LITTLE WOODEN BRIDGE
Electronic Press Kit
ABOUT THE PROJECT
LITTLE WOODEN BRIDGE is a contemporary jazz trio with roots deep in world, classical, pop, and electronica. The brainchild of KAI KUROSAWA, LWB is the perfect setting to highlight his unique ability to improvise mesmerizing solos and bass lines while adding the harmonic counterpart. IAN RAPIEN’s saxophones provide melodramatic lead and harmonic lines which are brought to life through his voracious solos. Sophisticated, daring and bonded with humor, the organic musical arch of this trio will leave you smiling.
LATEST RELEASE
FULL PERFORMANCE VIDEO
THE MUSICIANS
Kai Kurosawa
Kai picked up the electric bass at the age of fifteen. Today his primary axe is Kūbo (aka the Aircraft Carrier); a custom 15-string instrument which he co-developed with renowned luthiers Michael & Daniel Tobias (MTD). Kai is self-taught and also self-created fresh new cutting edge musical techniques for this unique instrument. Widely considered as truly one of a kind player, he is frequently invited to teach seminars and clinics in the United States, Europe, and Asia. He is consistently busy working with various bands and creative projects; genres include jazz, progressive metal, rock, pop, and electronic music. To name a few collaborators, he has worked with musical masters such as Hiromi, Thomas Lang, Gary Novak, Vinny Golia, ISAO, Shane Gibson(korn), Charmaine Clamore, Kiyomi Otaka, Ponta Shuichi, and Andrea Centazzo. When not on tour, he works as a producer/programmer and gives online lessons. Kai currently resides in Los Angeles.
IAN RAPIEN
"In my travels, I am exposed to hundreds of saxophonists every year. Ian Rapien is by far the most unique saxophonist I have heard in years", says best-selling saxophone recording artist Walter Beasley. "In addition to his incredible delivery his compositions are equally impressive.
Rapien's compositional style "blurs the lines between Jazz, Electronica, Progressive Rock, and Jam-Band Styles, making the piece sound like a cross between Miles Davis, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, and the Dave Mathews Band" (Jazziz Magazine). Always in search of creating new forms of expression, Rapien created his group Spectral Awakenings in 2002, envisioning a new brand of Jazz that could excite both jazz musicians and those newer to the idiom. Spectral Awakenings combines Rock, World, Groove, Electronica, and Odd-Time Signatures in an improvisational format. Performances have included Singapore, Peru, Los Angeles, Boston, and New York City, culminating in a 3-year monthly residency at the world-famous 55 Bar in Manhattan.
Little Wooden Bridge "Duo Sessions" was recorded on May 23 2021. Kai Kurosawa & Chuck van Haecke, long time musical partners, started to work on new and old tunes to adapt to the current climate. Little Wooden Bridge is focusing on its trio form (2022) now, but here is the session that it all started. These sessions can be viewed in it's entirety below.
This bandcamp release includes previously unreleased "11 Waters"
credits
released April 1, 2022
KAI KUROSAWA - MTD KŪBO
CHUCK van HAECKE - DRUMS
