Rodrigo Rodriguez Releases Across the East

Japan – Across the East is the second album by Japan-based Spanish musician Rodrigo Rodriguez. The album brings to a conclusion 3 years of intensive work where Rodrigo was recording in the different studios, in Spain and Japan. Solo guitars, kena, clarinets, duets for shakuhachi flute and steel guitar, and pieces where Rodrigo has used for the first time the sheng (mouth organ). The sheng consists essentially of vertical pipes and is one of the oldest varieties of Chinese instruments. It first appeared in 551 BC during the Zhou Dynasty (1111 to 222 BC).Also featured is the rare African thumb piano samsula similar to kalimba and the exotic instruments from Indonesia the Gamelan (bonang, sarong, kenong.) The fujara, a large folk shepherd’s fipple flute of unique design, originating from Slovakia in a unique and
emotional solo.

 

In addition, Rodrigo brings to the "Across the East" the originality and minimalism using the case of a guitar like a percussion instrument, in a Spanish influenced rhythm.