Daniel Rotem: Yūgen with Anthony Wilson, Vardan Ovsepian, Michael Valerio & Clarence Penn

Daniel Rotem (saxophones), Anthony Wilson (guitar), Vardan Ovsepian (piano), Michael Valerio (bass), Clarence Penn (drums)

A Japanese aesthetic concept, Yūgen refers to a beauty that suggests rather than shows, that invites you to feel rather than define; an awareness of the universe that triggers an emotional response too deep and mysterious for words. Yūgen is made up of two Japanese characters: the first, “yu,” means dim, hidden, or difficult to see. The second, “gen,” originally described the dark, tranquil color of the universe—something calm and deep, mysterious. Aesthetician, playwright, and actor Zeami Motokiyo described Yūgen: “To watch the sun sink behind a flower clad hill. To wander on in a huge forest without thought of return. To stand upon the shore and gaze after a boat that disappears behind distant islands. To contemplate the flight of wild geese seen and lost among the clouds…” In his new musical project, Daniel…