Chieko Mori started to learn the Japanese Traditional Instrument Koto and Japanese Dance since the age of three. After graduated University in Tokyo (SFC), She started to compose her own music and left Japan to find new frontier for her music. In 1999, Chieko moved to Italy Treviso, where She was invited to FABRICA for years and had been to explore musical traditions, especially those between Eastern/Western music, and Acoustic music beyond borders. Chieko Mori though having fully mastered the techniques of classical playing handed down, adopts a fresh approach towards the instrument, suggesting new possibilities for improvising and imagination. Her koto composition had been collaborated with Michael Galasso (violinist - composer) , Phil Minton, Robert Wilson's theater production.In 2005, her first solo album, Jumping Rabbit, has been released from Tzadik in New York. Spring in 2008, She had composed music for Swedish choreographer Virpi Pahkinen's world premier at Dansens Hus in Stockholm.
improvised for Japan festival at British Museum(London)
Review
The sound that she plays doesn’t belong to any of the genre such as the West, the Orient, Classics, the Contemporary music, and Avant-gardes, yet she is eager to embrace them all. Her sound is a voice of her own soul.
Antonio Convertini 2006 Kino Music Italy
instrument traditionnel japonais, qui pratique son art depuis son enfance. Minimaliste, simple, mais pourtant remplie d’e..motions, ce 《 jumping rabbit 》 me..rite plus que le coup d’oreille. C’est toute la tradition japonaise qui nous remonte facilement dans la te^te et qui nous traverse l’esprit a.. l’e..coute de la virtuosite.. de son auteur. Une galette de toute beaute.. qui vous poussera a.. la me..ditation malgre.. vous, ce qui fait d’ailleurs la grande force de ce disque. Adrien, webmagazine pepper-zone, 2006 in France
Studying koto since the age of three, Mori Chieko is one of the world’s most versatile koto virtuosos. She has spent long periods in Italy, London and the United States, collaborated with Michael Galasso, and created music for dance, film and theater, including several productions by Robert Wilson. Her first CD for Tzadik was recorded in both Italy and New York, and presents a beautiful series of pieces for solo koto, and koto and voice. Lyrical and meditative, Jumping Rabbit is a CD of remarkable beauty and heartfelt emotions.
voice from John Zorn (CD from Jumpiing Rabbit, 2005)
She is a Master Koto Player. India TIME magazine, 2002
Good meditative stroll and pluking melodies from the ether.
Paul Fisher, critic
A young and wonderfully talented interantional musician, she is
able to use her Japanese classic music tradition in surprising
and her own creative way.
Michael Galasso, composer
free released for your look+listening as DVD+CD / .iso files / mov+mp3. DOWNLOAD -> www.myspace.com/ryutakwbt
DVD/mov is including two "table-top guitar" solo, two duo performance,
some studies and some more. 104.min Stereo. duo with Celebrante in Una Casa Buenos Aires,
Ryusaku "Rutang" Ikezawa in YahiroHIGHTI, Tokyo.
CD/mp3 is including a recording of acoustic resophonic guitar solo. It is a contemporary local blues that has sewwt tone. 21.min Monoral.
Catch the auditory hallucinations and modulations caused by chain of movement and interference without no computer in this works. it is magical and beautiful. hope to enjoy, sincerely.
Dedicated to all the women, men, gays, lesbians or heteros, to all who have different politic opinions who are persecuted all over the world by laws, dictature, religions and corrupted states. From north to south, from west to east...
Hi Chieko, thanks for the add, lovely music and I hope you are well.
I’m sending this to all my Japanese friends to find out what it sounds like to them.
Although I’m very interested in Japan cannot speak your language and learned it with my own phonetics from an old tape, so maybe it makes you smile a bit. Love from Steve.