Personnel: Kitaro (various instruments); Tadayasu Nishi, Jonathan Goldman (spoken vocals); Maso Ito (classical guitar); Angus Clark (electric guitar, 12 string guitar); Ryusuke Seto (biwa); Kristin Stordahl Kanda (transversal flute); Keiko Takahashi (hand drums, sound effects); Ty Burhoe (tabla, tamboura); Derek Zimmerman, Luis Perez (percussion); Gary Barlough, Miazawa, Rieko (sound effects).
Recorded at Mochi Studio, Ward, Colorado. Includes liner notes by Kitaro.
GAIA ONBASHIRA was nominated for a 1999 Grammy for Best New Age Album.
Personnel: Jonathan Goldman (chant); Angus Clarke, Angus Clark (electric guitar, 12-string guitar); Masa Ito (classical guitar); Ryusuje Seto (biwa); Ty Burhoe (tamboura, tabla); Kristin Stordahl Kanda (flute); Derek Zimmerman, Luis Perez (percussion).
Audio Mixer: Peter R. Kelsey.
Liner Note Author: Kitaro.
Recording information: Mochi Studio, Ward, CO.
Photographer: Kitaro.
Arranger: Kitaro.
GAIA ONBASHIRA pays tribute to Mother Earth and to Onbashira Matsuri, a festival celebrating the rebuilding of one of Japan's oldest structures, the Suwa Grand Shrine in Nagano. Kitaro, in other words, once again takes on two of his favorite themes: the importance of nature in our lives, and the need to maintain a spiritual connection to past traditions in this world of ever-increasing complexity and chaos. The album opens with bird imitations by Kitaro and guests (calling themselves "human birds"); the listener is then taken on a winding journey through a variety of sonic landscapes.
Stops along the way include the meditative "Tanne," evoking the image of mist-covered mountains from old Japanese paintings; the lushly orchestrated "Misty," reminiscent of Kitaro's award-winning score for Oliver Stone's HEAVEN & EARTH; and the droning, mildly Indian-influenced "Gaia," recalling his 1994 album, MANDALA. His textures range from the gentle and ethereal, bringing to mind his early treks along THE SILK ROAD, to the strident and pulsating, reminding us of his roots in progressive rock. He employs a rich array of instruments, including the Japanese biwa, the Indian tabla and tamboura, and the David Gilmour-inspired guitar work of Angus Clark.
