The Sleep of Reason

In a time of change and challenge, Fumito Nunoya was inspired by the transcendent power of music and found solace and connection through it. 'Marimba Prayers' presents a diverse selection of works ranging from Bach to contemporary composers including Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco,Tomasz Golinski, Ludwig Albert; Harold Arlen, Ennio Morricone, Astor Piazzolla and even the traditional Irish tune Danny Boy! Nunoya's virtuoso playing touches the soul and invites you on a profound journey of discovery.

On reflection, it's no wonder that so many artists were available for Total Lee: The Songs of Lee Hazlewood. Hazlewood occupies a position in posterity similar to that of the Velvet Underground–ignored by the world at large, but disproportionately adored by fellow musicians. Hazlewood's only glimpse of popular appeal occurred when Nancy Sinatra had a worldwide hit with his "These Boots Are Made For Walking"–a karaoke standard ignored by the 16 artists who appear on this tribute album. What is startling about this fine collection is that a lot of the artists here seem endearingly unable to separate their admiration for Hazlewood's songs from Hazlewood's myth: for most young men who've ever picked up a guitar, Hazlewood's life of meandering from town to town, girl to girl, bottle to bottle, has a certain aspirational quality, and may be the reason why every male artist on this album finds himself, consciously or not, adopting Hazlewood's signature consumptive drawl: The Webb Brothers, Jarvis Cocker and Richard Hawley, Calexico and Erlend Oye are more impersonation than interpretation, but nonetheless engaging.