The bright neon lights glow their plethora of colors down upon the rustic cobblestones of Tokyo’s Ginza district. Amidst the scattered cacophony of footsteps, as the tram’s PA system announces the current stop, a stream of passengers flows out to join the others on the streets. The bold crimson lights of Tokyo Tower rise up into the quiet night sky, gazing solemnly across the other skyscrapers of Roppongi. A wind from the Pacific picks up, stirring a traveler in his dreams, conjuring up memories of the breathtaking autumn scenery of the Izu Peninsula, or possibly the glance back from the equally breathtaking girl on her way up the mountain path.

The carefree song of the saxophone and sprightly tune of the piano dance together back and forth among the memories brought on by the night. The crisp sound of the trumpet, beneath the soft glow of the moon, responds to the cascade of the drumbeat. The languid strum of the guitar mimics the tranquil hum of the traditional shamisen. The deep, quivering rumble of the bass conveys the classical fusion of strength with gentleness. The intoxicating female vocals echo like the endless call of yearning, and infused with jazz elements, bring the music of the Japanese archipelago to a whole new light.

Japan has a knack for assimilating foreign culture, while also carrying on its own traditions. In the early 20^th century, as Japan was undergoing a nationwide Western culture craze, jazz music, which had just become mainstream on the other coast of the Pacific, quickly rose to popularity, in turn leading to a fondness of the Japanese toward the US that would last for many generations. For this entry in his “Music of the World” series, Rhymoi Music producer Ye Yunchuan chose the contemporary metropolis of Tokyo as his starting point, and focused on the pleasant melodies and vivid imagery of Japanese jazz, bringing you a collection of 12 timeless classics, performed here in Japanese, English and Mandarin. Drawing inspiration from Japanese literary master Kawabata Yasunari’s maiden work “The Dancer of Izu”, Ye Yunchuan took a trip to Izu to get a first-hand look at the incredibly intact ancient atmosphere there, located astonishingly close to an urban environment, and infused elements of this magical place into the album’s overall sound. The entire album is like a relief panorama of city and country life in Japan, allowing the listener to experience the country’s unique aesthetic of fusing modern with classical.