Ensō is one of the most common subjects of Japanese calligraphy even though it is a symbol and not a character. Ensō evoke power, dynamism, charm, humor, drama, and stillness.”Įnsō (円相) is a Japanese word meaning “circle” and a concept strongly associated with Zen. They seem to leave little room for variation, and yet in the hands of Zen masters, the varieties of personal expression are endless. Seemingly perfect in their continuity, balance, and sense of completeness, and yet often irregular in execution, ensō are at once the most fundamentally simple and the most complex shape. “.she’s got that certain crossover appeal that is fluent in urban R&B, contemporary jazz, rock and infectious Brazilian rhythms, resulting in music that’s not easily categorized, yet is thoroughly engaging.According to Audrey Yoshiko Seo, author of Ensō: Zen Circles of Enlightenment, “Zen circles, ensō, are symbols of teaching, reality, enlightenment, and a myriad of things in between. “At a time when music is in a state of flux mostly as a result of the virtual collision of idioms and metaphors, it is a joy to hear the voice of Monday Michiru.” (Latin Jazz Network) It’s also a musical love letter to my parents, who have been my biggest source of inspiration and encouraged me since my childhood, and to my son who I see blossoming every day as a young musician.” The truth is it’s getting harder and harder to record and continue on my musical path, not to mention the sense of mortality everyone felt during the throes of the pandemic, and I felt this album had to be something I could put my all into. “This truly is a passion project from the deepest parts of my musical heart. True to her love of creating hybrids and breaking conventional genres, perhaps the result of her bi-cultural mix as the daughter of Japan’s National Living Treasure and Jazz Master Toshiko Akiyoshi as well as jazz saxophonist Charlie Mariano and Tabackin who helped raised her, the album flirts with jazz, soul, Brazilian, rock and other styles, but somehow comes together naturally. I really wanted Lew to give it a special vibe with his flute soloing and am psyched to get him on the recording.” Other musicians include David Kikoski, Misha Tsiganov, Fima Ephron, Gene Lake, Keita Ogawa, Cole Davis, Freddie Bryant, Sean Harkness, and many more.
“The first time I worked with Asuka, she had suggested this song, and as soon as I heard it, I knew I wanted to take a spiritual jazz approach to it. Eventually I was able to get a small business loan and decided to go ahead with the project myself but on a smaller scale and with a different angle.” Additional collaborations include orchestrator and big band leader Miho Hazama who lends her lush arrangement skills on two tracks, Brazilian cult artist Lucas Arruda who wrote an original song that Monday set lyrics to which he produced as well as played all the instruments on, Koto artist Asuka who has often been a special guest on Monday’s stage from Tokyo to New York to London, Philadelphia spoken word artist Ursula Rucker, and Monday’s stepfather, the legendary jazz saxophonist/flutist Lew Tabackin, who takes a solo over Monday’s arrangement of the Japanese folk song Ringo Oiwake. “We’d originally talked with a major label in Japan about making an orchestrated album all to be produced and arranged by Gil, but then the pandemic happened.
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“I wanted to revisit my roots which started in classical music and give a nod to the sonic journey that led me to where I am today, to come full circle.” A friendship forged with Grammy-award winning producer/arranger Gil Goldstein since her return from Japan to New York in 2000 led to the collaboration with Goldstein taking the helm on three tracks, including an original penned by Goldstein himself set to lyrics attributed to an Otto Luening work. The other meaning 演奏 = means performance. Japanese-American songstress/flutist/producer Monday Michiru entitled the album ENSO to have two meanings: 円相 = a calligraphy illustration of a circle depicting the Zen Buddhist concept of an expression of the moment as well as the cycle of life.
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