The Stone Monkey

• Artist: Keiko Matsui
• Rating:
• Release Date: January 11, 2005
• Genre: Jazz

Review

Usually a performer on soundtracks and a producer on wife Keiko Matsui's albums, Kazu Matsui is an able shakuhachi player in his own right. On The Stone Monkey he plays with the genres a bit, mixing his shakuhachi with breakbeats and electronic keyboards. The result is on the order of tribal beats, with some new age aspects and some worldbeat aspects. The music can verge on the trippy from time to time, but the mix is held pretty tight by Matsui, making this an interesting addition to the collection of anyone listening to worldbeat (or a Keiko Matsui fan looking for an original context for her playing). ~ Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
The Edge of Sunrise	Hajime Hyakkoku	Kazu Matsui	(4:26)
The Stone Monkey	Kazu Matsui	Kazu Matsui	(4:37)
Shadow of Its Soul	Kazu Matsui	Kazu Matsui	(4:27)
Praising a Temple	Kazu Matsui	Kazu Matsui	(4:35)
Red Forest	Kazu Matsui	Kazu Matsui	(4:35)
Planting Seeds	Kazu Matsui	Kazu Matsui	(4:41)
Windows of the Dome	Hajime Hyakkoku	Kazu Matsui	(3:52)
Ancient Longing Dance	Kazu Matsui	Kazu Matsui	(5:11)
Eye of the Moon	Kazu Matsui	Kazu Matsui	(4:55)
Crow	Kazu Matsui	Kazu Matsui	(4:24)

Credits

Kazu Matsui (Piano), Kazu Matsui (Shakuhachi), Kazu Matsui (Producer), Kazu Matsui (Cover Art Concept), Kunihiro Takuma (Photography), Takashi Tei (Engineer), Takashi Tei (Mixing), Hajimi Hyakkoku (Bass), Hajimi Hyakkoku (Guitar), Hajimi Hyakkoku (Percussion), Hajimi Hyakkoku (Arranger), Hajimi Hyakkoku (Keyboards), Hajimi Hyakkoku (Programming), Masato Arai (Production Coordination)