Dear Shakuhachi List Members,
I'd like to recommend two recent CDs by Riley Lee, both of which
feature himself on shakuhachi as well as a second musician. It must
be mentioned at the outset that neither of these albums consists of
strictly traditional Japanese shakuhachi music (honkyoko, minyo,
sankyoku, or the like), but both are remarkable examples of what can
be done with other musics by a shakuhachi master.
The first CD is "Floating World: A Sea of Dreams" and features Riley
and concert harpist Marshall McGuire, with a songlist of classic
Impressionist pieces by Faur=E9 (Pavane, Pie Jesu), Ravel (two
Pavanes), Debussy, Satie (Three Gymnopedies, 4th Gnossienne), pieces
by two modern Japanese composers, Kozu Yoshiyuki (Sacramental
Lullaby) and Rando Fukuda (Tsukigusa no Yume, Miyama Higurashi), and
one piece by contemporary composer Anne Boyd (A Feather on the Breath
of God).
The music is beautifully executed, and I am particularly struck by
the way the shakuhachi parts on the Impressionist pieces are played
with an absence of the usual ornamentation associated with the
shakuhachi, and with a sensitivity to the spirit of the
Impressionists. Highly recommended listening. The Rando piece Miyama
Higurashi, always a favorite of mine as played by Yokoyama Katsuya,
is alone worth the price to obtain it. I have long been a fan of
Impressionist music, and Riley and Marshall bring to it just the
right touch.
The second album, "Haiku," is the third in a series of collaborations
with slack-key guitarist Jeff Peterson (the two previous offerings
are "Maui Morning" and "Bamboo Slack Key"), and it is the most
musically complex of the three, featuring multiple guitar tracking
from Jeff and up to three-part harmonies by Riley. Most of the music
is original and distinctly Hawaiian in flavor, with a few classic
Hawaiian pieces as well. Truly lovely harmonies, with a wider variety
of guitar voices employed than on the earlier two albums. Beautiful
music, played by two splendid musicians. Already a best seller in
Hawaii.
Both CDs are available on Riley's website(http://www.rileylee.net).
Also, Monty Levenson can always get them if he gets enquires
(http://www.shakuhachi.com). "Haiku" can be purchased directly from
Hula Records http://www.hawaii-calls.com. "Floating World" is going
to be released by ABC Classics (Australian. Broadcasting Corp) this
year, but until then, it's available in a self-released version
directly from Riley.
Cheers,
eB
--"Whenever you find you are on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." --Mark Twain =3D<+>=3D<+>=3D<+>=3D<+>=3D<+>=3D<+>=3D<+>=3D Ed Beaty Boulder, CO edosan@boulder.net =3D<+>=3D<+>=3D<+>=3D<+>=3D<+>=3D<+>=3D<+>=3D
****-_-_-_ ^..^ > /\ /\ "Buzz"
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