In 1991, saxophonist Yasuaki Shimizu, singer and keyboard player Minako Yoshida teamed up with Jamaican rhythm section Sly & Robbie and guitarist Michael Rose. After 17 years this extraordinary session finally sees the light of day.
Amazing recording of Bach's music, performed on solo saxophone. Has been picked up by that doyen of good taste Charlie Gillett and played on his BBC World Service programme.
Price: £18.99
Saxophone player's interpretation of Bach, recorded down a Japanese mine and at North Italian villas.
Yasuaki Shimizu is known for his saxophone versions of Bach's Cello Suites. This mini-album (6 tracks, 20 minutes) features saxophone versions of Courante and Prelude from Cello Suites No. 1, electronic non-reverberated sine-wave renditions of the Goldberg Variations and Art of Fugue, Menuet 2 from English Suites No. 4 with a spoken word accompaniment to the electronic sounds and a soprano vocal version of Sarabande, Cello Suites no. 2. Without the immediacy of the two Bach Cello Suites saxophone volumes, but offering another intriguing side of this talented musician. Price: £14.99
A saxophone and orchestra masterpiece re-released from 1993, with new remixes by The Orb. Mostly original compostions, Time and Again is orchestrated with sumptuous string arrangements and sparkling tenor saxophone, offering delicately cool music that highlights subtle details. The two remixes by The Orb were originally released in the UK and the USA. The enhanced CDalso includes Hiroyuki Nakano's video 'Moths and Cortisone' a variation on the 2004 edition's overall theme, 'return to reality'.
The new allbum by Yasuaki Shimizu, Seventh Garden is a condensed version of a sound installation that he produced for the six theme gardens at Pacific Flora 2004 Dream Garden Factory in Hamanako. A polyphonic ambient album uses samples and electronics, for the sounds of insects, birds, bamboo, trees, wind, rain, wave, thunder, plus gamelan and pipe organ. Includes 'Zasso' whereby some 60 names of weeds are sung and recorded one by one, and ventures into rhythmic sine wave-based electronica, a soprano rendition of Zasso in Italian, and his trademark sonic collage. Price: £18.99
Originally released in 1982, Shimizu's solo album released when he was still a member of Mariah. Guests include Ryuichi Sakamoto, singer Minako Yoshida and guitarist Katsumi Watanabe. on an album of progressive jazz on sax, harmonica, keyboards, ocarina and an unusual array of instruments.
Originally released in 1983, jazz meets new age, a blend more succesfull than expected in the hands of Shimizu. Price: £18.99
YMO style renditions of standard jazz numbers from the1930s and 40s featuring Ryuichi Sakamoto, recorded in
1983. Fascinating.
One of our best selling CDs is the Bach cello suites played on saxophone by Yasuaki Shimizu. Between 1979 and 83, Shimizu belonged to this group playing tenor sax with other top class musicians and an American singer in a kind of progressive rock and jazz mix which could probably be more appreciated now than back then. Reissue of 1983 album. Price: £18.99
Originally released in 1981, recorded in Tokyo and LA, progressive jazz and rock featuring sax player Yasuaki Shimizu and even Steve Lucas, singer with Toto. Well, it was 1981 so perhaps they are forgiven.
Recorded live in 1982, a jazz album with inclduing 'Night in Tunisia', 'All The Things You Are', and featuring Yasuaki Shimizu. Comes with progressive rock tendancies. Price: £18.99
