Last summer music fans around the world were saddened when highly influential Japanese composer/musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, whose lengthy list of credits include membership in iconic ’70s electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra to acting and composing the 1983 film Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, announced that he had been diagnosed with throat cancer and was planning to take a break from all professional activities.
“After much thought and consideration,” Sakamoto wrote on his website, “I have decided to concentrate on treating it. I deeply regret causing so many people considerable inconvenience. However, the first wealth is health, and hence this bitter decision.”
Though Sakamoto hasn’t shared any health updates with his followers, it has been announced that an improvised live performance he participated in July 2013 at The Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media’s ten-year anniversary with Taylor Deupree and Tokyo duo Illuha (Corey Fuller and Tomoyoshi Date) will be released on Deupree’s 12k imprint on January 27.
According to a missive, the musicians who had never played together before “were taken aback by the level of listening and restraint that flowed between them. The audience sat in a breathless silence, the music offering a respite from the thick July air.”
Have a listen to the utterly gorgeous “Movement, 3” from the album below.