EPICH Brings Contemporary Jazz Into a Rich New Soundscape With “YAKUMO”

Japanese contemporary jazz project EPICH returns with “YAKUMO,” a detailed and expressive piece that brings together acoustic instrumentation, modern grooves and subtle electronic elements.

Led by Japanese pianist and composer Mitsuo Kabuki, EPICH approaches jazz with a strong focus on storytelling. The project’s name combines the words “EPIC,” representing grand stories, and “ECHO,” representing resonance. That idea of painting stories through sound sits at the heart of “YAKUMO,” a track designed to balance technical complexity with a clear emotional narrative.

Acoustic piano plays a central role in the composition, supported by dynamic time signatures and contemporary rhythmic ideas. The track also features bassist Keisuke Furuki and drummer Kaoru Suzuki, whose rhythm section helps give “YAKUMO” its distinctive energy and odd-meter groove. Guest scat vocals from Aya Kurosawa add another expressive layer to the arrangement, while carefully placed electronic textures expand its contemporary character.

Another important part of “YAKUMO” is the level of creative control behind the recording. Kabuki handled the entire production process in his own studio, taking responsibility for recording, mixing and mastering. This self-produced approach allows the different acoustic and electronic elements to come together as part of a single artistic vision.

EPICH has been developing this identity since the project launched in 2023. Every EPICH single released since then has been featured on official Apple Music playlists, while Kabuki’s earlier composition “AKITA” was named a Semi-Finalist in the International Songwriting Competition.

With “YAKUMO,” EPICH continues to explore the meeting point between contemporary jazz, fusion and electronic sound. The result is an ambitious collaboration that combines skilled musicianship, unusual rhythmic movement and storytelling into a carefully constructed musical experience.