Originally released in 1968, limited edition CD of shakuhachi maestros Hozan Yamamoto and Katsuya Yokoyama together with koto player Tadao Sawai and band leader Toshiyuki Miyama and New Herd playing bossa nova classics. Incredible stuff. 10 tracks. 1. Adieu Tristesse 2. The Look of Love 3. Sunny 4. Il Bacio 5. Mas Que Nada 6. Constant Rain 7. Vivre Pour Vivre 8. Un Homme et Un Femme 9. Agua de Beber 10. The Girl from Ipanema.

Kobudo are shakuhachi player Dozan Fujiwara, pianist Takeshi Senno and cellist Nobuo Furukawa. Together they play classically inspired mellow music, with some world elements.

Price:   £18.99

Project by American shakuhachi player John Neptune with instruments made entirely of bamboo.

Akihito Obama is one of the best young shakuhachi players in Japan. He has played with the excellent Takio Band and performed in many countries around the world. On this album he plays duets with six other top musicians on a variety of instruments. Akira Horikoshi (percussion), Yukihiro Goto (Satsuma biwa), Hiroshi Yoshino (wood bass), Taro Matsumoto (shakuhachi), Yuriko Mukoujima (viola) and Etsuko Takezawa (17 stringed koto). It all hangs together well, with a lot of variety and some great musicianship.


Price:   £17.99

Kazu Matsui is a shauhachi (bamboo flute) player and producer based in the US. He is known primarily for his contribution to various soundtracks and as a producer for his wife, successful pianist Keiko Matsui. On this album he is joined by his wife and guitar player and programmer Hajime Hyakkoku, on an album that mixes shakuhachi with elements of jazz and rock.

Dozan Fujiwara is a young shakuhachi player who studied under the great Hozan Yamamoto. Emiko Miyazaki is a female koto player, known for her contemporary performance and compositions. This CD contains some of Miyazaki's original tunes, Japanese folk tunes, tango and others styles on a varied CD.


Price:   £18.99

Shakuhachi (bamboo flute) player Kinohachi is a student of the pioneering Kifu Mitsuhashi, active back in the 60s. Kinohachi is attempting to do roughly the same as his master on his first album, that is bring something new and fresh to the instrument. His imagination however doesn't stretch much beyond adding synthesizers, programmed beats and attempting to look cool on the cover. Music seemingly made to have on in the background, which is fine if that's what you want.

Kinohachi's second album is an improvement on his debut. The backing has a slightly harder, more interesting edge to it, and his playing has more expression.


Price:   £18.99