This project emerged from thoughts about mesmeric experiences such as listening to cicadas and gurgling creeks, or sitting in front of a campfire. I find these sensory experiences that are rapid, changing, and highly granular sonically or visually a great source of inspiration when asking drumming questions. Over the past year or so I’ve been thinking about these themes whilst creating new drumming materials that have ever-shifting levels of granularity and overlapping knottiness (in conjunction with the granular possibilities of the Lyra 8). It was a great pleasure to explore these thoughts, themes and materials with Hinano for this recording.
About Simon Barker
Since 1990 Simon has performed regularly throughout Australia, Europe, Asia and the US. He has produced a large collection of solo drumming recordings over the past 20 years and has been involved in numerous ongoing collaborative projects including Chiri (trio with Bae il Dong and Scott Tinkler), Showa 44 (duo with Carl Dewhurst), duo with Scott Tinkler, and most recently, a duo with saxophonist Hinano Fujisaki.
He has also played regularly with many of Australia’s most established ensembles including the Phil Slater Quintet, Matt McMahon trio, the Australian Art Orchestra, Vince Jones, Paul Grabowsky sextet, Cameron Undy’s 20th Century Dog, Stu Hunter, as well as various groups led by Scott Tinkler. Over the past few years Simon has collaborated with numerous local and international artists including Jen Shyu, Gian Slater, Kim Hyelim, Chris Hale, Tony Malaby and Kris Davis, Jo Jonghun and Lim Mijeong (Byeolsinak), Mary Rapp and Carl Dewhurst, as well as with Henry Kaiser, Bill Laswell, and Rudresh Mahanthappa.
About Hinano Fujisaki
Hinano Fujisaki is a jazz saxophonist, improviser and composer based in Eora/Sydney, Australia.
In September 2023, Hinano released her debut EP “Home Is” under Sydney label “People Sound” to much acclaim in the jazz and improvised music community, performing the music at Phoenix Central Park, MONA and Sydney Improvised Music Association’s (SIMA) International Women's Jazz Festival.
Hinano recently featured on Simon Barker’s new release, “Tymbal Echoes” (2025). She has also released albums “Where you Came From” (People Sound 2021) with jazz-improv trio “Sandcastles” and “Wild Wild East” (ABC Jazz Commission 2024) with jazz quartet “Zodiac”. This year in January, Hinano toured Asia with “Zodiac”, performing the music in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Hinano was recently awarded the Judy Bailey Jazz Connection Emerging Composers Scholarship. As a composer, Hinano blends jazz, improvised, ambient and folk music, weaving together melodies and exploring different textures and forms. She has collaborated with directors to compose for short films including “Echoes of the Lake” by Lonefish Productions (2024) and “Essence of You” by Mellowminh (2025).