Monday Michiru - ENSO (2022) [Hi-Res]

Japanese-American songstress/flutist/producer Monday Michiru entitled the album ENSO to have two meanings: 円相 = a calligraphy illustration of a circle depicting the Zen Buddhist concept of an expression of the moment as well as the cycle of life. The other meaning 演奏 = means performance. “I wanted to revisit my roots which started in classical music and give a nod to the sonic journey that led me to where I am today, to come full circle.” A friendship forged with Grammy-award winning producer/arranger Gil Goldstein since her return from Japan to New York in 2000 led to the collaboration with Goldstein taking the helm on three tracks, including an original penned by Goldstein himself set to lyrics attributed to an Otto Luening work. “We’d originally talked with a major label in Japan about making an orchestrated album all to be produced and arranged by Gil, but then the pandemic happened. Eventually I was able to get a small business loan and decided to go ahead with the project myself but on a smaller scale and with a different angle.” Additional collaborations include orchestrator and big band leader Miho Hazama who lends her lush arrangement skills on two tracks, Brazilian cult artist Lucas Arruda who wrote an original song that Monday set lyrics to which he produced as well as played all the instruments on, Koto artist Asuka who has often been a special guest on Monday’s stage from Tokyo to New York to London, Philadelphia spoken word artist Ursula Rucker, and Monday’s stepfather, the legendary jazz saxophonist/flutist Lew Tabackin, who takes a solo over Monday’s arrangement of the Japanese folk song Ringo Oiwake. “The first time I worked with Asuka, she had suggested this song, and as soon as I heard it, I knew I wanted to take a spiritual jazz approach to it. I really wanted Lew to give it a special vibe with his flute soloing and am psyched to get him on the recording.” Other musicians include David Kikoski, Misha Tsiganov, Fima Ephron, Gene Lake, Keita Ogawa, Cole Davis, Freddie Bryant, Sean Harkness, and many more. True to her love of creating hybrids and breaking conventional genres, perhaps the result of her bi-cultural mix as the daughter of Japan’s National Living Treasure and Jazz Master Toshiko Akiyoshi as well as jazz saxophonist Charlie Mariano and Tabackin who helped raised her, the album flirts with jazz, soul, Brazilian, rock and other styles, but somehow comes together naturally. “This truly is a passion project from the deepest parts of my musical heart. The truth is it’s getting harder and harder to record and continue on my musical path, not to mention the sense of mortality everyone felt during the throes of the pandemic, and I felt this album had to be something I could put my all into. It’s also a musical love letter to my parents, who have been my biggest source of inspiration and encouraged me since my childhood, and to my son who I see blossoming every day as a young musician.”

“At a time when music is in a state of flux mostly as a result of the virtual collision of idioms and metaphors, it is a joy to hear the voice of Monday Michiru.” (Latin Jazz Network)

“...she’s got that certain crossover appeal that is fluent in urban R&B, contemporary jazz, rock and infectious Brazilian rhythms, resulting in music that’s not easily categorized, yet is thoroughly engaging.” (All About Jazz)

Monday Michiru, flute, alto flute
Gil Goldstein, piano, accordion
Freddie Bryant, guitar
Sean Harkness, guitar
Misha Tsiganov, Fender Rhodes
David Kikoski, Fender Rhodes
Cole Davis, bass
Fima Ephron, bass
Gene Lake, drums
Keita Ogawa, percussions, drums