Zephyr by Yukari | Thomas Morgan

Yukari | Thomas Morgan | Satoshi Takeishi

Zephyr

Price: € 19.95
Format: CD
Label: Challenge Records
UPC: 0608917362626
Catnr: CR 73626
Release date: 03 April 2026
Preorder

1 CD	€ 19.95	Preorder

Label
Challenge Records

UPC
0608917362626

Catalogue number
CR 73626

Release date
03 April 2026

Album

Artist(s)

Composer(s)

About the album

During the darkest of the lockdowns, I took my daughter to an open field near our home. In a time when the world felt shuttered and small, walking was our only escape from the suffocating stillness. As we reached the field, a sudden sensation washed over me—a quiet awakening. It wasn’t just the spring breeze or the scent of the grass; it was a sudden reminder of what being alive meant. I felt I had been touched by Zephyr, the Greek god of the west wind, sparking a renewed wish to create and perform for the world once more.

Liberté: A piece exploring and searching for emotional freedom.

Zephyr: Named after the gentle west wind, this track served as the primary source of inspiration for the entire album.

Fushigi no Kuni: Translating to “Wonderland” in Japanese, this piece was inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland written by Lewis Carroll.

A Troubadour in the Moonlight: A composition and improvisation depicting a minstrel serenading a loved one beneath the moon.

For Misato: A heartfelt dedication to Misato-san, my dear friend who departed too young.

The 5 songs above are composed by Yukari.
Eurus, Suibokuga, Pandora’s box, Don’t follow the piper and Au crépuscule are collective improvisation.

Während der dunkelsten Lockdowns ging ich mit meiner Tochter auf ein offenes Feld in der Nähe unseres Zuhauses. In einer Zeit, in der sich die Welt verriegelt und eng anfühlte, war das Gehen unser einziger Ausweg aus der erdrückenden Stille. Als wir das Feld erreichten, überkam mich plötzlich ein Gefühl – ein stilles Erwachen. Es war nicht nur die Frühlingsbrise oder der Duft des Grases; es war eine unerwartete Erinnerung daran, was es bedeutet, lebendig zu sein. Ich fühlte mich, als hätte mich Zephyros, der griechische Gott des Westwinds, berührt – und in mir den erneuerten Wunsch entfacht, wieder zu schaffen und für die Welt zu spielen.

Liberté: Ein Stück, das emotionale Freiheit erforscht und nach ihr sucht.
Zephyr: Benannt nach dem sanften Westwind; dieser Track diente als wichtigste Inspirationsquelle für das gesamte Album.
Fushigi no Kuni: Auf Japanisch „Wunderland“ – inspiriert von Alice im Wunderland (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland) von Lewis Carroll.
A Troubadour in the Moonlight: Komposition und Improvisation, die einen Minnesänger schildert, der unter dem Mondlicht einer geliebten Person ein Ständchen bringt.
For Misato: Eine innige Widmung an Misato-san, meine liebe Freundin, die viel zu jung gegangen ist.
Die fünf oben genannten Stücke wurden von Yukari komponiert.
Eurus, Suibokuga, Pandora’s Box, Don’t Follow the Piper und Au crépuscule sind kollektive Improvisationen.

Artist(s)

Thomas Morgan (bass)

Morgan began playing the cello 7 years of age, before switching to upright-bass at 14. In 2003 he received his bachelor's degree in Music from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Harvie Swartz and Garry Diall. He also took lessons with Ray Brown and Peter Herbert. Morgan worked with David Binney, Steve Coleman, Joey Baron, Josh Roseman, Brad Shepik, Steve Cardenas, Timuçin Şahin, Kenny Wollesen, Gerald Cleaver, Adam Rogers and Kenny Werner throughout his career. He is also cooperating with Jakob Bro, Dan Tepfer, Jim Black, John Abercrombie, Masabumi Kikuchi and the Sylvie Courvoisier-Mark Feldman Quartet. Morgan lead his own trio.

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Satoshi Takeishi (percussion)

Yukari (flute)

A cultural ambassador of Japan Foundation and a winner of a National Flute Association Jazz Flute Masterclass in USA, YUKARI has been recognized for her innovation and hybridization of various musical genres with contemporary Jazz. She has performed for Anthony Braxton Trillium J, Karl Berger’s improvising orchestra and has toured worldwide including the top-notch venues such as Carnegie Hall, Blue Note, Tribeca Film Festival, MOMA, Tokyo Jazz Festival related events, Numazu Jazz festival, AMR music festival, NYC Flute Festival, La Cote Flute Festival and Yamano Flute festival to name a few. Her debut album ”Dreams” released in 2010 from Inner Circle Music was recorded with Ben Monder, Thomas Morgan, Greg Osby and Greg Hutchinson and received glowing reviews from Jazz Times,...

Her debut album ”Dreams” released in 2010 from Inner Circle Music was recorded with Ben Monder, Thomas Morgan, Greg Osby and Greg Hutchinson and received glowing reviews from Jazz Times, Jazz life and Jazzwise.

Her composition credits for the documentary film ”High train to Tibet” by French director Patrick Morell, “Apo’s Dream” a Japanese animated film by Kodansha and theatre works including “There is No Place Like No Place” which premiered at the Sthlhouderij Theater in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

YUKARI is a Pearl Flute artist, gives master class and workshop about improvisation around the world. She is a graduate of Manhattan School of Music and holds a diploma as a Soundtherapist by ASCA in Switzerland.

After exploring New York for 16 years, she is now living in Switzerland since 2015.

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