With a clean, clear pianist’s touch melding jazz with classical and a subtle rock sensibility, Hitomi Nishiyama’s 2007 album Many Seasons is reminiscent of great European jazz melodists (Giovanni Mirabassi comes to mind), with lyrical passages twisting through rich harmony and odd meters. Aside from the high technical prowess, the beautifully-written songs overflow with delicate emotion, with pangs of nostalgia and sweetness in abundance.

This album was recorded in Stockholm with two Swedish musicians, befitting the graceful melding of European and Japanese musical minds on display.

Many Seasons by Hitomi Nishiyama Trio

• Hitomi Nishiyama - piano
• Hans Backenroth - bass
• Anders Kjellberg - drums

Released in 2007 on Spice of Life as SOLJP-0005.

Japanese names: Hitomi Nishiyama 西山瞳

Audio and Video

• Live performance of Hitomi Nishiyama’s track #3 “Sakira”

• Excerpt from track #1: “フラッド (Flood)”

Jazz of Japan #14 • Feb 11, 2018 • Brian McCrory