Miyumi Project

This is a particularly intriguing project, blending together the West with the East, jazz with Asian music. Three woodwind players and violinist Jonathan Chen are joined by up to five percussionists who mostly play taiko drums. Bassist Tatsu Aoki, whose musical role is in the middle, was responsible for putting together Miyumi Project and he must have been very happy with the results. There are long sections (particularly on "Episode One" and the closing "Gate") where the stately rhythms are dominant, unhurriedly creating a hypnotic musical message before the reeds join in. Harmonically much of the music is fairly simple, but the improvising of the three horns together, the gradual unfolding of the music, and those distinguished and traditional Eastern rhythms make this a haunting and memorable effort. Highly recommended.