Most people expect the kind of music played on a violin to be classical. Unless they're listening to internationally known violinist and composer Taro Hakase, that is, whose violin demonstrates melodies that can't be easily pigeonholed into any one musical category.
Hakase's songs have all the elements that enable music to reach out to its listeners -- rhythm, passion and expressiveness. What's unique, however, is the ease with which techno beats, Latin rhythms and jazz improvisations come together effortlessly in one musical number after another. Without lyrics to express himself, Hakase fills in quite well with his violin, perhaps even better than a singer could.
"I used to think that any genre besides classical music was not music until I heard the Sex Pistols," says Hakase. "Their punk rock music opened the door to a whole new world of possibilities for me and my music."
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