Volume 1 Artists:
Tetuzi Akiyama
Samm Bennett
Gianni Gebbia
Kazuo Imai
Yoshiko Kanda
Brett Larner
Sachiko M
Toshimaru Nakamura
Yoko Nishi
Yoshihide Otomo
Evan Parker
Tetsu Saitoh
Taku Sugimoto
Kazuko Takada
Yuji Takahashi
Yumiko Tanaka

Volume 2 Artists:
Gene Coleman
Scott Fields
Yoshimitsui Ichiraku
Kazuo Imai
Ko Ishikawa
Yoshiko Kanda
Kang Tae Hwan
Utah Kawasaki
Stefan Keune
Brett Larner
Sachiko M
Toshi Makihara
Aya Motohashi
Yuko Nexus6
Masahiko Okura
Yoshihide Otomo
John Russell
Elliott Sharp
Carl Stone
Taku Sugimoto
Richard Teitelbaum
Ami Yoshida

Brett Larner began studying koto at Wesleyan University in January 1992 after attending a performance by Kazue Sawai. As an undergraduate he studied koto with Miki Maruta and Masayo Ishigure and improvisation with Anthony Braxton, with whom Larner frequently performed and recorded.

Larner relocated to Tokyo in 1997 to study koto, shamisen and jiuta vocal technique with Kazue Sawai and, in August 2000, received his teacher's license (koshi) from the Sawai Koto School, earning the highest marks in his class of 24 and thereafter beginning to teach koto. While studying he continued his involvement in improvised music, performing in both Japan and North America with musicians including Samm Bennett, Gianni Gebbia, Philip Gelb, Shoko Hikage, Phil Minton, Toshimaru Nakamura, Gino Robair, and Sabu Toyozumi.

In March, 2000 Larner began producing the Deluxe Improvisation Series, a monthly event at a large gallery in central Tokyo. This series, in which Larner occasionally performs, quickly grew to become Tokyo's largest regular improvised music forum, hosting performances by musicians including John Fahey, I.S.O., Evan Parker, Tetsu Saitoh, Yuji Takahashi and Richard Teitelbaum.

Deluxe Improvisation Series
(Vols. 1 & 2)

A two-volume disc of unprecedented recordings made between March 2000 and June 2001 by koto player Brett Larner at a space called Deluxe in the Azabu Juban area of Tokyo.  None of the performances on these cds have been released elsewhere.

Rare opportunity to hear some of the leading Japanese improvisational artists from Toyko's Onkyo scene working with more familiar Western musicians in an intimate setting.  Pour a glass of wine, turn down the lights, and just sit back an listen to one of the most rewarding improvisational music experiences you will ever have.  Limited edition release in nicely textured paper.  Comes with our highest recommendation.

Volume 1:  7 tracks in 73:53 minutes
Volume 2:  8 tracks in 67:06 minutes

More from the Rack

If you missed this cd, you might also enjoy:

2001 Deluxe Improvisation Series - Day 1

2001 Deluxe Improvisation Series - Day 2

Itadakimasu (Brett Larner duets)

98 Duets (Jeb Bishop duets)

Buddy Systems (Gino Robair duets)

La Pièce (Xavier Charles and Kristoff K. Roll)

Points, Snags and Windings (John Butcher and Dylan van der Schyff)

Condor Autumn Wind (Wadada Leo Smith)

The World Turned Upside Down (Rowe, Müller, Sagimoto)

do (Nakamura and Sachiko M)

Distant Wind (Mei Han and Raine-Reusch)