Prayer

 

Masa Ishikawa (piano) 

Jeffrey Bailey (bass) 

Cory Healey (drums)

 

I am dedicating this piece to commemorate those who died in Japan's 2011 Tohoku earthquake/tsunami as well as to express my deepest condolences to people who have lost their loved ones.

 

 

 

 

Night Parade

 

Masa Ishikawa (piano) 

Jeffrey Bailey (bass) 

Cory Healey (drums)

 

The piece is based on my childhood memories when I attended several Japanese summer festivals. There, I would enjoy watching colorful fireworks, traditional Japanese folk dances, various performances and parades. I wanted to capture how mesmerized and engaged I was as a kid when being at those festivals into this music.

 

 

Yoake (-at the break of dawn-)

 

Masa Ishikawa (piano) 

Jeffrey Bailey (bass) 

Cory Healey (drums)

 

I am dedicating the music to all the students that I currently teach as well as other institutions in the past. Their positive energy has always been inspiring and encouraging to me, and I learn a lot from them every day. Although sometimes many of us might feel as if we are walking in darkness, I believe that we are at the break of dawn. With this composition, I am wishing all the students a bright and joyful future.

 

 

 

 

 

Impermanence

 

Masa Ishikawa (piano) 

Jeffrey Bailey (bass) 

Cory Healey (drums)

 

 

As a native of Fukushima, Japan’s tragic 2011 earthquake/tsunami as well as The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear powerplants meltdown struck me deeply in a personal level. Since then, many people in Fukushima lost their hometowns, and they have been continuously struggling withthe uncertain health impact to the radiation exposure from the nuclear reactors that have long ways to be decommissioned. With this piece, I would like to continue raising awareness of difficulties Fukushima still has been facing. All things in this world are impermanent, and I truly hope someday the situations there will be improved.

 

 

 

 

How High the Moon

comp: Morgan Lewis, recomposed: Masa Ishikawa

 

Masa Ishikawa (piano) 

Bobby Scharmann (bass)

Chris Varga (drums)

 

 

 

Dolphin Dance

Comp: Herbie Hancock

 

Masa Ishikawa (piano) 

Max Stehr (bass)

Chris Varga (drums)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Body and Soul

comp: Johnny Green

 

 

Masa Ishikawa (piano) 

Max Stehr (bass) 

Chris Varga (drums)