Riley Lee

Riley Lee, a multi-instrumentalist working in new age styles, has earned acclaim for his refined compositions, above all through his command of the shakuhachi flute. Traditionally performed by Japanese Buddhist monks, the instrument elevated him to the rank of dai shihan, or grand master. His music conveys an atmosphere of deep meditation, serenity, and spirituality. With near-flawless execution, he renders intricate layers of ethnic fusion strikingly vivid. Active as a recording artist since the early ’80s, he entered a contract with the worldbeat label Narada in 1999. Buddha’s Dream appeared two years afterward, while New World Music simultaneously released the career overview Postcards from Bundanon. Lee next issued Yoga Tranquiliy and Music for Zen Meditation, a pair of austere shakuhachi albums crafted to support relaxation, yoga, and meditation. Narada followed in April 2003 with Picture Dreams, an album of duets featuring renowned koto player Satsuki Odamura.