Danketsu 10 has announced their newest album, From a distance, everything shines, to be released 8/21 on cassette and digital platforms via Warm Winters Ltd. Listen to an excerpt from the 32-minute improvised live performance at the above player.
Danketsu 10 is Jason Adams (cello), Kelly Coats (flute), Dylan Fujioka (accordion & percussion), Noah Guevara (guitar), Pauline Lay (violin), Ken Moore (double bass), Amber Navran (clarinet & tenor saxophone), Patrick Shiroishi (suona & alto saxophone), Mallory Soto (voice), Ang Wilson (flute).
Recorded by Felix Salazar. Cover photography by Jess Castillo.
The work of the Danketsu group - formerly 9, now 10 - has always revolved around ideas of unity, inclusion and equality. Their latest, completely improvised album titled 'From a distance, everything shines' embodies these ideals; in the subtlety of each contribution, the gentleness of each performer, the willingness to contribute to something greater than each member on their own. The music here is largely graceful, sublime, almost peaceful, and even the more harrowing moments dissolve into a conclusion that's uplifting. The title of the track “ชั่วเจ็ดทีดีเจ็ดหน” is a Thai Buddhist proverb which translates to “Bad seven times, good seven times”. Patrick Shiroishi, the leader of the group, explains that to him this means that “there is something good even in a bad situation.”