Accomplished pianist Junichiro Ohkuchi leads a trio of solid veterans in the straight-ahead jazz tradition on his 2016 album Invisible. The trio works well together, demonstrating the equal partnership and careful intercommunication that occurs between professional jazz musicians. Evident throughout is a confident sense of risky looseness, with complete control of timing and notes, each member supporting and energizing one another.

The pianist Ohkuchi contributes three original songs (the opener is a highlight) with other tunes by Andrew Hill, Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, and others – undoubtedly influences on Ohkuchi’s piano style.

The result is a skilled piano trio having a great time making high-caliber jazz.

Invisible by Junichiro Ohkuchi Trio

• Junichiro Ohkuchi - piano
• Yasushi Yoneki - bass
• Tamaya Honda - drums

Released in 2016 on Big Mouth Records as Invisible.

Japanese names: Junichiro Ohkuchi 大口純一郎 (Ohkuchi Junichiro) Yasushi Yoneki 米木康志 (Yoneki Yasushi) Tamaya Honda 本田珠也 (Honda Tamaya)

Audio and Video

• Live video of the Junichiro Ohkuchi trio in 2021
• Live video from 2008

• Excerpt from track #1: “Sopa de Ajo”

Jazz of Japan #16 • Feb 13, 2018 (rev. Mar 1, 2024) • Brian McCrory

Related albums: Major to Minor (1993), Dois (2013), Song of Flower (2011)