The jazz performance and original compositions on this album are focused on a few themes. One, perhaps most important and reflected in the title, is the sense of gratitude that Tanaka feels for others: her companions, musical partners, and no doubt her listeners and supporters as well.

Another goal for the pianist was to release an album full of her original songs. This includes one of her popular live show attractions, her tune “M.T.”, a fascinating uptempo swing number dedicated to and invoking certain comic book reptile heroes.

In addition, there are other perfectly swung tunes, respectful of tradition while pushing forward with new songs and talent. Highlights include the rolling rhythms and skipping frolic of #1 “Hydrangea Flower”, the solid and inventive title track #4 “Appreciation”, and the cool mellowness of #5 “Aries”, aiming to be unbound by genre limits to appeal to all.

Tying it all up in a lovely bow is the final track (and the only cover song on the album), #9 “Konomichi”, played by Tanaka as a soulful piano solo that captures a sentimental fondness in lovely light colors like the so many purple, pink, and blue flowers surrounding her in the cover image.

Liner Notes

(Translated from Naoko Tanaka’s album liner notes originally in Japanese.)

Thank you for getting this album.

I’ve always wanted to fill an album with my original songs, and I’m greatly thankful to the many people who helped this project become a reality. It’s a treasure for me to be able to record this love-filled album with my favorite musicians.

The recording truly reflects my account. When I listen back to the recording, it’s as if I can grasp the feeling of every moment of that time with each song. Such a record of myself is somewhat embarrassing, but I hope that you enjoy it.

Hydrangea Flower

I created this song with the image of my favorite hydrangea flowers with vivid colors and sparkling, raindrop-touched flower petals. The hydrangea were especially beautiful on the day of the recording, and as such this song became even more memorable. It became a great take with dynamic brilliance from the two horns.

Monk’s Birthday

This is a song dedicated to Thelonious Monk, one of my favorites. On October 10th, without knowing it was his birthday, I had a sudden desire to listen to Monk’s music. It’s a celebratory song that I happily wrote from this episode.

M.T.

It’s a song I’ve been playing for many years, one which some may consider to be my masterpiece (haha). I depict the world of the American comic that I love, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It’s a song full of tricky ninja-like moves and a thrilling performance for the trio.

Appreciation

This is a song I wrote for a live performance that marked the anniversary of my 2015 album Memories. As the meaning suggests, I performed this piece to express my gratitude to all of the people I’ve met along the way. Saxophone player Mabumi Yamaguchi, whom I greatly respect, often plays this song with me at live shows, so I summoned the courage to invite him to record this song with me.

Aries

As someone active in various musical genres, I wanted to record a song that was not bound by genre, and I chose an old song that I had written in the past. An image of the starry sky came to me, so I chose the title of Aries. There are a number of times when songs I wrote in the past take on a new, fresh feeling. It will be great if the younger generation also thinks “Wow, jazz is cool!”

mine mine

I was able to get a relaxing song that felt like floating near the seashore. Please enjoy the comfortable and poetic alto sax performance of Takayuki Sato.

A New Day

Actually, this song uses almost the same chord progressions as the jazz standard “Day by Day”. It’s fun to make a new song using a different melody, and to sometimes quote the original song. In fact, this melody came to me on the day before the recording and I quickly wrote it down. I could relax and perform with my favorite trio members who love to play standards.

Strength

This is one of the songs I wrote during a period of two months when I couldn’t perform any live shows in these times. I filled the music with the feeling of the music I want to make and the paths I want to take, and how strongly I felt that in times like these. With courage, I continue to work hard to make the music I love.

Konomichi

I performed Kosaku Yamada’s “Konomichi” as a solo piece. This song has had an idyllic image for a long time. I feel that there is something in common in the jazz spirit, of being proud of your hometown and where you came from. It’s a song that my grandfather loves and one that I always feel close to.

Audio and Video

• Video for “Hydrangea Flower”, track #1 on this album:

• Video for “Aries”, track #5 on this album:

• A live version of “Appreciation”, track #4 on this album:

• Excerpt from track #3: “M.T”

The nine-track listing includes seven originals by Tanaka, along with the Gershwin standard “But Not For Me” and a concluding piano-bass classical song. Most tracks feature piano trio with the young pianist firmly in command, releasing quick whirls of bluesy notes and graceful glides connected with flourishes of a technique rooted in classical training yet now dedicated to the jazz language with pomp and flair. On two tracks, the trio becomes a quartet with veteran jazz trumpeter Yoshiro Okazaki adding additional color and exceptional solos.

From the first track “Sailing” a bracing, uplifting mood is established, expanding into dreamy elegance on “Sign of Spring” and the groovy bossa bluesiness of “Cato-cha”. Other tracks range from the lovely ballad “Soramoyou”, good-natured midtempo swing on “But Not For Me” and “For…”. Slightly darker tracks like “NY No Omoide” and “Wall Street Blues” round out the presentation with moody and vibrant flashes of energy, while the final telling of a Chopin’s “Nocturne op.48-1” show pianist Tanaka and bassist Daikiu Yasukagawa in an expressive mood, calmly winding down the trip through Memories with a graceful maturity.

Audio and Video

• Naoko Tanaka Trio performing live in 2018:

• Excerpt from track #1: “Sailing”

Audio and Video

• Satoshi Kosugi with Kanji Ohta and Kenichiro Murata playing “Chasin’ the Bird”:

• Excerpt from track #1: “Monk’s Dream”