Hiroshima, the East Meets West jazz fusion band, has signed with the Heads Up label. Their next release will be issued on June 24, 2003. Dan Kuramoto, the group’s leader said, “Hiroshima has always been an attempt to create a unique, evolving, multicultural American music, like a mirror of our Pacific Rim communities. After 20 years, we are energized with the sense that our best work is in front of us.”

Hiroshima co-founder June Kuramoto finally gets to see her solo release, Spirit and Soul, in wide release next week. Although it’s been available at the Hiroshima web site for many months, you’ll now have a chance to buy the recording. June is one of the world’s foremost koto players and, as you might expect, the CD is a more personal work. She recently told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin that “the album has a lot of meaning to me. This is music from a woman’s perspective.” For more on June’s new release, and the Kuramotos thoughts on today’s music industry, check out the article.