大石学 on Jazz of Japan | Brian McCrory https://www.jazzofjapan.com/tags/%E5%A4%A7%E7%9F%B3%E5%AD%A6/ Recent content in 大石学 on Jazz of Japan | Brian McCrory Hugo en-us Mon, 09 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Manabu Ohishi Trio: Gift https://www.jazzofjapan.com/manabu-ohishi-trio-gift/ Mon, 09 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.jazzofjapan.com/manabu-ohishi-trio-gift/ <p>With the jazz album <em>Gift</em> from 2012, pianist and composer Manabu Ohishi reunites the trio from his album <em>Wish</em> (2010) featuring bassist Jean-Philippe Viret and drummer Simon Goubert, and releases another beautifully-recorded album of Japanese/European piano jazz from the family-run Japanese label Atelier Sawano label.</p> <figure><a href="L1200395-1024.jpg"> <img loading="lazy" src="L1200395-1024.jpg"/> </a> </figure> <p>Ohishi is a lyrical player, infusing his melodic touch with musical emotion and composing songs that fit well with the stylish rhythms from his French bandmates, favoring a deep groove and subtle rock rhythms over swing jazz beats.</p> With the jazz album Gift from 2012, pianist and composer Manabu Ohishi reunites the trio from his album Wish (2010) featuring bassist Jean-Philippe Viret and drummer Simon Goubert, and releases another beautifully-recorded album of Japanese/European piano jazz from the family-run Japanese label Atelier Sawano label.

Ohishi is a lyrical player, infusing his melodic touch with musical emotion and composing songs that fit well with the stylish rhythms from his French bandmates, favoring a deep groove and subtle rock rhythms over swing jazz beats.

The pianist’s compositions include the emotional ballad “Ambition”, the mysterious and alluring “Hisyô”, the uptempo and modern “Riverside”, and graceful smoothness on “All Because of You”, throughout which Ohishi conveys strong impressions that his music arises from deep and contemplative places. His song “Memories of Paris”, perhaps a nod to his trio mates, also features Ohishi playing pianica and piano simultaneously along with bassist Viret, where the whistling reed of the keyboard instrument invokes accordion-like sounds familiar to French settings.

In addition to the original numbers, a cover of the jazz standard “Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise” is painted as a languid fantasy, and a stirring solo piano version of Billy Joel’s “Honesty” wraps up the album with soulful outpouring as Ohishi wrings powerful emotion out of the keys of the piano.

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]]> Masako Kunisada: M https://www.jazzofjapan.com/masako-kunisada-m/ Thu, 14 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.jazzofjapan.com/masako-kunisada-m/ <p>The deep, soulful voice of Masako Kunisada warmly embraces the listener on her 2014 recording <em>M</em>, performing classic jazz tunes as well as selections from the 70’s/80’s American soft-rock songbook, and closing with a tender ballad.</p> <figure><a href="L1200924-1024.jpg"> <img loading="lazy" src="L1200924-1024.jpg"/> </a> </figure> <p>The simple directness of this recording reflects an honest ethic, a special feeling of being home-made, made with care, carefully curated. Guided by happiness and an irrepressible joy for music, Kunisada sings from the heart and draws from various influences including jazz, R&amp;B, Japanese soul and more, infusing it all with her sincere, expressive voice.</p> The deep, soulful voice of Masako Kunisada warmly embraces the listener on her 2014 recording M, performing classic jazz tunes as well as selections from the 70’s/80’s American soft-rock songbook, and closing with a tender ballad.

The simple directness of this recording reflects an honest ethic, a special feeling of being home-made, made with care, carefully curated. Guided by happiness and an irrepressible joy for music, Kunisada sings from the heart and draws from various influences including jazz, R&B, Japanese soul and more, infusing it all with her sincere, expressive voice.

Joined by pianist and frequent collaborator Manabu Ohishi on all instruments and arrangements, standard jazz is delivered through an uptempo “Speak Low”, a funky “Cherokee”, a swingy pop “That’s All”, and the pretty ballad “Alfie”, while classic soft-rock songs such as “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight”, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?”, and a moving “From A Distance” deliver emotional punches through masterful performances.

An eclectic addition of Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita” is tasteful and effective, while Kunisada’s original ballad “Kono Mune No Furusato” closes the album with beautiful sentimentality, devoted, full of love, and direct to one’s heart.

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]]> Manabu Ohishi Trio: Wish https://www.jazzofjapan.com/manabu-ohishi-trio-wish/ Tue, 10 Apr 2018 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.jazzofjapan.com/manabu-ohishi-trio-wish/ <p>From Osaka-based label Atelier Sawano comes this beautifully-recorded jazz trio recording starring pianist Manabu Ohishi. The label’s concept of “hand-made jazz” features jazz music which one could describe as having Japanese attention to detail and craftsmanship with European touches. On <em>Wish</em>, the music upholds the classic jazz piano trio tradition, evoking lyrical jazz trio recordings such as those from the Bill Evans Trio.</p> <figure><a href="L1200151-1024.jpg"> <img loading="lazy" src="L1200151-1024.jpg"/> </a> </figure> <p>Ohishi’s strength as a romantic melodist is evident as the opening notes from the piano sound, heavy with sentimentality. His vibrant improvisations often unspool with passion, as if he is pushing notes out physically from the piano, squeezing out as much expression and emotion as possible.</p> From Osaka-based label Atelier Sawano comes this beautifully-recorded jazz trio recording starring pianist Manabu Ohishi. The label’s concept of “hand-made jazz” features jazz music which one could describe as having Japanese attention to detail and craftsmanship with European touches. On Wish, the music upholds the classic jazz piano trio tradition, evoking lyrical jazz trio recordings such as those from the Bill Evans Trio.

Ohishi’s strength as a romantic melodist is evident as the opening notes from the piano sound, heavy with sentimentality. His vibrant improvisations often unspool with passion, as if he is pushing notes out physically from the piano, squeezing out as much expression and emotion as possible.

Another moving feature is Ohishi’s lovely reharmonization of popular standards, here with “My Foolish Heart” and “What A Wonderful World”, adding alluring deepness to these ballads.

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