Drops on Nov. 13, 2026!

The Sax Project 1
Feat. Dick Oatts

Migiwa Miyajima

Migiwa Miyajima brings long time Vanguard Jazz Orchestra saxophonist Dick Oatts together with Steve Wilson, Naomu Soeda, Andrew Gould, Ron Blake, Quinsin Nachoff, Carl Maraghi, KOTETSU

The Sax Projet 1 Preview

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  1. 1
    Haiku A 1:31
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  2. 2
    Will You Be My Friend? 4:19
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  3. 3
    Superstar Overloaded 3:53
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  4. 4
    My Yellow Blues 6:10
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  5. 5
    If I Could See Thad 5:17
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  6. 6
    Haiku B 2:24
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  7. 7
    Your Light Pours Through Every Gap 5:25
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  8. 8
    The Blooming Season 4:07
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  9. 9
    Sunset Embrace 7:18
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  10. 10
    Haiku C 2:12
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The 2023 recording sessions featured on this album were made possible in part with support from Café Royal Cultural Foundation. The Sax Project is a recipient of a 2025 grant from Chamber Music America’s Artistic Projects program, funded through the generosity of the Howard Gilman Foundation, for the Commission.

In this intimate saxophone album, composer Migiwa Miyajima paints a portrait of bonds between musicians, writing seven original pieces for each specific player and guiding three improvisations with Dick Oatts and jazz and classical artists from Japan and North America.

 

Recorded in New York City in 2023 and 2025

Streaming Platforms

Coming soon!

Physical CD

Includes a beautifully colored 4-panel jacket and a 6-page insert featuring English liner notes written by the composer, along with photos from the recording sessions from 2023 and 2025. The bonus tracks are included in the CD, too.

2023 Project Launch Video (2:20)

Team (Performers, Creators)

The Band:

Migiwa Miyajima (Composer, Conductor, Piano on 2, 7, 9, Voice Percussion on 3)

Dick Oatts (Soprano Saxophone on 2, 3, 5, 11-13 & Alto Saxophone on 7)

Steve Wilson (Soprano Saxophone on 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10 & Alto Saxophone on 2, 4, 7)

Naomu Soeda (Soprano Saxophone on 4 & Alto Saxophone on 1, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11-13)

Andrew Gould (Alto Saxophone on 3, 7, 9)

Ron Blake (Tenor Saxophone on 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11-13)

Quinsin Nachoff (Tenor Saxophone on 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

Carl Maraghi (Baritone Saxophone on all except 4)

KOTETSU (Voice on 1, 6, 8, 10)

 


 

Production:

1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 and Rehearsal Takes were recorded at Sear Sound Studio, Manhattan, NY, USA, on April 28 & May 2, 2023

Recording, Mixing and Mastering Engineer: Jay Messina

Assistant Recording Engineer: Steven Sacco

Studio Personnel: Jasper Leach

Editing Engineer: Satoshi Hashimoto

Producer: Migiwa Miyajima

Assistant Producer & Music Preparation: Joseph Herbst

Translator: Midori Kaneko

 

2, 3, 7 and 9 were recorded at Samurai Hotel Studio, Astoria, NY, USA on July 10, 2025

Recording, Mixing and Mastering Engineer: Jay Messina

Assistant Recording Engineers: David Stoller, Dylan Simon

Editing Engineers: Satoshi Hashimoto, Katsuhiro Tajima (Studio TLive)

Producer & Music Preparation: Joseph Herbst

Assistant for Dick Oatts: Adam Abhrams 

Package Design: 

Art Director / Designer: Ken Ito

Photographer: Hayato Sakurai

Hair & Makeup: Naomi Nishida

Stylist: Aika Funahashi (N.Creative)

Earrings: Yukiko Onoue

Health & Beauty Coach: Hitomi Morioka

Artistic Language Consultant: Michael Dudley

Documentary Videos: 

Videographer: Yuko Ishikawa, Hanae Uchida, Go Nemoto, Sachiko Okada

Award/Grants/Support: 

The 2023 recording sessions featured on this album were made possible in part with support from Café Royal Cultural Foundation. The Sax Project is a recipient of a 2025 grant from Chamber Music America’s Artistic Projects program, funded through the generosity of the Howard Gilman Foundation, for the Commission.
 

Management and PR: 

Miyuki Haga & Yuichi Uesugi (The Sixth Sense)
Lydia Liebman (Lydia Liebman Promotions)