Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Natsuki Tamura & Satoko Fujii: Clouds

86

Natsuki Tamura & Satoko Fujii: Clouds

By

Sign in to view read count
Natsuki Tamura & Satoko Fujii: Clouds


Creative improvised music leaves impressions with us that we translate from our past experiences. A storm sequence or a summer breeze can be as obvious in music as it is on an artist's canvas or through a photographer's lens. Trumpeter Natsuki Tamura and pianist Satoko Fujii improvise six sketches on this session with a natural ease. It's as if they're talking. Wah-wah horn cries and muffled neighs give way to harp-like glissandi, falling cascades, and swinging melodies. In between, the duo leaves space for contemplation. By varying their improvised adventures among layered clouds (high, middle, or low) and types of clouds (rain-filled, fluffy white, or curled strands), Tamura and Fujii take the listener on a tour of the skies. Together, they express the changes we see every day. Slowly, the open trumpet settles in with big, round clouds of harmony. Later, they both fall like the rain, tinkling keys and rattling valves that uncover showers of notes. For the most part, the duo's session remains quiet with space and flowering shadows. A squealing trumpet gets an assist from chorded country dances, and a dissonant piano keyboard rumble falls in alongside low howls and growls. Theirs is an interesting conversation that may not be accessible to a large number of readers. Enjoy this session the way you absorb a piece of the sky: with all five senses wide open.

Track Listing

Cirrus; Cumulonimbus; Stratus; Cirrocumuls; Altocumulus; Stratocumulus

Personnel

Satoko Fujii

Album information

Title: Clouds | Year Released: 2002

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.