The shakuhachi is a traditional Japanese bamboo flute. It was first introduced into Japan, from China, over 1200 years ago. The name "shakuhachi" literally means 1.8 feet but the shakuhachi can range from 1 to over 3 feet in length. The history of the shakuhachi has been colourful and varied, ranging from its use as a spiritual tool by Zen Buddhist monks to its use as a weapon and as a cover for spying by samurai warriors! Today, the shakuhachi can be heard from the jazz club, to the movie theatre, to the concert hall. The instrument is simple in construction, a bamboo tube with five finger holes and a blowing edge. In the hands of a master, the shakuhachi can produce many subtle nuances in breath, timbre and pitch. The sound of the shakuhachi can be as expressive as the human voice.

“Haunting and evocative …”
“Beautiful …”
“Mesmerising …”