Review: OHNomad’s “Universal Connection – Junko” Honors Identity Through Precision and Intimacy

OHNomad’s new piece, “Universal Connection – Junko,” does something most compositions don’t even try to: it tells a personal story without saying a single word. The trio for flute, cello, and piano feels more like a letter to someone than a performance for an audience. That someone, in this case, is Junko—a Japanese elder and architectural designer whose strength and grace inspired this third piece in OHNomad’s ongoing Universal Connection series.

The music is delicate without being passive. There’s a quiet confidence in the way the trio moves together, especially in the interplay between the flute and cello. Each instrument seems to carry a part of Junko’s presence. The flute phrases have a softness to them that never slips into sentimentality, and the cello provides something grounding—like the strength behind her calm. The piano doesn’t lead or follow. It weaves between the two, almost like a second voice in a shared memory.

What makes this piece effective is its sense of respect. There’s no theatrics, no overstatement. The performance, carried by longtime collaborators Ann Kuo, Keina Satoh, and Chi-Jo Lee, stays close to the center of the story. You can hear the care in each section, and it makes the whole thing feel intimate, like someone remembering a person they admire, not just writing about them.

In a film, this kind of composition wouldn’t work as filler or background. It’s too detailed. It would hold in moments of reflection—when a character sees their past or connects with something bigger than themselves. The cultural tones are subtle, never leaned on too heavily, and that’s what gives it depth. This isn’t about representing a place or a sound. It’s about a person. And that feels more meaningful.

OHNomad’s Universal Connection series continues to be one of those rare musical projects that takes on something abstract—heritage, history, friendship—and makes it feel specific. “Junko” is quiet, but you remember it. Like someone who doesn’t raise their voice but leaves a mark anyway.