Local pianist and electronic musician Baraka released a new single, “Path of the Wind,” on Friday. The track is a live recording of a collaborative radio gig with jazz musician Justin Copeland and serves as the artists’ improvisational take on the song “The Path of the Wind” from the animated Japanese fantasy film “My Neighbor Totoro.”
“Path of the Wind” very much lives up to its name: it’s a breezy jazz tune with thoughtfully rendered instrumentation that calls to mind the peaceful beauty of the natural world. Copeland’s horn sound shines against an easy beat and contemplative keys laid down by Baraka.
Fans of the vaporwave sensibility of Baraka and Persona La Ave’s collaborative album Vapor will find something new to love in this track. Though not musically involved in the piece, Persona created the cover art, paying homage to song’s Japanese roots.
Stream “Path of the Wind” by Baraka and Justin Copeland below.