The creation of Masayoshi Fujita¡¯s ¡°Migratory¡± began with a homecoming. The new album from the vibraphonist and marimba player, 46, marks a return to Japan after 13 years of life in Berlin, a transition from the urban hub of uber cool to the inaka (countryside) of Kebioka, a mountain village in Hyogo Prefecture. ¡°Berlin is an inspiring place to be,¡± he says, ¡°but living and creating in nature was my long-time dream.¡±
Fujita originally planned to convert a traditional Japanese house into a home studio, but something else appeared on his radar: an old kindergarten building. It was modern and concrete instead of closer-to-nature vernacular design, but it proved workable. ¡°Looking back now, it was a great decision,¡± Fujita says. Mountain views aside, the structure is well soundproofed, and it¡¯s easier to maintain a comfortable temperature. ¡°I can see the mountains and clouds while I make or listen to the music,¡± he adds.
Sense of place informed the album¡¯s creative process and, at its core, ¡°Migratory¡± has location as its beating heart. ¡°Everyone has their own history and story across the continents, which gave me the idea of migratory birds,¡± says Fujita.
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