Sitar and Shakuhachi Improvisation

Performance by Dôzan Fujiwara and Amit Chatterjee The late performer and composer Hôzan Yamamoto (1937-2014) is largely responsible for the enduring popularity of the shakuhachi not only in Japan, but around the world. Along with Katsuya Yokoyama, Reibo Aoki, and Goro Yamaguchi, Hôzan was part of a generation of Japanese shakuhachi players who came of age after the war. Hôzan expanded the repertory, experimented with new music, and made the shakuhachi an internationally known instrument through his pioneering efforts in jazz and cross-genre collaborations. One of the most stunning of these collaborations occurred in 1978 with the legendary sitar player, Ravi Shankar. In the hands of these two virtuosi, the sonorous versatility of the shakuhachi blended seamlessly together with the subtle intricacies of the sitar. In this recording, Hôzan’s star disciple, Dôzan Fujiwara, and Amit Chatterjee recreate the magical moments of this wonderful combination of east and west.