09/06/2025
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~ Be-Zen ~
Have you ever heard of "Bizen Pottery"?
One of the oldest pottery traditions in Japan, still produced today in Okayama Prefecture.
Bizen pottery is made from pure earth without the addition of chemicals. Its secret lies solely in its manufacturing method. It uses only God-given earth and masters.
It is said that Bizen is so unbreakably strong that you can throw the pottery against a wall. Tea or coffee apparently tastes better made from Bizen. So Bizen was very popular in Sa-Do, Japanese tea ceremony.
BSC-TRM2 "Be-Zen" (pronounced Bi-Zen) was just a test to combine various details. However, as I saw and played the trumpet more and more, I was increasingly reminded of Bizen pottery, my favorite pottery since childhood.
Other trumpet players were surprised by the extremely high dynamic range; it can be very loud, but at the same time you can feel the warmth and sensitivity of the piano, which is magical and touches the audience.
Bizen pottery looks natural, and each reveals a different face. Its appearance can change over time. A special Japanese ideal of beauty is aging through natural influences or daily use. In Japanese gardens, moss must grow, and ponds must be green. The garden master works carefully to understand the origin of his creation and preserve natural balance. He does not plant moss or dye pond water. True perfection lies invisibly behind the superficial result. Japanese admire the moment.
I was lucky to meet jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter. He explained his ideal sound to me: He draws a line on his face with his finger. He doesn't want a sound like a clean, perfect face, but rather a face with deep scars that tells a person's entire story honestly and authentically.
ZEN says, "There should be nothing between you and you in the mirror." An absolute clarity that is invisible and means nothing and infinity at the same time. Then you are so pure and authentic.
I feel that the BSC-TRM2 "Be-Zen" contains all beauty within itself: appearance, sound, and entire background.
Try it out!