Michiyo Yagi

An imperial court instrument as a manga and anime star: the "vaulting board zither" koto has a very lively tradition in Japan. No one plays this instrument, still too rarely heard in Europe, in the international improvisation scene like Michiyo Yagi. The exceptional musician from Tokoname has been studying the koto since she was six years old, and has also played on it in rock, avant-pop and with John Zorn, Bill Laswell, Billy Bang or Peter Brötzmann. This year at the Jazzfestival Saalfelden 2023, the versatile multi-singer will be artist in residence with three very different bands: with drummer and percussionist Hamid Drake on the main stage and twice with her electronic formation Dōjō, once with Norwegian jazz guitarist and electronic musician Eivind Aarset and also with his compatriot Ingebrigt Haker Flaten (Atomic, The Thing, Motorpsycho) on bass.