Nominated for the Best Contemporary Instrumental album at the 2024 GRAMMY awards, House of Waters is at the forefront of jazz innovation. House of Waters, incorporates elements of West-African, jazz, psychedelic, indie rock, classical and world music into their astonishingly unique sound. For sixteen years, Max ZT (hammered dulcimer) and Moto Fukushima (six-string electric bass) have carefully crafted a combined voice. Their rare instrumentation allows for the two prolific composers to create a distinct sound, and a compelling and captivating style.
Max ZT, a master of the hammered dulcimer, and Moto Fukushima, an innovative six-string bassist, have released two albums on the Grammy Award-winning group Snarky Puppy’s GroundUp label. Their first album reached #2 on the iTunes World Music chart, while the second hit #4 on the iTunes Jazz chart. Their latest project, On Becoming, features percussionist Antonio Sanchez. Max, originally from Chicago and now based in Brooklyn, began playing the dulcimer at age two and later expanded his repertoire by studying West African music in Senegal. Fukushima, born in Kobe, Japan and now based in NYC, blends his background in Japanese traditional music with jazz to create a unique style characterized by finesse and power. Together, they push the boundaries of sound and composition with creativity and curiosity.