太田朱美 on Jazz of Japan | Brian McCrory https://www.jazzofjapan.com/tags/%E5%A4%AA%E7%94%B0%E6%9C%B1%E7%BE%8E/ Recent content in 太田朱美 on Jazz of Japan | Brian McCrory Hugo en-us Wed, 28 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Les Komatis: Les Komatis https://www.jazzofjapan.com/les-komatis-les-komatis/ Wed, 28 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.jazzofjapan.com/les-komatis-les-komatis/ <p>Three established musicians join up to release Les Komatis, a rich fusion of jazz, pop, and Brazilian influences combined for thrilling and moving music.</p> <figure><a href="L1180805-1024.jpg"> <img loading="lazy" src="L1180805-1024.jpg"/> </a> </figure> <p>Voice, flute, and piano fill the aural landscape, with hand percussion adding a visceral rhythmic pulse. Starting with Akemi Ohta’s “Spur”, darting melodic lines weave over heavy piano riffs and harmonies on several songs, while other songs set up sensitive moods with ballads and bossa. The musicians even layer their voices in chorus at one point (on Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing”), permeating listeners with soulful warmth and passion.</p> Three established musicians join up to release Les Komatis, a rich fusion of jazz, pop, and Brazilian influences combined for thrilling and moving music.

Voice, flute, and piano fill the aural landscape, with hand percussion adding a visceral rhythmic pulse. Starting with Akemi Ohta’s “Spur”, darting melodic lines weave over heavy piano riffs and harmonies on several songs, while other songs set up sensitive moods with ballads and bossa. The musicians even layer their voices in chorus at one point (on Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing”), permeating listeners with soulful warmth and passion.

Along with songs sung in English, Japanese, and Portuguese, the vocalist Nobie often features her voice as an instrument, wordlessly doubling and counterpointing the tandem flute and piano in complex arrangements and soaring improvisation.

Les Komatis balances jazz, pop, and Latin with the album’s originals, comfortable ballads, catchy interludes, and even two powerhouse McCoy Tyner covers for added energy: “Man From Tanganyika” and “Fly With The Wind”. The set closes with a Zen-like take on the final track, Mayuko Katakura’s deep “Mugen” (with 夢幻 here meaning dreams, visions, fantasy).

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]]> Emiko Voice: Carta https://www.jazzofjapan.com/emiko-voice-carta/ Tue, 30 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.jazzofjapan.com/emiko-voice-carta/ <p>An elegant package inside and out, brimming with atmosphere. The outer package is a slim booklet, containing photography, a poem, and an essay. The music itself is a modern take on classic jazz songs with Japanese words and flavor sprinkled throughout, featuring excellent arrangements by pianist Koichi Sato.</p> <figure><a href="L1180430-1024.jpg"> <img loading="lazy" src="L1180430-1024.jpg"/> </a> </figure> <p>Emiko’s voice is front-and-center and spans the gamut from quick instrumentesque aerobics to passionate crooning. Vocals, piano, Fender Rhodes, and an innovative stand-up drum set constitute the core of the group, and several other instrumentalists contribute to the album, with material ranging from dreamy and moody to light and shimmering.</p> An elegant package inside and out, brimming with atmosphere. The outer package is a slim booklet, containing photography, a poem, and an essay. The music itself is a modern take on classic jazz songs with Japanese words and flavor sprinkled throughout, featuring excellent arrangements by pianist Koichi Sato.

Emiko’s voice is front-and-center and spans the gamut from quick instrumentesque aerobics to passionate crooning. Vocals, piano, Fender Rhodes, and an innovative stand-up drum set constitute the core of the group, and several other instrumentalists contribute to the album, with material ranging from dreamy and moody to light and shimmering.

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