Miles and Miles

Senri Kawaguchi
Duration: 03:55
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It takes some effort for Westerners to find jazz gold nuggets from Asia, but they most certainly exist, due to the intense musician development infrastructure and audience interest. Japan has hosted a robust jazz scene since the 1920s; jazz “kissa” are high-end vinyl listening clubs there. South Korea is a more recent hub, taking root in the 1980s on stage and in university programs. Meanwhile, Indonesia nurtures its talent, fostering known performers like pianist Joey Alexander. This week, we enjoy an energized jazz fusion piece from South Korean guitarist “Jane” (Jae-in) and Japanese drummer Senri Kawaguchi. Jane (a man) blends gritty and funky sounds as house guitarist for Saturday Night Live Korea and indie-pop band Peppertones. Kawaguchi (a woman) has been nicknamed “Tekazuhime” ("Princess of Many Strokes") in Japan due to her incredible speed and technical skill.

Posted by Scott Lichtman.