“The Beethoven of the koto” ... Hmmm. That's the way Michio Miyagi is described as having been described in the first half of the 20th century. Though the music comes from half a planet away, every piece sounds vaguely familiar, implying that it's been used in films, played before formal concerts and during intermissions, maybe at museum or gallery openings and in other settings the listener has passed through at one time or another.

The vocals, which appear on half the CD cuts, are most difficult for the Western ear. We simply reject the drawn out, pained, guttural, thinning notes as pointless, detrimental and all too evocative of the not late enough Yoko Ono.

Miyagi was justly famous as the musical equivalent of those 19th century Japanese painters who so influenced Impressionist art. His music tells us what was destroyed in Japan by the Second World War and the military/industrial culture that preceded and followed it. This is the music of cherry blossoms and poetry, and that's a good thing.

Buy this CD NOW:

Your purchase through the Amazon.com links at the end of each review, or by simply clicking on this banner (below)
to order this or many other products from Amazon, helps to support this website as well as the featured blues artist.

More CDs:

"This review is copyright © by the writer and Blues On Stage: www.mnblues.com, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without permission."
Copyright reuse notice: If you would like to reprint or use this review please include the above copyright notice, contained within the quotation marks, PLUS this statement: "Used with permission." Then send an email to Ray at: mnblues@aol.com indicating how you are using the review or the website page address it will be appearing on. Thanks!

Click on this banner to get you new low percent credit card:

---

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! You can help support this blues website by making a contribution (click on the banner below for details). Or mail a donation to: Ray Stiles % Blues On Stage, PO Box 582983, Mpls, MN 55458. Thanks!

---

Web Hosting & Design: CLICK HERE for Web Design SPECIAL, get your own website for just $75. The most affordable web hosting and design services available. Click Here to find out how you can host your current site at Blues On Stage, or how I can help you design your own website!

If you would like your CD reviewed, please send TWO (2) copies of your CD to:

Blues On Stage
PO Box 582983
Minneapolis, MN 55458-2983

E-mail Ray Stiles with any questions.