. No, rather than mix the two, it might was to be that do alternately. In any case, Shimizu that drew applause in the solo performance of Bach works by tenor sax in the 1990s, it is now, even just the fact that also challenge the pentatonic mode, at that time I thought when fully become topic . Omakeni This time, to say that quintet style plus four young sax player rather than a solo. But I, at the same time high expectations and had also embraced some of the fear. Mainly the pentatonic modes used in the popular music of non-Western bloc, such as Asia and Africa (of course also including Japan Enka), just because Yasuaki sax player Shimizu universal is played, surprise and laughter coming from the novelty something I wonder if the new one is born to non. Or, that the West (7 scale) and non-Western (5 scale), so to speak Arawaza to adjacent assertive two of the world that are in a relationship, such as water and oil, but certainly there is a thrilling, What I seek to Shimizu It is, and the more ahead’s a world which is in …, but there was a such a thought. But, listening to the sound of the new work that has really gone up, I growled. This is different from what you had expected while holding the fear. 5 scale and 7 to not were forcibly lined the scale, also, I there in the pentatonic mode fully open, it is not intended simply traced the Ethiopia music. The everywhere of suspicious melody of Kunekune undulating pentatonic mode music, to glimpse even contrapuntal gesture of Western music, which is symbolized by Bach, or there is also 12-tone technique specific Ann harmonic sound. Speaking more, and he feel the far-reaching Perspective was comprehensive to cool jazz and bossa nova. 7 Toka Toka scale 5 scale, or Toka Western and non-Western, such a thing is good, even if the other such as, a new harmony with the lush sound like want to say, even with the cosmic have been achieved. New representation technique of sax that grabbed at that Bach Works, acoustic magic, we now are steadily deepening. In fact, sound by the time listen to this complete panel, I will visit the rehearsal and recording, also live (September 06, Roppongi Super Deluxe), but also he is experiencing, which is also the impression obtained in them, here I different. By overlapping the rehearsal to “rehearsal, I think the balance of five of sound, has been aimed at sound hear in my head. Intonation when blows were performed with up to his vision. So far, while blowing in everyone because it went changed, even as talk since it is after a long time “so Shimizu own Mariah, to until it reaches the Genmyo world in this extremely delicate, seems to have needed a considerable amount of discipline. Competence of the new four members of Saxophonettes will also should be praised. Compared Bach work to members that had been played in concert in the 1990s, in this time of new members, technique Besides the, should more flexible sense was required. They are graduates of all the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, in other words but those who have gained training in the academic field in crisp, the three of four Chang Chiqui Torne Ed, that the two people is also a member of the low-pass in Tokyo As can be seen from the non-western music, and have a flat stance against popular music. “Now four saxophone players are doing together, is it since Mariah’s to us to try to find really serious that you want to do me. Rehearsal was so fun following Machidoshika~tsu. This time I want to do a lot of live for the first time in a long time “and show a willingness Shimizu. The Recall if, Shimizu pentatonic music, was to reveal the extraordinary interest in non-Western music, it is not a recent thing. To was also already in the early 80s Mariah and “Scarecrow” other solo show is kind of trend, “Ryouta” also Saburo Kitajima of which were puzzled Enka fans and playing hip arrangements, was in ’83. According to Shimizu, in such a background, that childhood music experience has been deeply affected. Enthusiastic amateur had his father also a musician, it is that she made a band, had been or composer you can play various musical instruments. By being brought to such a father, and out of the dance hall or cabaret from an early Shimizu also young, I was playing in mixed adult. When the early ’60s. Classical, jazz to Latin, and folk songs to pop songs, this what dense experience in Japan unique anarchic space of time in which various music of East and West became Champon is, there is the foundation of his expression. In that sense, this new work is his work very meaningful in the carrier, also, there is also one did not make is not he a. Once was just a received aim, you can as it is kick ass and copy the Echi~iopia music, or, perhaps was easy to see that those who put alternately Ethiopia music and Bach. But he did not. I mean, I could not him. Because, he DJ (editor / Li presenter) instead, because it is thoroughly musician. This new acoustic space that mystery and barbarism are integrated is the future, what kind of echo the go whether to expand, do not know anyone in the world.

FEEDBACK
  • “The play of thrilling saxophone who is have a calm.
    Note though is like slide into floating space,
    Like melody is like slide into drifting the time,
    Truly magical achievement of music and playing, there is here. “
    (HEADZ Atsushi Sasaki)

    “What of Ethiopian traditional music Japan folk songs like. Yasuaki Shimizu has been allowed to astound us by arrangement for saxophone ensemble Ethiopia of melody from a few years ago, now are jumping on the first.” Pentatonika If you listen to “, the African continent northeast and the Japanese archipelago fancy of the country in which Northeast has got connected by kinking of the space, it’s as if he wandered into Ethiopia-Nipponia. capital Ebisu Ababa, the original King Haida Selassie, Marathon coach Hyoe Abe (Abebee). Title song “Pentatonika” the camel pulling of Mago song, “Tokyo taboo” of the Oriental, temperature, and dancers of night club favorite, “good Toko Sassa” is michiya mihashi song has of, it was garbled nonsense curse song “Te~yu-Seman, Hagere” is actually Coptic of Goeika. In this moment move, desert becomes a forest, the humidity of the sound went up. Reverberation with such damp, Iine. Saxophonettes be made to let out a fist, and a double circle. Yare, it, Hondara-ra. “
    (Music critic Hosokawa Shuhei)

    The sound of the saxophone are floating in “spacey space.
    The clear and profound feeling …
    Music Yasuaki Shimizu has created a Saxophonettes, how not belong to the genre, nor those of the kind physician can be explained by the well words.
    But, no doubt that this is what it is with the irreplaceable charm.
    In this new work I had been Ika brought far deeper and far more than before. “
    (Producer Naoki Tachikawa)

    “In soft, warm, the Forgotten time to nostalgic sound often.”
    (Music critic North and Central Masakazu)

    “Pentatonic scale, 6/8 time signature, in black magic atmosphere in Ethiopia music was captivated the music dilettante and musicians around the world. I want to call” dark Kawachi Ondo “and even the strange music, the Bach theme in recent years Yasuaki Shimizu, which has been making the sax work that you have reacted. Shinsei Saxophonettes that depict in Europe – East Africa – Japan’s No Man’s Land to bring a pair position of the pentatonic scale by five sax! “
    (Yorozu Exotic scenery writer Salam Maritime)

Produced by Yasuaki Shimizu, Lisa Schiavon
Composed by Yasuaki Shimizu, Ethiopian traditional (10, 13)

 

Yasuaki Shimizu: tenor saxophone on all tracks, solo (7, 11, 14), vocals (10)
Ryoko Egawa, Hirokazu Hayashida: tenor, soprano (5) saxophone
Hiroshi Suzuki, Ryota Higashi: baritone saxophone

 

Recorded by Shinji Kano at Core Syakkyo (Tokyo), BankART Studio NYK (Yokohama)
Mixed by Yasuaki Shimizu at Submarine, Shinji Kano at Pathway (Tokyo)