Jazzen - The International Shakuhachi Society

Jazzen

John Kaizan Neptune
Nippon Columbia (Denon) - 33CY-1570
1987

Track	Title	Kanji	Length	Artist
1	Five Directions	五方	07'15	Shakuhachi: John Kaizan Neptune
	I can think of at least five reasons for my choosing this title: there are five holes on the shakuhachi; the first sounds heard are a five-beat cycle; two five-tone Japanese scales are used; and this piece was written and arranged for ("directions" given to) five musicians. But that's only four. The fifth may be my continuing use of influences coming from different directions-Japanese, Indonesian, Latin, jazz, etc. North, South, East, West...maybe the combinations makes it "Five Directions."
2	Water's Edge	水辺にて	07'47	Shakuhachi: John Kaizan Neptune
	On a stroll along a "water's edge" one can encounter many colors. This comprises the first two of a three-part tune I wrote for modern dancer Keiko Fujii. (The third part, "Footnotes," is heard later in this album.) When I wrote it, I started with two ideas: "something free" and "something in three."
3	On a Raft	いかだに乗って	05'47	Shakuhachi: John Kaizan Neptune
	Built on a cycle of seven (4+3), this tune has a kind of lazy, laid-back flow-even though the tempo is quite fast. I like working with asymmetrical meters.
4	Bamboo Born	竹生	05'06	Shakuhachi: John Kaizan Neptune
	This is the literal translation of the Japanese title, Takeo (which happens to be my infant son's middle name.) I guess you could say I wanted to write a ballad for a baby who always seems to have a mellow smile for everyone.
5	Can You Feel The Beat	キャン・ユー・フィール・ザ・ビート	05'18	Shakuhachi: John Kaizan Neptune
	When people ask where I get ideas for my music, I immediately reply, "from anywhere, everywhere, and no place." This tune is based on a simple melodic figure I heard coming from one of my daughter Kai's toys. The opening melodic shakuhachi phrase, "can you feel the beat?" is answered by the marimba, "I can feel the beat!"
6	Essence	心髄	08'12	Shakuhachi: John Kaizan Neptune
	The 2.4 (bass) shakuhachi is used here. The tune features certain essential elements of Japanese music, such as the free "breath rhythm" found in the introduction, and the traditional five-tone scale called insempo.
7	Skip It	スキップ・イット	04'56	Shakuhachi: John Kaizan Neptune
	This tune was first recorded for Japan's quasi-government NHK Radio for use as the theme for their daily English Conversation Hour. The title wasn't intended to suggest that students skip their English studies. Instead, it comes from the "bounce" rhythm that is not "swing: and not "straight"-it sort of skips!
8	Todi	トーディ	07'07	Shakuhachi: John Kaizan Neptune
	The title is the name of an interesting Indian raga. Starting with the tonic on O', the scale used is O' O E G A' A C. The harmonic treatment is Western, but the unique flavor of the scale still comes through. "Todi" also happens to be the name of a potent alcoholic brew found in some parts of Asia, made from coconuts.
9	Footnotes	フットノーツ	05'27	Shakuhachi: John Kaizan Neptune
	I used "Quite a Feet" as the working title for this tune, since it was the third part of the piece written for modern dancer Keiko Fujii. (Please see notes on "Water's Edge," above.)
10	Zen Forest	禅林	09'11	Shakuhachi: John Kaizan Neptune
	This work is based in part on one of the most famous traditional pieces for shakuhachi, a duet called "Shika no Tone" ("The Distant Cry of the Deer"). I'm grateful to Nippon Columbia recording director Tats Konno for suggesting I include this very traditional Japanese-flavored piece in this recording. Much is often said about the shakuhachi in connection with Zen. I prefer to say simply "Have a listen," and then play a piece like this.