Hakuei Kim on Jazz of Japan | Brian McCrory https://www.jazzofjapan.com/tags/hakuei-kim/ Recent content in Hakuei Kim on Jazz of Japan | Brian McCrory Hugo en-us Wed, 05 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Hakuei Kim Trio: Open the Green Door https://www.jazzofjapan.com/hakuei-kim-trio-open-the-green-door/ Wed, 05 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.jazzofjapan.com/hakuei-kim-trio-open-the-green-door/ <p>Modern to the point of futuristic, <em>Open the Green Door</em> features an exciting jazz piano trio with the pianist Hakuei Kim leading a stellar Australian rhythm section of Ben “Donny” Waples on bass and Dave Goodman on drums.</p> <figure><a href="L1200626-1024.jpg"> <img loading="lazy" src="L1200626-1024.jpg"/> </a> </figure> <p>With the mature confidence of solid musicianship balanced with fresh enthusiasm, the trio strives for musical excellence with impressive nimbleness and dark, atmospheric explorations. The album features eight tracks made up of five original compositions from the pianist and three reworked jazz standards.</p> Modern to the point of futuristic, Open the Green Door features an exciting jazz piano trio with the pianist Hakuei Kim leading a stellar Australian rhythm section of Ben “Donny” Waples on bass and Dave Goodman on drums.

With the mature confidence of solid musicianship balanced with fresh enthusiasm, the trio strives for musical excellence with impressive nimbleness and dark, atmospheric explorations. The album features eight tracks made up of five original compositions from the pianist and three reworked jazz standards.

Right from the opening track “Offer Refused”, Kim’s impressive hummingbird-quick playing demonstrates his quick post-bop fluidity decorated with elegant patterns and rhythmic cells at times reminiscent of Mal Waldron’s playing. In addition to up-tempo and acrobatic flashes, other moods include slow, introspective beauty, stylish riff-rock, and - particularly on the three covers “Beatrice”, “Tempus Fugit”, and “Alone Together” - longing, suspense, and dramatic tension.

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]]> Ko Omura: Introspect https://www.jazzofjapan.com/ko-omura-introspect/ Tue, 17 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.jazzofjapan.com/ko-omura-introspect/ <p>Drummer Ko Omura leads the listener on his voyage of introspection on his debut album <em>Introspect</em>, portraying the colors and maps of his musical mind.</p> <figure><a href="L1190764-1024.jpg"> <img loading="lazy" src="L1190764-1024.jpg"/> </a> </figure> <p>This 2011 recording features eight tracks: six original songs from Omura in his detailed, catchy style, unfolding story-like with depth and groovy accuracy. The music brims with fiery energy, passionate yet also containing also a smoldering, somber melancholy. Two of the tracks are group-created free jazz collaborations, splashes of color adding mystery and adventure. The recorded audio is also done beautifully, with separation of drums and cymbals gracefully captured with a lush live sound.</p> Drummer Ko Omura leads the listener on his voyage of introspection on his debut album Introspect, portraying the colors and maps of his musical mind.

This 2011 recording features eight tracks: six original songs from Omura in his detailed, catchy style, unfolding story-like with depth and groovy accuracy. The music brims with fiery energy, passionate yet also containing also a smoldering, somber melancholy. Two of the tracks are group-created free jazz collaborations, splashes of color adding mystery and adventure. The recorded audio is also done beautifully, with separation of drums and cymbals gracefully captured with a lush live sound.

A creative aspect used on this recording is the collaboration of three pianists Hakuei Kim, Koichi Sato, and Mamoru Ishida, playing separately as well as together on some songs, stretching the limits of the standard piano trio format. On several songs two or three of the pianists play simultaneously on acoustic and electric piano in distinct audio channels: center, right, or left separate and identify the pianists on three songs. On other songs, the standard piano trio format is used with pianists alternating on a song or two each, while the rhythm of bassist Koji Yasuda and drummer Ko Omura laying out the pulse and foundation of the music.

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