Sumi Tonooka - Under The Surface (2025) [Hi-Res]

Under the Surface is a suite of seven pieces, inspired by the roots of trees and how they work together as underground systems to support the survival of all trees, even outside of their own species. This complex system is called the "wood wide web,” or the "mycorrhizal network." I think of this as a metaphor from nature about community - turning the notion of survival of the fittest on its head - to mean that the strong reach out to help the weak and the damaged, fostering a collective cooperation that supports the whole. In other words, humans need each other and must work together to survive and thrive, just like trees. Under the Surface has been made possible with support from Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works program funded through the generosity of the Doris Duke Foundation.