Chine was the younger sister of Mukai Kyorai, the author of last week’s poem. Chine died in 1688, at 26. This week's haiku is Chine’s death poem. It led me to a slow, fairly sad improvisation in D Dorian, played on AAS Player VST synth (patch: 'To the Unknown Man', in 'Angelicals' by Andre Ettema). 
Recorded and mixed in Reaper with Frostbite2 added.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Firefly (naviarhaiku377)

A fairly short and quite simple improvisation (in A Aeolian) inspired by this week's haiku, by Ichihara Tay-Jo (1776-1865). Played on Klevgrand's Pipa VST synth. Recorded and mixed in Reaper. Added effects: Frostbite2 and Seventh Heaven reverb.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Planting Song (naviarhaiku384)

This is a recycled improvisation that I did a while ago. It seems to suit my haiku for this week. It's played on a six-string fretless bass, with some effects added. Recorded and mixed in Reaper. Mastered with CloudBounce.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Looking, Not Seeing (naviarhaiku425)

This haiku, by Santoka Taneda (1882-1940), inspired my improvisation on LABS (by Spitfire Audio). Recorded and mixed in Reaper. Mastered with CloudBounce.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

The Long Night (naviarhaiku426)

Issa's lovely haiku inspired this improvisation played on guitar and VST synthesizer (Phoenix Mirage). Recorded and mixed in Reaper with added effects: Frostbite2 and Neunaber Wet reverb. Mastered with CloudBounce.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Silent River (naviarhaiku437)

This week's haiku, by Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902), inspired an improvisation on Equator2 VST synthesizer, played on two ROLI Seaboard Blocks, with added effects. Recorded and mixed in Reaper.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

The Sound Of Water (naviarhaiku450)

This lovely haiku by Taylor Wray led me towards the Phrygian mode. My improvisation, in E Phrygian, is played on Babylon VST synth. Recorded and mixed in Reaper, with Frostbite2 added. Mastered with CloudBounce.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

First Light (naviarhaiku451)

A short improvisation (in A Aeolian) in response to Hakyo's haiku. Played on Acoustic Shadows VST synthesizer, with added effects: Neunaber Wet reverb and Valhalla delay. Recorded and mixed in Reaper. Mastered with CloudBounce.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

White Peaks (naviarhaiku455)

Trying out a new guitar (Squier Starcaster) for my improvisation inspired by this week's haiku. Recorded in Reaper with Guitar Rig 6 effects. Mastered with CloudBounce.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Open Road (naviarhaiku466)

This week's haiku, by Michael Dudley, inspired this improvisation, played on a sequence from Dune2 VST synthesizer, plus a flugelhorn sound from Garritan Jazz and Big Band. Recorded and mixed in Reaper; mastered with CloudBounce.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Misty Daydream (naviarhaiku484)

This week's haiku, by Natsume Soseki (1867-1916), inspired this improvisation on an Irish Bouzouki. Recorded and mixed in Reaper with added effects from Guitar Rig 6; mastered with CloudBounce.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

South Mountain (naviarhaiku485)

This week’s haiku, by Santōka (1882-1940), inspired this improvisation. Played on a Dean 12-string bass guitar, with multiple effects added. Recorded and mixed in Reaper. Edited with CloudBounce.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Morning Star (naviarhaiku492)

Marco's lovely haiku inspired this improvisation, played originally on Mai Tai VST synth (within Studio One 6). Because I'm not yet used to working in Studio One, I had a few problems and moved it into my usual DAW, Reaper, then did some quite heavy editing before mastering with CloudBounce. It's a bit of a mash-up but I hope it captures the feel of a desolate street at dawn...  :)
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Desolate Dawn (naviarhaiku493)

Raymond's lovely haiku inspired this sparse improvisation on guitar (Les Paul) plus effects. Recorded and mixed in Reaper; mastered with CloudBounce.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Spring Meadow (naviarhaiku495)

This week's haiku, by Hege A. J. Lepri, inspired this improvisation on a Doheny guitar, plus effects. 
Recorded and mixed in Reaper.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Cumulus (naviarhaiku499)

Congratulations to Marco on reaching haiku 500! :)
Andrea Cecon's peaceful haiku led me to this improvisation (in D Dorian - yes, it's probably my favourite mode). Played on LABS (by Spitfire): Soft Piano VST. Recorded and mixed in Reaper, with added effects: Valhalla Shimmer and Valhalla FreqEcho. Mastered with CloudBounce.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Morning Solace (naviarhaiku500)

This week's haiku, by Enomoto Seifu (1732-1815), led me to this improvisation on Mai Tai VST synth. Recorded in Studio One and edited in Reaper, with Frostbite added.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Drifting Butterfly (naviarhaiku501)

Darren's lovely haiku inspired this fairly minimalist improvisation on a Les Paul guitar, plus effects: GuitarRig 6 and Frostbite 2. I've tried to reflect the ground-bound caterpillar trying out her new wings and then becoming airborne. 
Recorded and mixed in Reaper. Mastered with CloudBounce.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Metamorphosis (naviarhaiku503)

This week's haiku, by Natsume Seibi (1749-1816), inspired this improvisation, played on Dune 3 VST synthesizer. Recorded in Reaper, no added effects, mastered with CloudBounce.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Moonrays (naviarhaiku504)

This lovely haiku, by Ryōkan Taigu (1758-1831), inspired my solo guitar improvisation. Played on an Epiphone Casino guitar. Recorded in Reaper. 
UPDATE: I decided I didn't like my original version. This is a remix using Blue Cat's Axiom V2 instead of Guitar Rig 6.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

About A Leaf AXIOM REMIX (naviarhaiku506)

Raymond's haiku inspired me to dust off my electric upright bass for this minimalist improvisation. Recorded and mixed in Reaper, with Guitar Rig 6. Mastered with CloudBounce.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Dark Clouds (naviarhailu518)

This lovely haiku inspired a gentle improvisation on VST synth (LABS). Recorded in Reaper. Mastered with CloudBounce.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Winter Sky (naviarhaiku520)

Issa's lovely haiku led me to this improvisation (in D Dorian), played on 'A Frozen Moment' pad in Kontakt. Recorded in Reaper, mastered with CloudBounce.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

New Year's Sun (naviarhaiku521)

Marco's wistful haiku inspired this solo improvisation on my Ibanez semi-hollow 5-string fretless bass (SRH 505F).
Recorded and mixed in Reaper, using effects from Guitar Rig 6.
Mastered with CloudBounce.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

A Month For The Sea (naviarhaiku528)

A short improvisation on a Sigma (5-string EADGC fretted) acoustic bass, plus various effects. I was experimenting with adding a loop while editing in Reaper (by taking a short section of the solo and looping it).

Falling

Another unusual haiku by Ian Turner. I've responded - not too literally - with a quiet improvised track on VST piano, plus background from LABS 'London Atmos' VST. Listeners may imagine (or supply!) the 'wild applause' themselves.  :)
Recorded and mixed in Reaper.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Crescendo Of Silence (naviarhaiku346)

A lovely haiku this week by Kobayashi  Issa (1763-1828). My track is played on Arturia's Pigments VST synth. Recorded and mixed in Reaper with Valhalla Shimmer reverb added.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Cherry Blossoms (naviarhaiku347)

A great haiku this week by Darren Bourne. My response is an improvisation in D Dorian, played on Dune3 VST synth. Recorded in Reaper with Valhalla Space Modulator added.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Urban (naviarhaiku351)

An improvisation in C major, inspired by this week's haiku, by Bill Kenney:
    coffee break
    a crumb
    for the sparrow

Played on two instances of LABS (by Spitfire Audio). Recorded and mixed in Reaper with Frsotbite2 and Airwalker reverb added.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Sparrow (naviarhaiku353)

Another of Issa's wonderful haikus this week. My response is this improvisation, played on Cinematic Soft Piano (by Spitfire Audio), plus Action Delay (by NoiseAsh Audio) and Valhalla Shimmer. Recorded and mixed in Reaper.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Willow (naviarhaiku357)

A lovely haiku this week, by Basho disciple Morikawa Kyoroku (1656-1715), inspired this improvisation in E Phrygian. Played on Klevgrand's Pipa VST synth. Recorded and mixed in Reaper, with effects added: Neunaber Wet reverb, Frostbite2, Fabfilter Pro-Q2 and Pro-R.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Deep Water Dream (naviarhaiku364)

An improvisation in F minor, inspired by Basho's haiku. Played on Phoenix: Mirage VST synth (by Frozen Plain). Recorded and mixed in Reaper with added effects: Frostbite2 and FabFilter Pro-C2.
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

The End Of The Year (naviarhaiku365)

An old carousel
Riding peacocks and dragons
Distant memory

I'm honoured to have another of my haikus chosen for this week's challenge - thanks Marco!  :)
My improvised track is played on Madrona Labs' Aalto VST synth. Recorded and mixed in Reaper with Valhalla Delay added.
As a child, I used to love riding on the old and, by that time, rather decrepit 'peacocks and dragons' roundabout in the funfair at Sutton Park, on the edge of Birmingham. It was dismantled in the early 1960s but the organ was preserved and still appears at shows around the UK, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-q1-WkZJck
More pics of the old funfair here: http://www.sutton-coldfield.net/crystalpalace.html
Naviar haiku challenge: www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku/

Peacocks And Dragons (naviarhaiku366)

My music is freely improvised, usually on VST synthesizers, sometimes fretless bass, guitar, occasionally electric viola or cello, with a variety of effects pedals. Solo music is performed live and recorded as 'FlownBlue'.  I am also in four improvising duos: 'Windfall Light' (with Jim Tetlow), 'Abstract Blue' (with Kevin Buckland), 'Light Fragments' (with Steve Escott), and Szukanie (with Michał Wojciechowski). I'm a member of the Quadelectronic improv group based in Leicester, UK. Duo music is all on Bandcamp - links below.

Popular tracks by FlownBlue