Maki Ishii / Joji Yuasa / Shuko Mizuno
So-Gu I / Projection Esemplastic / Provisional Color for Piano
Denon (Japan) 1980
OW-7854 (LP)
sleeve : VG+(RW, dirts)
media : EX/EX(some slightly noise)
Released as the 15th installment in Denon’s 1980 series Contemporary Music of Japan 1500, this album features Maki Ishii’s “Encounter I – Piano Piece ’70 + Music for Shakuhachi,” Joji Yuasa’s “Projection Esemplastic,” and Nobutaka Mizuno’s “Apparition for Piano.” Takahiro Sonoda performs piano on all pieces, with Katsuya Yokoyama joining on shakuhachi for A1. Ishii’s A1 is a highly intriguing work built around the idea of bringing together two separate scores — one for piano and one for shakuhachi — creating a striking interplay of stillness and motion through long, spacious pauses. The standout is B1 by Nobutaka Mizuno, where the sense of space, the movement of sound, and its resonance are superb, with hints of jazz and minimalism also coming through.
A1: Maki Ishii “So-Gu I”
B2: Shuko Mizuno “Provisional Color for Piano”