It is often said that one "sees" a musical performance, but in jazz concerts there is usually little to watch. Not so with Japanese keyboardist and composer Hiromi. An explosive presence on stage, she resembles a jazz fusion marionette with big hair. Rhythmic accents and displacements are accompanied by almost balletic physical gestures, made possible by a prodigious technical control.
The music is structured in short sections during which Hiromi, contrabassist Anthony Jackson and drummer Simon Philips (of Toto fame) play across the underlying beat to upset listeners' expectations. All is resolved when, at the end of the section, the three musicians triumphantly arrive together at the first beat of the bar. It produces a cycle of tension and release. Hiromi never dwells on any one stylistic approach for long, rather like a polymath keen to shift from one subject to another in a perpetual display of bravura. Her cross-rhythmic phrasing is exceptional, articulation flawless and percussiveness impressive.
The melodic lines are balanced and her musical vocabulary effortlessly spans styles of jazz. There are also classical allusions. Beethoven's Pathetique sonata was developed in jazz blues style. Aesthetically, Hiromi is yet to fully mature. Her music hovers uneasily between showmanship and joyousness, at the expense of the latter. But the excitement is irresistible. At the end of the performance, Hiromi appeared tired. Dancing while playing will do that to you.
Tracklist:The music is structured in short sections during which Hiromi, contrabassist Anthony Jackson and drummer Simon Philips (of Toto fame) play across the underlying beat to upset listeners' expectations. All is resolved when, at the end of the section, the three musicians triumphantly arrive together at the first beat of the bar. It produces a cycle of tension and release. Hiromi never dwells on any one stylistic approach for long, rather like a polymath keen to shift from one subject to another in a perpetual display of bravura. Her cross-rhythmic phrasing is exceptional, articulation flawless and percussiveness impressive.
The melodic lines are balanced and her musical vocabulary effortlessly spans styles of jazz. There are also classical allusions. Beethoven's Pathetique sonata was developed in jazz blues style. Aesthetically, Hiromi is yet to fully mature. Her music hovers uneasily between showmanship and joyousness, at the expense of the latter. But the excitement is irresistible. At the end of the performance, Hiromi appeared tired. Dancing while playing will do that to you.
1. Move [08:34]
2. Brand New Day [07:02]
3. Endeavor [07:24]
4. Rainmaker [07:28]
5. Suite Escapism "Reality" [05:32]
6. Suite Escapism "Fantasy" [06:36]
7. Suite Escapism "In Between" [07:52]
8. Margarita! [07:28]
9. 11:49 PM [11:29]
Personnel:
Hiromi Uehara - piano & keyboards;
Anthony Jackson - bass;
Simon Phillips - drums
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