Takashi Hirayasu Jin Jin/Firefly CD - Import

Recorded on the Okinawan island of Taketomi, Jin Jin/Firefly documents a rare encounter between Okinawan singer/sanshin player Takashi Hirayasu and acoustic guitarist Bob Brozman. Forming a duo, the two prove to be highly compatible -- and when you think about it, they're a logical combination. Hirayasu's foundation is Okinawan music, which contains both Japanese and Polynesian elements; Brozman, meanwhile, is considered a master of the Hawaiian guitar and is no stranger to the sounds of the Pacific Islands. So it isn't hard for them to find common ground on "Akata Sun Dunchi," "Chinnuku Jushi," and other traditional Okinawan children's songs that Hirayasu selected. What the duo does with the songs isn't entirely traditional, however. Brozman brings plenty of blues, rock, and Hawaiian influence to the session, and that works for Hirayasu because the Okinawa native is hip to blues and rock himself. Hirayasu and Brozman both have a lot of charisma, and that proves to be mutually beneficial on this excellent CD. ~ Alex Henderson

Music Of The Ryukyn Islands Of Olinawa,Japan

Recorded at Taketomi Island, Okinawa, Japan. Includes liner notes by Paul Fisher.

Personnel: Takashi Hirayasu (vocals, guitar, 12-string guitar); Bob Brozman (bottleneck guitar, baritone guitar, charango, percussion).

Liner Note Author: Paul Fisher .

Recording information: Okinawan House, Taketomi Island; Planet Studio, Tokyo, Japan.

Translator: Shunya Hata.

Arrangers: Takashi Hirayasu; Bob Brozman.

Personnel: Takashi Hirayasu (vocals, guitar, sanshin); Bob Brozman (electric & Hawaiian steel guitars, sanshin, charango, percussion).

Spin (6/00, p.155) - "...Bob Brozman plays a poor man's Ry Cooder with good humor and great taste, weaving in slide-guitar lines while [Takahashi] sings beatifically about eating tofu, getting diarrhea, and asking his mom to do his hair....kinda like an Okinawan Jonathan Richman..."
The Wire (5/00, p.68) - "...A quirkily charming excursion, essential devotees of Santa Cruz baritone and Kona Hawaiian guitars."
CMJ (4/24/00, p.32) - "...A lovely acoustic collaboration, which often draws upon Okinawan children's songs for inspiration."