長谷川ガク on Jazz of Japan | Brian McCrory https://www.jazzofjapan.com/tags/%E9%95%B7%E8%B0%B7%E5%B7%9D%E3%82%AC%E3%82%AF/ Recent content in 長谷川ガク on Jazz of Japan | Brian McCrory Hugo en-us Thu, 30 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Hideaki Hori Trio: Unconditional Love https://www.jazzofjapan.com/hideaki-hori-trio-unconditional-love/ Thu, 30 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.jazzofjapan.com/hideaki-hori-trio-unconditional-love/ <p><em>Unconditional Love</em> is the 11th album from pianist Hideaki Hori and features his trio playing live at Nardis, a gem among Tokyo’s many respected and intimate jazz bars. Throughout this double album, the trio captures the relaxed and friendly atmosphere that this home-ground bar provides, all while creating top-notch jazz to delight the audience.</p> <figure><a href="L1200301-1024.jpg"> <img loading="lazy" src="L1200301-1024.jpg"/> </a> </figure> <p><em>Unconditional Love</em> features songs recorded live over three consecutive nights at Nardis. Presented on the two discs as “1st set” and “2nd set”, this arrangement gives the listener the feel of being a part of the in-house audience from the first song to the encore. The long-established trio’s playing is impeccable with high levels of musicianship and solidarity, eliciting joy and affinity from the audience.</p> Unconditional Love is the 11th album from pianist Hideaki Hori and features his trio playing live at Nardis, a gem among Tokyo’s many respected and intimate jazz bars. Throughout this double album, the trio captures the relaxed and friendly atmosphere that this home-ground bar provides, all while creating top-notch jazz to delight the audience.

Unconditional Love features songs recorded live over three consecutive nights at Nardis. Presented on the two discs as “1st set” and “2nd set”, this arrangement gives the listener the feel of being a part of the in-house audience from the first song to the encore. The long-established trio’s playing is impeccable with high levels of musicianship and solidarity, eliciting joy and affinity from the audience.

The twelve songs include four originals by Hori (the funky “The Shell” and high-energy “Stop & Go” thrill the audience), some classic standards (“Up Jumped Spring”, “I Thought About You”, “My Favorite Things”) and choice modern picks from the likes of Cedar Walton, Keith Jarrett, and John Ellis (his “Bonus Round” is a special treat). Through these carefully chosen pieces, dynamics range from comfortable, mid-tempo swing, to fiery and up-tempo bop. For balance and breathing space, a few pretty ballads are included, including a fascinating version of Keith Jarrett’s “Blossom” which enraptures the club with a musical spell.

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]]> Takako Yamada: The Flow of Time https://www.jazzofjapan.com/takako-yamada-flow-of-time/ Fri, 27 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.jazzofjapan.com/takako-yamada-flow-of-time/ <p>Takako Yamada’s <em>The Flow of Time</em> features 11 original compositions from the pianist, a bold collection of exciting moods and modern compositions in adventurous style.</p> <figure><a href="L1200224-1024.jpg"> <img loading="lazy" src="L1200224-1024.jpg"/> </a> </figure> <p>Starting assertively with a modern jazz/rock feel, electric guitar and acoustic piano lay out high opening stakes for an album filled with dramatic creativity. The songs explore moments of musical sensitivity, relaxed swing, Monkish joy and freedom, and bluesy contemplation, with full sounds of crystal piano tones, warm electric guitar, bright drum work and deep, dark bass anchoring the group sound.</p> Takako Yamada’s The Flow of Time features 11 original compositions from the pianist, a bold collection of exciting moods and modern compositions in adventurous style.

Starting assertively with a modern jazz/rock feel, electric guitar and acoustic piano lay out high opening stakes for an album filled with dramatic creativity. The songs explore moments of musical sensitivity, relaxed swing, Monkish joy and freedom, and bluesy contemplation, with full sounds of crystal piano tones, warm electric guitar, bright drum work and deep, dark bass anchoring the group sound.

For added variety, a wonderfully plaintive trumpet is present on several tracks and provides a sweet organic mellowness. Adding to the mix, some of the more magical parts of the album feature the lush instrumentation of ethereal tabla drums, interlude-like sections with a deep and exotic meditative tinge.

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