日本語

Jazz Duos,Trios, Quartets and Larger Ensembles Directed by Ron Hadley --- Several permutations accommodate a wide range of purposes, occasions and budgets. Harmonic Hatchery Productions is fortunate to be working with extremely talented and creative musicians in both North America and Japan. We enjoy passing this good fortune on to our clients.

Whenever your plans would be enhanced by jazz--as a concert feature for listening, as an enjoyable vehicle for dancing or as a tasteful background for your festivities--please do not hesitate to contact us

The Harmonic Hatchery Band --- This is an ensemble that began by specializing in what it intended to be jazz for children but quickly found that its dynamic, good-time music actually appeals to "children" from the age of two to one hundred and two. The band's CD of entirely original material, "Leave It All to the Music"is an intriguing blend of jazz, funk and quirky humour.

Engagements in Japan and North America have included jazz improvisation and rhythm as well as intercultural music workshops in elementary, middle and secondary schools, concerts in children's festivals and amusement parks and performance events in which dancers, mimes and characters from Oriental and Western folklore appear on stage to join in the action..

One of the Harmonic Hatchery Band's intercultural programs that has received an enthusiastic response is a recording project that utilizes digital overdubbing techniques to facilitate song-writing collaboration between school children in Japan and North America.

The Sagami Traditional Music Duo (Toshiya Mizukawa-shakuhachi and Nahoko Ouhata -koto) -- This duo is made up of members of the prestigious, Tokyo-based Japanese music organization, Pro Musica Nipponica. The instruments played are koto and shakuhachi. Although its repertoire does consist of a variety of traditional solo and duo pieces, the duo also performs works by contemporary composers such as Minoru Miki. Both members of the duo have been officially recognized by the Japanese government as Hougaku (traditional Japanese music) educators, and their participation in Harmonic Hatchery Productions' "Hougaku in the Schools" program has brought rewarding and memorable experiences to students and teachers throughout North America.

The Eloquent Fish Ensemble -- This unique ensemble came into being in Tokyo in the spring of 1990 when shakuhachi virtuoso Toshiya Mizukawa and jazz pianist Ron Hadley organized the group to perform Mr. Hadley's compositions and to continue intercultural projects on which they had been collaborating since the summer of 1989. The ensemble is an amalgamation of the Sagami Traditional Music Duo (koto and shakuhachi) and the Ron Hadley Quintet (piano, bass, drums, saxophones and voice). In addition to presenting original compositions and arrangements of traditional pieces, ensemble members perform authentic Hougaku as well as material drawn from the standard jazz repertoire. Workshops and lecture/demonstrations dealing with the two fields of Japanese music and jazz (as well as how these fields might be combined) are an important part of the group's schedule.

The ensemble's CD, "Jazz Meets Hougaku", offers an exquisite, intercultural fusion of these two musical worlds.

Saiho Kotengu -- Based in Nagasaki Prefecture, this remarkable taiko and Kagura ensemble plays not only pieces from the traditional repertoire but also original compositions by its members. In addition, costumed folk dancing and singing are integral components of performances. The ensemble is directed by Kazuo Ebisuya, who is dedicated to incorporating new ideas and approaches into the traditional structures and has collaborated with pianist Ron Hadley on several projects involving the combination of jazz and taiko music.