佐野まゆみ on Jazz of Japan | Brian McCrory https://www.jazzofjapan.com/tags/%E4%BD%90%E9%87%8E%E3%81%BE%E3%82%86%E3%81%BF/ Recent content in 佐野まゆみ on Jazz of Japan | Brian McCrory Hugo en-us Mon, 22 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Arco: Live At Yoncha https://www.jazzofjapan.com/arco-live-at-yoncha/ Mon, 22 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.jazzofjapan.com/arco-live-at-yoncha/ <p>The piano and cello duo Arco released <em>Live at Yoncha</em> in 2018, a performance recorded at a live music cafe bar in Tokyo. With six songs running 36 minutes, the set captures the feeling of being there as the two musicians blend jazz, classical, rock, Latin, and Japanese sensibilities.</p> <figure><a href="IMG_20180928_102744061-1024.jpg"> <img loading="lazy" src="IMG_20180928_102744061-1024.jpg"/> </a> </figure> <p>At live events, Arco’s magnetic charm never fails to rouse the crowd with their thought-out arrangements of touching music with irresistible good cheer. The duo connects with talent and pure sentiment, folding chords and melodies with deep feeling through classical/pop hybrids and moments of freewheeling fun.</p> The piano and cello duo Arco released Live at Yoncha in 2018, a performance recorded at a live music cafe bar in Tokyo. With six songs running 36 minutes, the set captures the feeling of being there as the two musicians blend jazz, classical, rock, Latin, and Japanese sensibilities.

At live events, Arco’s magnetic charm never fails to rouse the crowd with their thought-out arrangements of touching music with irresistible good cheer. The duo connects with talent and pure sentiment, folding chords and melodies with deep feeling through classical/pop hybrids and moments of freewheeling fun.

While the music is based on piano and cello, the duo does occasionally add surprises and extra effects using hand percussion, melodion keyboard, cello bow chops, and deep thumps and slaps on the cello’s wooden body.

On Live At Yoncha, the set kicks off with an original tune, the fiery “Fiesta”, followed by an elegantly reworked “Pachelbel’s Canon”, Eric Clapton’s “Change The World”, the fascinating and dramatic “Libertango”, and closes with two more originals: Mayumi Sano’s “Elegy” is an emotional ballad with wonderfully heavy long cello notes, while Sayaka Kishi’s “Dai Ni No Furusato” is a charming pop ballad with a flowery sweetness.

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]]> Arco: Birth https://www.jazzofjapan.com/arco-birth/ Sun, 03 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.jazzofjapan.com/arco-birth/ <p>The piano and cello duo Arco released their second album <em>Birth</em> in 2019, two years after their debut <em>Asymmetry</em>, showing grace and refinement in a matured and eternally sunny outlook.</p> <figure><a href="L1220699-1024.jpg"> <img loading="lazy" src="L1220699-1024.jpg"/> </a> </figure> <p>Opening with overdubbed cello playing a classical Bach theme, the duo kicks into their otherwise all-original songs featuring their airy style vibrating with positivity and passion. The duo is practiced at producing heady pop with classical influences and a definite pulse. Kishi and Sano’s originals are satisfyingly balanced, with moods shifting like wind through the trees with endearing waltzes, fiery Latin movements, and beautifully poignant and sweet melodies. Although the duo focuses on piano and cello arrangements, some minimal additions of percussion clappers and melodion keyboard add spice to enhance the pure music experience.</p> The piano and cello duo Arco released their second album Birth in 2019, two years after their debut Asymmetry, showing grace and refinement in a matured and eternally sunny outlook.

Opening with overdubbed cello playing a classical Bach theme, the duo kicks into their otherwise all-original songs featuring their airy style vibrating with positivity and passion. The duo is practiced at producing heady pop with classical influences and a definite pulse. Kishi and Sano’s originals are satisfyingly balanced, with moods shifting like wind through the trees with endearing waltzes, fiery Latin movements, and beautifully poignant and sweet melodies. Although the duo focuses on piano and cello arrangements, some minimal additions of percussion clappers and melodion keyboard add spice to enhance the pure music experience.

Also featured on this well-crafted album of uplifting music is the icing on the cake of a three-part theme by cellist Sano - “Fragment: Wind”, “Fragment: Journey” and “Fragment: Bud” - reappearing on three tracks interspersed throughout the album, a gentle tune evoking hope for the future and appreciation for the past and present.

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]]> Arco: Asymmetry https://www.jazzofjapan.com/arco-asymmetry/ Wed, 31 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.jazzofjapan.com/arco-asymmetry/ <p>Pianist Sayaki Kishi and cellist Mayumi Sano released their first album together under the moniker Arco with <em>Asymmetry</em> in 2017. The pair’s music consists of original songs with a single Bach composition, all played in lovely and skillful arrangements. With more than a slight touch of classical elegance, the music spans various moods with verve: upbeat, fresh, somber, and refined. Although it may be apt to call this music classical-pop or pop-classical rather than typical jazz, the improvisational spirit and composed musicianship are definitely on display and quite enjoyable.</p> Pianist Sayaki Kishi and cellist Mayumi Sano released their first album together under the moniker Arco with Asymmetry in 2017. The pair’s music consists of original songs with a single Bach composition, all played in lovely and skillful arrangements. With more than a slight touch of classical elegance, the music spans various moods with verve: upbeat, fresh, somber, and refined. Although it may be apt to call this music classical-pop or pop-classical rather than typical jazz, the improvisational spirit and composed musicianship are definitely on display and quite enjoyable.

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]]> Sayaka Kishi: Featuring Te https://www.jazzofjapan.com/sayaka-kishi-featuring-te/ Wed, 31 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.jazzofjapan.com/sayaka-kishi-featuring-te/ <p><em>Featuring Te</em>, a 2014 release from pianist Sayaka Kishi, is a fun and bright collection of original solo piano tunes with some guest musicians contributing as well.</p> <figure><a href="L1180437-1024.jpg"> <img loading="lazy" src="L1180437-1024.jpg"/> </a> </figure> <p>This album’s printed title <em>feat.手</em> (“Featuring Hands”) fittingly describes the pianist’s concept, to create a fun jazz album showcasing original compositions for piano (and hands) with jazz, pop, and classical influences. As the songs play out, one gets the feeling of dipping into Kishi’s deep store of originals, ranging from upbeat energy to comfortable dreaminess with several musical genres melded together. Along with her compositions, the album closes with a graceful rendition of the traditional ballad “Danny Boy”.</p> Featuring Te, a 2014 release from pianist Sayaka Kishi, is a fun and bright collection of original solo piano tunes with some guest musicians contributing as well.

This album’s printed title feat.手 (“Featuring Hands”) fittingly describes the pianist’s concept, to create a fun jazz album showcasing original compositions for piano (and hands) with jazz, pop, and classical influences. As the songs play out, one gets the feeling of dipping into Kishi’s deep store of originals, ranging from upbeat energy to comfortable dreaminess with several musical genres melded together. Along with her compositions, the album closes with a graceful rendition of the traditional ballad “Danny Boy”.

Although this is mostly a solo piano album spotlighting Kishi and her music, two additional musicians join in on several tracks. Cellist Mayumi Sano performs with Kishi on three songs, presenting an early version of the piano-cello duo Arco who will go on to release Asymmetry in 2017 - track 3 “Hanaga Sakumade” (“Until the Flowers Bloom”) is a definite album highlight which features the pair. Vocalist Aya Kurosawa also adds her lovely, resonant vocals on one track. Overall, the 13 songs on this album offer a fun and creative exploration of the mind of a Japanese pianist and her compositions.

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