kitaro - 
kitaro concertTRACK LISTINGS :
1. Monk's Instruction
2. Hazimari/Sozo
3. Caravansary
4. Silk Road
5. Magma
6. Mercury
7. Water of Mystery
8. Estrella
9. Koi
10. Wa
11. Free Flight
12. Heaven and Earth
This 2002 concert by Kitaro, filmed on the grounds of a visually stunning Buddhist Temple in Yakushiji, Japan - is possibly one of his finest performances to date. I'm glad that this show has been released on DVD, because, while the double-CD audio version is excellent, the visuals add an extra dimension. The show seems to have been shot on actual movie film (not on video or DV like most concert films.) And this fact, coupled with some creative visual direction, gives the concert a sort of dreamy/elegiac look that somehow adds to the overall ambiance. There are plenty of shots of the beautiful Temple scenery, which are skillfully intercut with some up-close & personal shots of Kitaro (and his backing musicians) as they perform. As usual, Kitaro seems to throw his very soul into the performance. At times he plays with his eyes closed, and seems to be in a meditative/prayerful state. At other times he has a deep intensity written on his face as he attacks his stacks of synthesizers with flailing arms and dramatic flair. It is obvious that Kitaro is not mearly making music for the fame & fortune, but is one who "feels" his art very deeply. Kudos also must go to Kitaro's fine new backing band. Unlike the multi-ethnic 8-piece orchestras featured on his previous concert videos (1990's "Kojiki - A Story in Concert", and 1994's "An Enchanted Evening"), the Yakushiji concert finds him backed by by only four musicians- all of them from Kitaro's homeland of Japan. Kitaro's wife, Keiko Takahashi, plays additional keyboards, as does Shinji Ebihara (the only male member of the new backing band). Yavoi Sakiyama is featured prominantly on the electric violin, and she looks quite elegant on the stage (in a sleek black dress.)
Lastly, Tomoko Nomura rounds out the band on electronic & acoustic percussion, often playing "Tympani"-style with malletts rather than drum sticks. Interestingly, the songs here are arranganged so well that they don't seem to loose any of their "fullness" or dynamics when played with this smaller ensemble. The lack of electric guitars (usually heard is his concerts) actually lends the show a sort of classical/regal feel(And keyboard aficionados will note that Kitaro still has his vintage analog synths front and center, along with some modern equiptment) After a chanted introduction by the Temple Monks, Kitaro kicks off the show with a note-perfect pair of tracks from his "Kojiki" album ("Hazimari", "Sozo"), then moves into a mezmerizing new arrangement of the classic "Caravansary" (featuring some exceptional violin work by Miss Sakiyama.) Some other highlights of the concert include an emotionally-charged version of "Estrella" (with Kitaro's synth-leads much more prominent than in the studio version), the dark, brooding "Magma", an extended take on the ethereal "Mercury" (featuring Kitaro on the Native American flute), a more intense version of the "Ancient" track "Water of Mystery" (with Kitaro playing an electric Sitar) and a majestic encore of "Free Fall" which far surpasses the greatness of the original studio cut. For those who enjoy Kitaro's more experimental side, "Wa" is an unusual track that begins with a blend of atmospheric electronics & chanting by the Monks (the only vocals featured in the concert), before evolving into a tight percussion duel, with Kitaro slamming away-passionately on a huge pair of Japanese taiko drums. Strangely, the concert's second encore piece, "Heaven & Earth", is not included as part of the main concert, but must be accessed as a seperate "bonus track" found among the special features. This bonus piece (great version, too!) is accompanied by a slide show of Temple pictures, so that you never actaully see the band on stage playing it. Not sure why it was done this way...and anyway, this is a very small criticism of an otherwise excellent DVD! All in all, if you are a Kitaro fan, or are simply looking for new musical experiences outside of the mainstream, then this DVD should not disappoint! ~ Jeffery K. Matheus
