Fumie Chiba Trio: Echoes

Nov 09, 2025

Echoes is the title of the second album from the Fumie Chiba Trio, made up of pianist and composer Fumie Chiba, bassist Tetsuji Koji, and drummer Kaoru Suzuki. This forty-nine minute album from 2013 contains ten original songs from Chiba and includes eight songs played by the trio and two for solo piano. Chiba’s trio playing style is modern contemporary jazz with rock-leaning straight beats and composed bridges, interludes, and heavy vamps that all add extra flair around melodies and jazz improvisation.

Echos follows her debut recording Tip of Dream (2009) and solidly establishes Chiba’s focus on original compositions evocative playing continued on her later albums Roguequeue (2015), Beautiful Days (2017), and Canvas (2022).

Liner Notes

(Translated from Fumie Chiba’s original Japanese liner notes.)

1.echo

Echo imagines a trio that reverberates and dissipates together and is often played at the beginning of our performances. This song received a finalist song award in the 2012 John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

2.dawn

As my train headed towards a place I was visiting for the first time, I had complex feelings of anticipation and anxiety mixed together. The dawn sky gradually moved from the east, overflowing with bright colors. I wrote about that time combined with scenes from my imagination.

3.snow

I opened a window and, without realizing it, I saw the roundness of the sky’s ceiling through silently falling snow.

4.flow

Floating, the trio’s sound flows comfortably through space.

5.closer

In a distant foreign country, dancers step and clap their hands as they continue to dance on…

6.garden

A large green garden spreads out and brims with gentle feelings where a melody is played through warm bass tones.

7.parabola

Just as an athlete’s thrown javelin seems to go on forever drawing a parabolic path in the sky, this song also goes.

8.memai

This was originally a song I wrote thinking that it would be played by string or wind instruments. I perform this as a classically arranged solo carried on the clear notes of a Bechstein piano.

9.trinity

With a simple theme based on a trinity, the trio’s performance goes on to change kaleidoscopically.

10.H.M.

One song, recorded as a piano solo, was added as a epilogue to the album.

千葉史絵/Fumie Chiba/Piano

From Saitama Prefecture. Started classical piano at 6 years old. After graduating from Shizuoka University Graduate School, studied under Manabu Oishi and Yukiko Nishi. Studied composition with contemporary music composer Satoru Ikeda. Currently active in the metropolitan Tokyo and Yokohama areas.

Released her trio album Tip of Dream on June 27, 2009.

Her trio performed at the 2009 Yokohama Jazz Promenade Competition and won the Jazz Club Award.

In September 2012, her original song “Echo” received a finalist award in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. She likes rabbits. She also likes curry. She is blood type A and bad at organization.

铁井孝司/Tetsui Koji/Bass

Born in 1974. From Tokyo. With a father who was a woodblock artist and who loved jazz and classical music, he became familiar with various types of music by listening from a young age. Majored in jazz music at the University of North Texas College of Music. Studied bass under John Adams and Lynn Seaton.

Currently performing as a regular member of Shimpei Ruike’s band as well as with popular jazz diva Karen Aoki on the recording of her album Voyage and as touring support bassist, in addition to various live recording sessions in the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan area. Received accolades as an arranger and composer, and supplied original songs and direction for singer-songwriter Yurika Ohishi’s third album gleaming line.

鈴木カヲル/Kaoru Suzuki/Drums

Started drums at a young age as a member of the Kawasaki Boys and Girls Choir. Received a scholarship in 1997 to attend the Boston Berklee College of Music. Obtained an artist visa and performed at events including a reception party for former American Vice-President Al Gore and as the opening act for Ray Charles. Returned to Japan in 2001 and is currently active in the Tokyo area as a member of groups including the instrumental band RF and Takeshi Nakatsuka’s support band.