No News is Not New News

Well, after a long while of preparation, planning and promoting, I've finally released my second CD album, Silent Letters, Secret Pens with Izumi Fujikawa on 13, 17 and 21 string koto. We did our CD release party/concert on July 22nd within one of the beautiful buildings in the Hosokawa family compound at Taisho ji in Kumamoto. Despite the fact that the weather forced us to play indoors instead of the planned outdoor venue, 150 people were in attendance. It was well received by all. I will post some photos soon of the event. The CD can be previewed and purchased at www.cdbaby.com/cd/jeffcairns or just send me an e-mail.

Well, my newest CD is in the can and being reproduced at this very moment. It was a year and a half labor of love that was hands-on from the get go. Along with virtuoso koto player Izumi Fujikawa and aided by the senses of Richard Gilbert (recording) and Derek Van Choice (mastering) I'm very pleased to offer it publicly late next month. I'm planning a CD release party to be held on the grounds of the Hosokawa (ex-Japanese P.M) family shrine in Kumamoto, Japan on June 24th.

I've been doing some colaborating with a very gifted re-mixer named Peter Christianson from England. The first piece we did together is something of a techno-Japanese flavor crossover that I put some shakuhachi on called Sayonara. If it gets up on the web, I'll post a link to it. We are now working on an East Indian flavored piece called Bombay Night in which I play bansuri flute. More to come.

A week ago I had the pleasure of meeting and playing with a fantastic marimba player Named Mika Yoshida. Her website can be accessed at www.mikarimba.com . She's something of a globe trotter with regard to her involvement with live performance. I hope to have the opportunity to play with her in a concert setting in the near future.