First release
My first release for Satomi and the sound is now live on all streaming platforms!
恋待ち人 Koimachibito
Originally released in 1992 by Kaori Kouzai (香西 かおり)
Music: Komei Sone (曽根幸明)
Lyrics: Reiji Mizuki (水木れいじ)
This is Japanese enka (演歌), a style I became acquainted with as a teenager. On Oahu, there was an annual song festival (歌祭り）that I played in as a flutist for several years as a teenager. I started doing it because I had some friends participating, but ended up loving the whole thing- the celebration of Japanese language and culture, the costumes, singing, and dancing.
I still remember clearly how enthusiastic the audience was. The auditorium was packed- much fuller than any other concert I had played. In the first few rows of seats, I could see older Japanese men and women clapping along, with a fond expression of nostalgia (懐かしさ）on their faces.
Perhaps Satomi and the sound is my recreation of this experience, now in a different time and place.
荒城の月 Koujou no tsuki
Originally released in 1996 by Minoru Muraoka (村岡実)
Music: Rentarou Taki (滝 廉太郎), 1901
Minoru Muraoka was a trailblazing artist, bringing the sound of the shakuhachi to jazz and other popular styles of music.
When I heard his take on this traditional tune, I knew it was right up my alley- groovy rhythms, flute feature, and a modern take on a classic.
Satomi and the sound 