Japan Years, Volumes 1, 2 and 3 (Dolomites Music, 2015)
The Dolomites has released three volumes of recordings that took place in Japan from 2006 to 2010. The group is led by Stevhen Koji Baianu, an American musician with Romanian and Japanese family roots.
The music in these recordings is a quirky mix of eastern European melodies and rhythms, punk style vocals and attitude, cabaret music, Japanese rhythmic elements and even cumbia beats. The Dolomites sound is also characterized by the accordion of its band leader along with tuba, and Middle Eastern and Japanese drums.
The Japanese phase of the group was sparked by Stevhen Koji Baianu’s interest in spending some time with his Japanese side of the “to learn the language and explore.”
Once in Japan, Stevhen met Japanese musicians who provided the darbuka, Japanese drums, and sousaphone. “If you take some of my vocal approach, tribal scatting, the music that I make, it’s not necessarily specific, nor concrete, it comes from a wide assortment of international, ancient traditions that I absorb and transmit.” reveals Stevhen. “I’m just the medium. This music passes through my body, mind, and spirit, and is spawned into the Dolomites’ music.”
Purchase the Japan Years Vol. 1-3 trilogy in digital format
Purchase Japan Years, Volume 1 on CD
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
