Minoru Muraoka Bamboo Uniquely combines traditional Japanese instrumentation with Western jazz influences. Muraoka plays ‘shakuhachi’ – a traditional bamboo Japanese flute – joined by his band members accompanying him on the ‘koto’ (strings) and ‘tsutsumi’ (drum) amongst others, to create their ‘Shakuhachi Jazz’ sound.

• Gatefold Cover
• Pressed at Optimal Media in Germany

Japanese jazz/breakbeat, folkloric mega-rarity as hallowed the likes of DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, Egon and co. Uniquely combines traditional Japanese instrumentation with Western jazz influences.

Minoru Muraoka plays ‘shakuhachi’ – a traditional bamboo Japanese flute – joined by his band members accompanying him on the ‘koto’ (strings) and ‘tsutsumi’ (drum) amongst others, to create their ‘Shakuhachi Jazz’ sound.

"The search for break beats has led crate diggers and DJs to far-flung places. DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist One have found some of their most unlikely timbres in the work of Minoru Muraoka, whose axe is the Japanese bamboo flute known as the shakuhachi. This traditional instrument has led to a surprisingly wide-ranging discography, which varies from folk to pop to what one devotee calls shakuhachi jazz—sometimes all on one album. Mr. Bongo has reissued the 1970 album Bamboo, which showcases the variety in Muraoka’s work and offers one undeniable revelation.

Bamboo opens with a version of “Take Five” rearranged for mostly Japanese instruments. Muraoka takes the Paul Desmond line on shakuhachi, while koto player Kimiko Yamanouchi comps like Brubeck. The track hews to the original’s structure until two percussionists, Hiromitsu Katada and Kisaku Katada, step out of 5/4 time for a thrilling break. The take is typical of the album’s strengths and frustrations, shifting between convention and experimentation." - Pat Padua, Spectrum Culture

Musicians:

Arranged By - Kozaburo Yamaki
Bass - Jun Suzuki
Biwa - Masako Hirayama
Koto - Kimiko Yamanouchi
Percussion - Hiromitsu Katada
Percussion - Kisaku Katada
Shakuhachi - Minoru Muraoka

Track Listing:

A1 Take Five
A2 Mogamigawa Funauta
A3 The Positive & The Negative
A4 And I Love Her

B1 The House Of The Rising Sun
B2 Do You Know The Way To San Jose
B3 Soul Bamboo
B4 Call Me
B5 Scarborouge Fair

Click here to listen to samples on YouTube.com ♫