Vocalist Ruriko Kawamura released Blossoms in 2016, her second album following her 2011 debut record Loo Loo.

The album is a relaxed tour through 11 varied tracks, all arranged by pianist Seiji Endo who backs up the vocalist throughout the disc. Six songs feature Kawamura singing as a duo with the pianist, and more color is added with violinist Noriko Satomi joining on three tracks and guitarist Akira Sekine joining on two others.

Much of the music has a romantic and nostalgic feeling, yet a modern sensibility is included on such tunes as Stevie Wonder’s “Overjoyed” and a surprising rendition of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way”, expressing Kawamura’s poppier side. In addition, the charming Irish folk song “Down By The Salley Gardens” is a sweet highlight, and two Japanese ballads (sung in Japanese) provide extra variety that boosts the album’s charm.

Starting quietly, Endo and Kawamura perform a heartwarming version of “The Rainbow Connection”, the uplifting Oscar-winning classic from The Muppet Movie. The duo is then joined by Noriko Satomi on violin for the next track “Nuovo Cinema Paradiso”, sung in Italian and a definite highlight for its lovesick achiness. Guitarist Akira Sekine then joins on Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” done as a slow rock ballad. The rest of the album continues in this eclectic, wistful manner, with jazz standards including “Route 66”, “Tennessee Waltz”, and “Summertime”, and a lovely version of the Beatles’ “In My Life”.

Blossoms by Ruriko Kawamura

• Ruriko Kawamura - vocal
• Seiji Endo - piano
• Noriko Satomi - violin
• Akira Sekine - guitar

Released in 2016 on LooLoo Entertainment Records as lulu001.

Japanese names: Ruriko Kawamura 河村留理子 Seiji Endo 遠藤征志 Noriko Satomi 里見紀子 Akira Sekine 関根彰良

Audio and Video

• A live version of Ruriko Kawamura singing “Down By The Salley Gardens” in 2011
• Ruriko Kawamura singing “The Waltz” live in 2011

• Excerpt from track #2: “Nuovo Cinema Paradiso”

Jazz of Japan #146 • Oct 19, 2021 • Brian McCrory