Yokai! Songs of the Japanese Supernatural in Concert

Yokai are beings from Japanese folklore and have been depicted throughout Japanese art history. They come in human, animal, or even inanimate forms. Images of Yokai are often fantastic, bizarre, mysterious, grotesque, sometimes haunting or humorous, and overall, simply wonderful. The songs from Yokai! Songs of the Japanese Supernatural are inspired by such supernatural beings . The music is modern jazz, but the varied instrumentation allows for a diverse range of styles and moods. The performance will be accompanied by images of the 19c. Japanese woodblock prints that inspired the compositions. Bassist Fumi Tomita, professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, leads this multimedia performance of a jazz quartet. The quartet features Carl Clements on tenor and soprano saxophones and flute; Jason Ennis on electric and acoustic guitars; Gary Fieldman on drums; and Fumi Tomita on acoustic bass. Combining music and visuals of 19th century Japanese woodblock prints, Yokai is a multimedia performance you won’t forget. Presented by Fumi Tomita, Associate Professor of Jazz, Umass Amherst Image: Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Japanese, 1798 – 1861), The Ama and the Buddha Crystal, 1853, woodblock print, Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, MA, Raymond A. Bidwell Collection, 60.D05.694 In-person only! Tickets are available on the day of the lecture in the Welcome Center. Members: FREE Springfield residents: $4 Nonmembers: $4