WORK SAMPLE 1
“Shizuko (2a)” and “Shizuko (2b)” from “Shizuko,” composed in 2021 by Tomas Fujiwara, performed at Roulette on May 14, 2021 by Tomas Fujiwara, Davi Vieira, Tomeka Reid, Rafiq Bhatia, and Taylor Ho Bynum.
Please watch from 14:01 – 22:00
This work sample includes the following elements I will use for the commissioned piece: The use of multiple percussion as a main focus of the music (drum set and djembe/percussion), the balance and blurred lines between composition and improvisation (at 15:16 the main compositional themes have been stated, and the ensemble moves to an improvisational space that very much uses the materials from the themes to create a seamless extension of the composition), shifting roles of each instrument within the ensemble (at 21:27, guitar moves from his role within the chorale, to an improvised duet with djembe), as well as opportunities to both step forward and support musically (at 14:01 djembe playing a supportive role to the composed melodies and other musicians’ improvisations, while at 17:25 he steps forward as the solo voice), the use of personal storytelling, in this case a suite dedicated to the memory of my grandmother, Shizuko, to create an open-ended listening experience, and the focus to blend and meld styles, genres, etc. seamlessly. (14:01 afro-latin and jazz-based rhythms and melodies, 17:25 classical-based chorale supporting djembe solo, 21:27 guitar improvising in more of a “rock” vocabulary).
WORK SAMPLE 2
“Blend” and “KP,” composed in 2018 by Tomas Fujiwara, from the 2019 album Tomas Fujiwara “7 Poets Trio” (2019, Rogue Art) with Patricia Brennan and Tomeka Reid.
Please listen from 7:39 – 15:15
This work sample includes the following elements I will use for the commissioned piece: The use of multiple percussion as a main focus of the music (drum set and vibraphone), the balance and blurred lines between composition and improvisation (at 8:26 vibraphone stays with her composed part, while cello starts to use her composed material in an improvisatory fashion, with drums bridging the gap between the two), opportunities to both step forward and support musically (at 8:50 drums and vibraphone move from a more supportive role to an improvised duet ), the use of personal storytelling, in this case, each piece on this album was dedicated to someone in my life, “Blend” for Joey Baron, “KP” for Ken Pickering, to create both a personal and open ended listening experience, and the focus to blend and meld styles and genres seamlessly. (“Blend” being more of a classical-type waltz, “KP” coming from the tradition of modal, post-bop jazz).
The main difference between these excerpts and the commissioned piece, is that the commissioned piece will be trying to accomplish many of the above techniques using percussion instruments, exclusively. I also plan to infuse more elements of Japanese music, specifically taiko drumming, into the commissioned piece.