Makoto Horiuchi

In the seventies, Makoto met a group of artists, writers, and musicians who influenced his social process of identity. Makoto was searching for spiritual sustenance, while decolonizing his mind from the Eurocentric culture that permeates America.  Makoto’s music was informed by his own culture and search for a unique, personal sound. The root of his sound was found in traditional Asian music and an Asian sensibility brought to the music. He was and is a voracious listener of music from all cultures, not only traditional, but also pop music.

Makoto organized groups of musicians to bring his compositions to life. He was one of the first composers to use traditional instruments in his compositions, along with other trailblazers like Gerald Oshita, Russel Baba, and the Asian American Band Hiroshima in the early seventies.

He was also the first Asian American composer to be signed to a major label. He was signed to Qwest Records by Quincy Jones, who is one of the quintessential arrangers/composers/producers of the all time. Makoto became a Qwest recording artist along with artists including Patti Austin and James Ingram. He was privy to one of the most successful artistic collaborations in the history of the music business, between Quincy Jones and pop star Michael Jackson.

On his first, self-titled “Makoto” album, he featured top Asian American musicians Philip Woo, Hiroyuki Shido, and Peter Fuji. Mr. Woo has played with Roy Ayers, Grover Washington Jr., Patti Labelle, Ashford and Simpson, Whitney Houston, Kubota (Japanese R&B singer), and Exile (Jpop).

Makoto’s second album, called “Nside,” was also released on Qwest Records. A collaboration with lyricist, vocal arranger, and songwriter Siedah Garrett (Man in the Mirror), it featured musicians from his first album. Vocalists Portia Griffin and Claytoven Richardson were vocalists. The second album is on the pop side of Makoto’s vision.

Makoto’s latest album, “Spirit of the Island,” is a musical tribute to music that comes from Hawaii, Jamaica, Cabo Verde, and Okinawa and other islands, as well as music from West Africa, particularly Mali. It features the drumming of Eric Gravatt (Weather Report, McCoy Tyner) in a completely different musical setting. Masaru Koga is the reedman. He is featured on a Japanese fue (flute), as well as soprano and tenor saxophones.

Makoto has subsequently released albums on his collaborative label, KulTone Records. Sybil Thomas, the daughter of Rufus Thomas, released an album called “Breathe.” in the contemporary music scene, Sybil has sung with Luther Vandross, George Duke, Roberta Flack, and Donnie Hathaway. Veteran studio singer Portia Griffin, aka “Portia G” released an album called “Portia Faces Life.” Portia was in Jeffery Osborne’s band and the band, Sweet Inspirations, started by Whitney Houston’s mother, Cissy Houston. Makoto feels that what is called R&B today doesn’t capture the intangible vibe that the music initially had. And he wants to create a bridge to the future with that feeling on his label’s albums.

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