Quantcast
NEWS |   Sign In   |   I'm New Here
Return to home page





Positootly!
John Beasley
Coto Pincheira & The Sonido Moderno Project
Coto Pincheira & The Sonido Moderno Project
Pieces of Jade
Scott LaFaro
Shambhala
Susan Wylde
This Heart of Mine
Pamela Hines
Arms Full Of Roses
Robyn Hayle





"The Night We Called It a Day"
Kieran Overs
For the Record

Listen Now

More Channels







Henry Threadgill
Info | Enter
Keith Jarrett
Info | Enter
Ben Neill
Info | Enter
Nicole Mitchell
Info | Enter

Fragile
Junko Onishi | Blue Note Records (1999)


By Matt Robinson
Comments        

Combining a variety of keyboard models and styles with a number of percussionists and grooved electric bass, the quickly-recorded Fragile is ironically quite pliable and coarse at times, wielding an oft-unwieldy arsenal of moods and sounds which occasionally (and admittedly) lose their sense of form and function. Though "Complexions" was wrapped after just one take, it is perhaps the most "standard" and clean track of the seven. On the contrary, "BWV" is a wild and at times bangy keyboard and rhythm set which introduces the album uncertainly. Having never heard The Righteous Brothers’ version, Onishi opts to work her ivories through a long and vaguely-themed rendition of the Roberta Flack/Danny Hathaway version of "You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin." Though Onishi’s saloony meta-cover of Jimi Hendrix’s signature "Hey Joe" sounds much more familiar, a hyperactive percussion and spinning keyboard change disrupts the near sacred sly serenity of the song.

Fortunately, Onishi’s tributes reestablish their authenticity through her vocoder-y version of Cream’s "Sunshine Of Your Love" and a peppy pounce on Les McCann’s "Compared To What." She also takes another stab at her own popular composition with the classically-structured "swing" number "Eulogia Variation." Even so, despite the notable fulfillment of her desire for freshness and energy, Onishi could have "played" a little less and considered her latest offerings a little more before laying them down.


Track listing: 1. BWV 2. Complexions 3. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' 4. Compared to What 5. Hey Joe 6. Eulogia Variation 7. Sunshine of Your Love

Style: Contemporary/Smooth
Published: January 21, 2003


Read more reviews of Fragile.


Be the first to post a comment on:
Junko Onishi's Fragile

Signup & post a comment!






More articles by Matt Robinson

So Much
Pennies from Heaven
Steady Rollin' Man
Love Songs
Smooth Sounds




Recent CD Reviews
The Nice Guy Trio - Here Comes The Nice Guy Trio The Nice Guy Trio
Here Comes The Nice Guy Trio
Jon Hassell - Last night the moon came dropping its clothes in the street Jon Hassell
Last night the moon came dropping its clothes in the street
Max Roach & Archie Shepp - The Long March Max Roach & Archie Shepp
The Long March
Carlos Zingaro - Spectrum Carlos Zingaro
Spectrum
Underground Horns - Funk Monk Underground Horns
Funk Monk
Hot Club of San Francisco - Hot Club Cool Yule Hot Club of San Francisco
Hot Club Cool Yule

CD Review Search
Artist Name  
Album Title  
Record Label  
Author  
 




 
(20)













.. Privacy Policy | AAJ Supports: Lens Lady All material copyright © 2009 All About Jazz and/or contributing writer/visual artist. All rights reserved. Advertise | Contact Us