KAZE & KOICHI MAKIGAMI

SHISHIODOSHI

Circum/Libra

Koichi Makigami, guest vocalist/flute/trumpet/shakuhachi (a bamboo flute); Satoko Fujii, piano; Peter Orins, drums; Natsuki Tamura, trumpet/voice; Christian Pruvost, trumpet/flugelhorn.

Kaze is a cooperative quartet of Japanese composers and musicians, in association with French trumpeter Christian Pruvost and French drummer, Peter Orins. This unusual Avant-garde quintet brings a flash of improvised music and unique vocals that are like none other. Nine years ago, they performed without Makigami’s extraordinary vocals. That voice added a new and unexpected aspect to their music.

In 2025, on a song called “Make A Change” the quartet is back with the addition of Makigami, who uses his voice (and sometimes his trumpet) to improvise a solo drawn mostly from his creative vocal chords. Koichi Makigami also adds flute to the mix.  His vocal pyrotechnics include babbling, squealing and squeaking, growls and panting rhythmically along with other somewhat absurd sounds emanated from his voice box.  Much of this creativity could stem from Makigami being a noted actor, poet and vocal improviser with an impressive vocal range.

Makigami is the founder and director of the Jazz Art Sengawa Festival that features improvised music in Japan.  This first song is nearly eleven minutes long and goes through many transitions. During all this mayhem and madness, you may find yourself chuckling with humor at this group who brings unusual musical moments to these arrangements and tickles the listener’s ears.

Track #2 is titled “Shishiodoshi” (the album title) that describes an original machine used to scare away animals.  It’s made with a bamboo piece that tips into a water fountain. The invention is mostly used by Japanese to scare away deer.  This tune starts out very softly, with sounds like bubbling water created by the musicians on their various instruments. The shi shi odoshi is pictured on the cover of the Kaze album.

I would expect nothing less from the creative and intense composer and pianist, Satoko Fujii then this unique musical project. For nearly thirty years, she has pushed the boundaries of jazz and avant-garde to their farthest limits. The same goes for trumpeter Natsuki Tamura, her gifted husband, who is heralded as a front-runner in the avant-garde jazz-rock-fusion department. Both are internationally recognized for their radical approach to jazz.

Peter Orins is an artistic director of Muzzix, a musician’s cooperative in Lille, France, who also works in theater and composes for film. This drummer leads his own bands and is a member of Trapeze, a quartet co-led by saxophonist Sakina Abdou, also by turn-table expert, Joke Lanz and trombonist Matthias Müller.

Christian Pruvost offers a very personal perspective on both his trumpet and flugelhorn. He’s a founding member of the Muzzix group that his friend Orins is the artistic director of, and he is known for his experimental research into horns and pipes, making improv and contemporary music all over France and worldwide.

When you put all these stellar experimental music masters in one studio, the final project promises to be both surprising, stunning and exceptional.  Especially with the addition of their special guest vocalist, Koichi Makigami.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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