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Satoko Fujii: Live in Japan 2004
ByThe growth of the group (in its size and lexicon) is apparent especially because the four pieces in the setrecorded live at Egg Farm in Japan in July of 2004have all been recorded previously by Fujii (a rarity for the prolific leader). The oldest, "Looking Out the Window, comes from the trio's 1998 release of the same name. Here, however, the theme is subsumed by the playing of the piece.
The most inventive tune of the four is the scattershot "An Insane Scheme (originally from the trio's sixth record, 2004's Illusion Suite) interrupts itself almost manically, with excellent off-kilter playing by Black. At under seven minutes it's the shortest piece on the disc, but it became the centerpiece of a long suite of old and new compositions at Tonic last month. As an undivided whole, the set gave room for segments of deep improv along with familiar themes and some romantic melodicism á la Fujii's former teacher Paul Bley.
The record and the Tonic set showed Fujii to be less delineable than in past years. She has messed things up for the better of late by expanding her role as a bandleader, finding more unusual settings (for example her work with Ruins drummer Tatsuya Yoshihida and her synthesizer work in Tamura-led groups). The various motifs she's farmed over the years are now beginning to happily coexist.
Track Listing
Ninepin; Illusion Suite; Looking out of the Window; An Insane Scheme.
Personnel
Satoko Fujii
pianoMark Dresser: bass; Jim Black: drums; Natsuki Tamura: trumpet; Satoko Fujii: piano.
Album information
Title: Live in Japan 2004 | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: NatSat Music
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