Makoto Shinkai English Fan Forum and Site

Fripod · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:31 am Post subject: Jazz Impressions of Japan

Hey everyone,

I have recently been listening to the Dave Brubeck Quartet's album Jazz Impressions of Japan. I highly recommend this album for anyone who is a fan of Jazz, Japan, or music in general.

This album was recorded right after the Quartet's tour of Japan, and as the title suggests, is an interpretation of Japan, it's music and culture through the lens of a Jazz Quartet, using Western instruments. The interesting thing though, is that the music presented here, without trying to sound overtly Japanese or oriental, manages to create a subtle evocation of its subject matter with such sensitivity and vitality, that I compelled to share it here.

In the course of listening to this album I came across this stunningly beautiful and poignant piece of music, graced by the inimitable Paul Desmond on alto saxophone, called Fujiyama (Mt. Fuji).

This piece, I believe, matches Shinkai's works so perfectly (perhaps even as well as the great Tenmon), that I decided here to make a collage for you to enjoy and to enhance in general the powerful effect of the music.

So without further ado, please enjoy this compilation of Shinkai's Sunsets (posted in the thread), and the serenity of the Dave Brubeck Quartet's Fujiyama (please open this in a new tab, I know it's a video, but my intention is for the music to match the images here)

If you'd like to explore it further, you can find samples of the selections on Amazon or I have found a torrent for the album on Isohunt (for those of you not quite ready to take the plunge and buy it)

Anyways, If anyones interested, I can give you a more detailed summary later. But for now, I hope you've enjoyed what little I have to contribute to this forum. (BTW if anyone got lost amidst the rambling, this is sort of related to Shinkai, in an artistic sense at least)

Laz · Laz Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 1073

Awesome Fripod .... thanks for the links and the music Smile

Laz

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ここにいるよ. - Voices of a Distant Star