MUSIC REVIEW BY Marilyn Lester, The New York City Jazz Record
What an intriguing idea! Like Western mythology, Japanese art and literature are full of spirits, phantoms and divine entities (good and bad) occupying at least a thousand years of history. According to Japanese animism, spirit-like entities, called yokai, reside in all things, including natural phenomena and inanimate objects. In Yokai: Songs of the Japanese Supernatural, bassist Fumi Tomita draws on this folklore to create the musical equivalent of anime worlds such as those created by Studio Ghibli; think Howl's Moving Castle or Night in the Valley of the Witches.
Each of the album's nine original compositions describes a specific entity, yet the compositions have an overall lyrical cohesion, and although quite pleasing are also strangely haunting. There is a wonderful, mystical synchronicity among the players joining Tomita: Carl Clements (saxophones, flute), Jason Ennis (guitar) and Gary Fieldman (drums). The most evocative tracks are "Kitsune (The Fox)" and "Wakana Hime (Princess Wakana)". The former conjures an image of a wily fox stalking a chicken coop (and ultimately succeeding), while the swaying rhythmic flow of the latter, with its harp-like guitar licks and delicate flute, invokes an ethereal princess gliding through the halls of a castle. Clements' flute also beautifully suggests the oceanic currents of "Amabiko (Sea Lad)". Elegant drumming underscores the moods of "Daija (Monster Snake)" and "Kiyomori", a vengeful spirit. But if there's an expectation of chaos with "Hyakki Yagyo (A Night Parade of One Hundred Demons)", this charming piece counters any such idea.
In 2023 Tomita was dealing with grief and a spiritual crisis after his father's death; he began exploring a book of Japanese woodblock prints his wife had given him, which depicted many of the yokai. Indeed, the resulting compositions make the most sense as a panacea for grief; they are beautiful and spiritual, invoking the supernatural in the form of angels and good fairies rather than demons. No matter the impetus, the result is an album that's ultimately uplifting.
Yokai: Songs of the Japanese Supernatural isn't Hollywood scary or Japanese frightening (take a look at some of those woodblock creatures), but it is folklorically attuned and a delight to be enjoyed.
Each of the album's nine original compositions describes a specific entity, yet the compositions have an overall lyrical cohesion, and although quite pleasing are also strangely haunting. There is a wonderful, mystical synchronicity among the players joining Tomita: Carl Clements (saxophones, flute), Jason Ennis (guitar) and Gary Fieldman (drums). The most evocative tracks are "Kitsune (The Fox)" and "Wakana Hime (Princess Wakana)". The former conjures an image of a wily fox stalking a chicken coop (and ultimately succeeding), while the swaying rhythmic flow of the latter, with its harp-like guitar licks and delicate flute, invokes an ethereal princess gliding through the halls of a castle. Clements' flute also beautifully suggests the oceanic currents of "Amabiko (Sea Lad)". Elegant drumming underscores the moods of "Daija (Monster Snake)" and "Kiyomori", a vengeful spirit. But if there's an expectation of chaos with "Hyakki Yagyo (A Night Parade of One Hundred Demons)", this charming piece counters any such idea.
In 2023 Tomita was dealing with grief and a spiritual crisis after his father's death; he began exploring a book of Japanese woodblock prints his wife had given him, which depicted many of the yokai. Indeed, the resulting compositions make the most sense as a panacea for grief; they are beautiful and spiritual, invoking the supernatural in the form of angels and good fairies rather than demons. No matter the impetus, the result is an album that's ultimately uplifting.
Yokai: Songs of the Japanese Supernatural isn't Hollywood scary or Japanese frightening (take a look at some of those woodblock creatures), but it is folklorically attuned and a delight to be enjoyed.
Soundclips
Other Reviews of
"Yokai: Songs of the Japanese Supernatural":
Paris Move by Thierry De Clemensat