A university-trained percussionist, Japanese artist Yasukazu Sato gained attention for his international tours as composer for the innovative dance group Sankaijuku. His unusual combination of ancient Oriental forms, spacious musical atmospheres, and ceremonial percussion provided perfect accompaniment to the ritualistic movements and slowly unfolding acrobatic feats of this modern Japanese dance company. He has also scored several award-winning Japanese films, performed with American jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter and Japanese synthesist Himekami, and recorded a number of imaginative solo albums. ~ Linda Kohanov