Wa Kei Sei Jaku

Leon Todd Johnson's second album for Whited Sepulchre Records - Wa Kei Sei Jaku - was inspired by his recent travels to Japan and traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Like his album From Nine Mornings these beautifully jazz-inflected neo-classical works are best experienced in the morning while during the first cup of coffee.

The album follows the four core principles of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. In these principles, Johnson found an analog to the tracks he was recording. Each seemed to embody a principle as he listened back, weaving samples from the interview throughout. The four tracks on Wa Kei Sei Jaku build on the lushness of From Nine Mornings. The peaceful piano melody of “wa” is met with some of the most expressive bass work Johnson has recorded—muted runs blend with strings to explore harmony. “Kei” builds into a serene crescendo with arpeggiated piano and violin counter-melodies, while “jaku”, as the name suggests, lets piano melodies hang in the air with just enough time to land. Connecting to the theme more personally, Johnson incorporated field recordings of various tea house gardens from his trip to Japan, as well as sounds from his own morning tea ritual into the compositions. Percussive elements, roomy scrapes, and the tinkling of metal against china all capture his daily practice—one shared by fans who use his music to ease into their days.

The album will be celebrated with a collaborative release from Cincinnati-based Wendigo Tea, who will offer a limited-edition blend inspired by the record. Since recording Wa Kei Sei Jaku, Johnson has become a father. It’s not lost on him that amid the world-upending experience of first-time parenthood, he’s stepping away from a moniker and confidently imbuing these songs with his full self—as much as the self can ever be fully known.