Biogs:

Irish flute player Hanz Araki is the quintessential world music musician. After six generations, the name Araki is synonymous with the Japanese shakuhachi (an end-blown bamboo flute) which Hanz mastered making his professional debut in 1988.

After four years of concert appearances and teaching at the prestigious Keio University in Tokyo, Japan, Hanz returned to his hometown of Seattle, WA and found himself drawn to the world of Celtic music. The penny-whistle and the Irish flute became his single-minded focus, and jigs and reels became a second language. His unique style and passion were soon recognized and met with high praise.

Hanz also discovered his voice was well-suited to the songs of Scotland, Ireland, and England and is highly regarded for his interpretation of folk songs in what is one of the most exciting living traditions.

After several tours across the US, Canada, and the UK (first with the Juno Award winning Paperboys, then Casey Neill) as well as a return to Japan, now as a well-respected Irish flute-player, Hanz moved to Portland, OR in 2006. This move proved to be most fortuitous as it led to the musical partnership with Oregon-native

Kathryn Claire.

A self-taught guitarist and accomplished vocalist and fiddle-player, Kathryn has asserted herself in a new generation of traditionally-inspired musicians. Early classical training gave her a strong foundation, but naturally gave way to her own creative inclinations. Her violin-playing exhibits a technical grace which is matched only by her truly captivating voice. While she possesses the rare ability to move seamlessly across genres, her love and deep respect for traditional music has long been a driving influence, and those roots can be heard in her own original music, as well as her own distinctive take on folksongs.

Kathryn and Hanz quickly discovered a shared love of harmony — and a well-matched work ethic — and a creative process began that has produced a tremendous body of work. Their shared passion for traditional music is magnetic and they have become a favorite at music festivals and venues in the US and abroad. Frequent collaborators include Cary Novotny, Joe Trump, and Cal Scott (US); Takeaki Nagahama, Hirofumi Nakamura (Japan) and Aiko Obuchi (Japan).

Press Reviews

R2 March/April* * *

Songs Of Love & Murder is the fourth CD recorded in just one year by the proli?c American duo, Hanz Araki and Kathryn Claire. It’s a collection of well-known murder ballads and related tunes.

The son of lrish and Japanese parents, Araki’s father is grandmaster of the shakuhachi Japanes flute. Claire studied classical violin and voice, but is also a self-taught guitarist and songwriter. Residents of Portland, together they have amassed an impressive body of award-winning albums.

ln addition to singing, Araki plays flute and Claire plays fiddle and guitar. They are supported by Cary Novotny (guitar), Joe Trump (percussion) and Suzanne Taylor (piano). Araki plays a lyrical low whistle counter-melody to Claire’s lovely rendition of ‘Helen Of Kirkconnell’, while a simple but effective piano accompaniment underpins Araki’s singing of the haunting ballad, ‘The Banks Of Red Roses’.

The songs are broken up with flute and fiddle tune sets accompanied by relentless percussion, which I found rather too intrusive, particularly on ‘Unlucky In Love’.

Songs Of Love & Murder was recorded live, and the arrangements are simple but in keeping with the songs. It’s not going to set the world alight, but it’s well performed and is an enjoyable listen nevertheless. Keith Whiddon