Asian Blossoms
Missa Johnouchi is a Tokyo-born pianist/composer whose chief musical pursuit is international soundtrack work. For this, her debut recording for the Pacific Moon label, Johnouchi surrounds herself with a small string ensemble, a contemporary guitar-bass-percussion trio and four musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments--theerhu(a long, narrow, bowed stringed instrument), thepipa(a pear-shaped, four-stringed lute), theyang qin(duclimer) and thegu zheng(cousin on the Japanese koto). Seeking to evoke imagery of an ancient trade route that parallels Asia's famed Silk Road, Johnouchi creates languid, formal-sounding tone poems that could either soothe the spirit or annoy the senses, depending on how you respond to the higher-pitched character of the Chinese instrumentation. Johnouchi's slow-go pieces cater to those in a reflective state of mind whose tastes lean toward lite pop-classical music and who are receptive to traditional Chinese influences. Her two solo piano selections, "Springtime," and her solo reprise of the opening track, "Asian Wind," are attractive works with broader appeal. Nice bonus: the pop-open spine of the CD case includes four sticks of incense.--Terry Wood