Solo is the second solo acoustic guitar album from Japanese-born guitarist/composer/singer/songwriter Hiroya Tsukamoto. I was fortunate enough to host a house concert for Hiroya in May 2019 and was deeply moved and impressed by his performance. Hiroya came to the US in 2000 on a scholarship to Berklee College of Music. While in Boston, he founded the group Interoceanico, which included unique musicians from different continents. The group released three albums. As a solo guitarist, Hiroya has released three albums, with a new one on the way. He has performed in concerts around the world and won second place in the International Finger Style Guitar Championship in 2018. The music on Solo arose, in part, from experiments with different guitar tunings. Smooth and mellow with plenty of substance, all ten tracks are original compositions and all are beautiful!

Solo begins with “Icy Day,” a minimalist, ambient piece that is perfect in its brevity (a little more than a minute) and sure to give you a shiver! “From Coast to Coast” conveys feelings of momentum and of moving forward. With several distinct themes, each section is a little different from the others yet they fit together seamlessly. “Dawn” gently expresses the soft pastel colors and promise of a new day. “Media Noche” is a favorite. A bit darker and more mysterious than the other tracks, the title translates to “Midnight,” so that makes sense! I also really like “Salvador,” which has a strong classical guitar influence and seems to be telling a story. The wistful and dreamy “Waiting for April” dances lightly on the guitar strings - also a favorite. “Longing” brings this lovely album to a close with a piece written in a more Japanese style - heartfelt and beautifully expressed!

Solo is available from www.HiroyaTsukamoto, Amazon and iTunes.