Taku Sugimoto is a Tokyo-based guitarist and composer. Improvisation is one aspect of his work, but currently his main activities are composing and performing composed pieces (including those of other composers). He continues his global and concentrated interaction with composers from around the world, particularly those closely connected with Wandelweiser. Ftarri had previously released two albums under Sugimoto's name alone—"Septet" (2015) and "Quintets: Berlin, San Diego" (2017). On both CDs, his compositions are performed by other musicians (on Septet, Sugimoto also participates in the performance).
The CD "Guitars," also released under Sugimoto's name, is comprised of three pieces that he wrote for that instrument. The first and third are guitar solos around 20 minutes long; the second is a guitar trio of about 10 minutes. The performers are three guitarists from Russia, and the pieces were recorded in St. Petersburg in 2017 and 2018. The solo compositions were performed by Andrey Popovsky (track 1) and Denis Sorokin (track 3); and the trio was performed by these two plus Alexander Markvart. All the performances are extremely simple and concise, but convey a feeling of complexity and richness. Abounding in an incomparable feeling of depth within their simplicity and candor, these are truly Sugimoto-like works.
Andrey Popovsky: electric guitar (1), semi-acoustic guitar (2)
Denis Sorokin: classical guitar (2), electric guitar (3)
Alexander Markvart: acoustic guitar (2)
All composed by Taku Sugimoto
Tracks 1 and 2 recorded by Andrey Popovsky on Vasilievsky Island, Saint Petersburg, February-March 2018
Track 3 recorded by Sergei Tumanov in Kupchino, Saint Petersburg, October 14, 2017
Mixed and mastered by Ilia Belorukov in Saint Petersburg, August 2018
Brash experimental electronic compositions from this Tulsa-based musician heavy on serrated sheets of sound that hiss and scald. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 27, 2023
