Black Stage

Black Stage

Black Stage is a Japanese free improvisation group made up of Keiji Haino, Ryosuke Kiyasu and Natsuki Kido. It works in a live setting and is associated with acoustic guitar, violin and wind instrument performance.

Style and performance

The group’s music sits between European free improvisation and jazz. Its performances are built from improvisation, with the players shaping the direction of the music independently while still moving with a shared sense of purpose. The result is tightly coordinated playing, with passages that form cohesive melodies during the performance.

Recording

Black Stage is represented by a release containing three live tracks. It is also notable for featuring Keiji Haino on a wind instrument, which is presented as the only known recording of him in that role.