Seigen+ono

Seigen Ono - Nekonotopia Nekonomania (1990) {Crammed Discs–Made To Measure MTM29CD}
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© 1990 Saidera Records / Crammed Discs / Made To Measure | MTM 29 CD
Jazz / Contemporary Jazz / Ambient / Minimalism

Seigen Ono is a Japanese musician who has released several albums on Virgin's Venture label, among which "Music for Comme des Garçons". As a producer and an engineer, Seigen has been involved with the Lounge Lizards, Bill Laswell, R. Sakamoto, Herbie Hancock, etc. This album hovers between ambient music and minimalist jazz, and features John Zorn, Evan Lurie, and other figures from the New York scene. The last part of the album is devoted to "Berliner Nächt", a very hypnotic suite for 12-string guitar.

With his release of BAR DEL MATTATOIO, a challenging and irreverent fusion of jazz, classical, Tropicália, and experimental musics, SEIGEN ONO transports the listener to a place that is nearly tactile, sweaty, absolutely sensual, intellectually challenging, and maybe even a bit psychedelic, while maintaining a delicate humanity that is shadowed with melancholy. The music is bold, but never overbearing, humble without timidity, and presents an incredible trip through, what might seem a contradiction of musical terms, but is, instead, a cohesive, complex musical statement, bound together by a strong sense of rhythm and a wicked, if understated, sense of humor and good will. BAR DEL MATTATOIO is a bold and gorgeous work of music that, at times, shyly pretends to look in the other direction, but never loses focus.

Seigen Ono - The Green Chinese Table (1988) {Venture–Virgin CDVE10}
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© 1988 Venture / Virgin Records | CDVE10
Jazz / Contemporary / Post-Classical / Japanese Traditions / Electronic / Experimental

This one is a bit special. Last we heard from Seigen, he was introducing us to his very jazz-influenced take on Japanese New Age music. On the follow up to that epic debut, The Green Chinese Table, we find Seigen dividing his time up between recording sessions in Tokyo and New York City. It’s impossible to stress how that meeting of western and eastern minds really seasons the conditions that make this record sound like it does.

Seigén Ono - Seigén (1983) {Pan East Records NEWCD100 rel 1986}
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© 1983 Pan East Records | NEWCD100
Jazz / Contemporary / Post-Classical / Jazz / Vaporwave

This album dates all the way back to 1984. Despite that, I’ve only just got around to listening to it. It’s a pleasant enough collection of strings and jazz that caused quite a stir back in the day. During the early 1980s, this would have appeared in many stores under the New Age banner. I remember seeing it mentioned in many magazines of the day as an essential album for relaxation and so forth. In many way, it really was a different world back then.

Ibiza stands for the ocean, beaches, world-class DJs and - of course - the legendary Cafee del Mar. The latter is well known for the breathtaking sunset down by the bay of Cala des Moro. Josee Padilla, resident DJ at Cafe del Mar and the man behind the legendary compilation-series, is now working on "Ibiza Sundowner presented by Jose Padilla", in where he presents the very best of chill-out music on two CDs. Not only featuring artists such as Silent Poets with their "(There's Always) Meaning In The Tone" and Peter Broderick with his "Solace In Gala", but also with the exclusive track "Ocean Drum" from Jose Padillas' latest album.

The third volume in Virgin's Ambient series doesn't change the game much; there are a few newer acts sprinkled amongst the two-disc set (FSOL, William Orbit, Bark Psychosis) but the main focus here is on classic ambient masters (Brian Eno, Robert Fripp, David Sylvian, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Harold Budd) and quieter selections from Virgin artists who wouldn't normally be classified this way (Prince Far I, Holger Czukay, Shu-De, Bill Laswell, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan). The result is another fine collection, a must have album for any eclectic music lover.