Kin-Sen

A Collection of Slow Ballads That Touched Sato Yoshiaki's Heartstrings in His Youth


Although rooted in jazz, accordionist Sato Yoshiaki has made a name for himself by effortlessly transcending genre boundaries. Following Fuku-Sen (2024), his fifth solo album is Kin-Sen.

For some time, Sato had envisioned creating an album consisting entirely of gently swaying pieces that would showcase the accordion's uniquely expressive tone. At last, he has brought that vision to fruition with this collection of slow ballads-music that gives free expression to the beginnings of his own musical journey.

It all began with Yellow Magic Orchestra, whose music sparked his interest in sounds he could not hear on everyday television. While being captivated by Yano Akiko's gentle singing voice, he gradually gravitated toward jazz, discovering the consummate improvisational artistry of Kind of Blue, the power of Native Dancer, Giant Steps, and Again. Within jazz, Keith Jarrett's 24 Preludes and Fugues made an especially vivid impression.

Later, led by the melodies of Eastern Europe-particularly Bulgaria-he encountered Bosnian folk songs produced by Bojan Z, as well as performances by Daniel Mille, who would eventually become his mentor.

The album comprises 11 tracks, selected from a tapestry of encounters and memories, including an original composition inspired by a fleeting reunion with a friend. His goal was to create the ultimate background music.