Kifu Mitsuhashi / Kiyoshi Yamaya - Shakuhachi Sato No Uta / The Ballad Of The Village [Nippon Columbia]

Originally released in 1976
Arranged by Kiyoshi Yamaya
Featuring Shakuhachi master Kifu Mitsuhashi

Kifu Mitsuhashi studied under Soufu Sasaki of the Kinko style of shakuhachi in 1968. He became a member of Pro Musica Nipponia and participated in many concerts both in Japan and abroad after completing the NHK Hougaku Training Program in 1972. Mitsuhashi studied under Chikugai Okamoto of the shakuhachi fukesyu meian souryuukai in 1974. He was awarded Best Soloist of the 1st Pan Music Festival in 1976.

Kiyoshi Yamaya is a Japanese jazz composer, band leader born in Tokyo on March 29, 1932. As a musician who commonly plays the alto or baritone saxophone, he has been a part of bands such as Tetsurou Takahama and Eskyer Cats and Hiromichi Yamamoto and Champagne Serenade.

Originally released in 1976, “Shakuhachi: Sato no uta” is a collaboration between these two artists. The album skillfully combines each musician's respective genres of expertise, resulting in an incredible fusion of jazz and traditional Japanese folk music.