Matsuoka

Naoya Matsuoka war ein japanischer Jazz- und Fusionmusiker (Piano, Keyboard, Arrangement). Naoya Matsuoka leitete ab 1954 ein Trio, u. a. mit Masahiko Togashi, sowie weitere Formationen. Er legte 1979 sein Debütalbum Fiesta Fiesta vor; in den 1980er-Jahren folgten eine Reihe von Latin-Jazz-, Funk- und Fusion-beeeinflusste Produktionen für Warner Brothers wie Live at Montreux Festival (1980), Kaleidoscope (1980), Natsu no Tabi („Sommerreise“), Danzon (1981), Fall on the Avenue (1982) oder Majestic (1988). Ferner arbeitete er in dieser Zeit mit Shigeharu Mukai, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto und Hidefumi Toki. Er komponierte ferner Musik für Anime-Filme und TV-Serien wie Heart Cocktail (1986).

Matsuoka's ambitious first novel is an epic saga of clashing personalities and ideologies in the tradition of Shogun, yet it distinguishes itself from its wide-eyed predecessor with a grimmer perspective on Japan's military culture. Set in Edo in 1861, the book chronicles the arrival of a group of American missionaries (two men and a woman, each hiding secrets) into a land bristling with feudal clans nursing ancient grudges and a central shogunate trying to maintain control in the face of corrosive Western influences (like Christianity).

The music selected on the CD Giacomo Facco: Master of Kings is a journey through his cantatas and his cello music, exemplifying two stages of the composer's life; works from the years he worked in Italy and works from the time he spent in Spain. The album boasts the world premier recording of a monographic chamber music repertory by an Italian composer who is probably one of the most important and influent composers of the Spanish Baroque era.