Mo Ashibi Magic: Live in Tokyo 1999

Okinawan singer, guitarist and sanshin player Takashi Hirayasu and world music nomad Bob Brozman came together in 1999 to record a selection of Okinawan children’s songs; the album, Warabi Uta, became an unexpected world music hit. They then met in Tokyo to play a live set at the famous Cay club, recorded for local label Respect Records but it was never released: until now. Brozman’s premature death in 2013, aged 59, made it appear these recordings would never come out, but Respect was able to get the clearances and we now have this glorious double-CD release.

Hirayasu’s vocals (in Japanese and also the Okinawan Uchina language) and Brozman’s as always phenomenal acoustic guitar work meld together perfectly with an energetic, emotional audience. The duo are even joined by a female chorus for a lovely version of one of Okinawa’s most famous and important songs, ‘Tinsagu Nu Hana’, where both instrumentalists get solos around the lyrics about filial piety.

There have been many collaborations between Okinawan and Western musicians in the last 20 years but few had the deep connection established by Hirayasu and Brozman. They’ll sadly never get to perform together again, but we at least now have this wonderful document of their musical chemistry. This reviewer personally knows several people who were at this gig and they all speak of it with reverence; rightfully so.