Tajima Tadashi

An innovative collaboration featuring the music of Debbie Danbrook on Shakuhachi, voice, piano, koto, flutes & percussion - Celina Carroll on berimbau, voice, percussion, kalimba & guitar and Anne Bourne on Cello, voice, piano, viola, guitar and percussion.

In the past, Honkyoku were only played and recorded by men. Ms. Danbrook's fresh approach, incorporating both voice and cello into formally solo pieces lends a unique quality to this ancient music.

The first chakra is Red and is the ROOT. This chakra deals with life energy and grounds our spirit in the material world. This recording starts with the shakuhachi itself. What is it? You can see it. Its a cutting from a tree; the bamboo. You can feel it - the connection; it stands tall, energy grounded and sways with the wind. The root sound; a solo shakuhachi drawing up energy from the earth.

The second chakra is Orange and is found at the SACRAL. It deals with how we create in the world; with pleasure, well-being, sexuality and abundance. This recording focuses on improvisation; letting yourself explore; testing the range of your own creativity. The pulse of the chant; the rhythm - heals, grounds. You've got a base - go ahead - let go.

The third chakra is Yellow and is in the SOLAR PLEXUS. It deals with intellect, intuition and lessons to be learned in life. It is ego, self-esteem, confidence, decision making and personal power. This recording shows us how you're probably (if you're a westerner) seeing the world through an invisible yellow filter, and no, it's not smog. In learning, judging - remember the filter.

The fourth chakra is Green and is at our heart. It deals with heart and emotion. It is love, joy, relationship and peace. This recording shows us how the more you open, the clearer your sight becomes. You see yourself, you see the other, you see the other in yourself, (etc.) The sounds echo, harmonize, fleeing each other, only to meet up again. Two shakuhachis in relationship.

The fifth chakra is Blue and is at our throat. This chakra deals with voice, speaking our truth; integrity, will-power and how we move ourselves forward in the world. This recording deals with voice and flute as one. Your voice states your presence in the world. It is your sound - let it be authentic.

The sixth chakra is Purple and is at our brow; it is often referred to as the third eye. It deals with compassion and intuition; wisdom, discernment and imagination. This recording deals with harmonics; ethereal, whispy, are sometimes called ghost tones - something you can feel as well as hear. The third eye is listening.

The seventh chakra is White and is at our crown. This chakra deals with our connection to the spiritual realm and connects us with beauty and universal energy. This last recording is a compilation with two selections from each Chakra recording above. It is all contained in the spirit. May your spirit be full.

This album is a collection of traditional Japanese and original compositions for Shakuhachi and world instruments featuring a host of talented guest artists on cello, rainstick, Bahamian percussion, kalimba, koto, penny whistle, ambient Shakuhachi, concertina, mandolin, guitar and more.