Patrick Shiroishi – “The Long Bright Dark”

The final single from composer and saxophonist Patrick Shiroishi’s upcoming album, Hidemi, is out today:

The inventive album is completely instrumental, aside from a single line in this track, the album’s closer. Shiroishi sings in Japanese, “Is this the end of the storm?”

Patrick’s last album, Descension focused on the experience of people in the U.S.-established Japanese concentration camps, while Hidemi focuses on the personal experience of his grandfather, Hidemi Pat ShiroishI, after release.

Shiroishi is the sole musician on the entirety of the album, playing alto, baritone, tenor, C melody, and soprano saxophones (who knew there were so many different types of saxophones?? Probably some people, but not me).

In true American Dreams fashion, the album is also released with a chapbook, Tangled, curated and edited by Shiroishi featuring art and writing by fellow Asian-American artists such as Dylan Fujioka, Mai Sugimoto, Tashi Dorji, Susie Ibarra. Tangled highlights their experiences and thoughts, particularly in the face of the recent uptick in violence against Asian-American people

In an essay from the chapbook, Shiroishi discusses the Japanese concept of “‘gaman,’ which means to endure the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity, or simply put, to bite your tongue.”  Shiroishi states, “We can no longer ‘gaman.’ We must be loud and speak up, so what our grandparents and ancestors went through will not be forgotten or taken for granted.” 

Hidemi is out 10/29 on American Dreams. Pre-order here.

Header photo credit: Kristin Cofer