The Elephant Vanishes: Jazz Interpretations of the Short Stories of Haruki Murakami

Jazz bassist Fumi Tomita has reimagined the literary works of Japanese writer Haruki Murakami into a new album. The Elephant Vanishes: Jazz Interpretations of the Short Stories of Haruki Murakami takes seven of the author's short stories that draw on themes of despair, loneliness, disconnection, and self-discovery and transforms them into music for a jazz combo.

"Equally prominent are the Western pop culture references and magical elements that decorate each story," a press release states. "Along with saxophonist Jason Rigby, guitarist Mike Baggetta, pianist Art Hirahara and drummer Mark Micklethwaite, Tomita reimagines Murakami's literary themes, transforming them into rich musical landscapes."