Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Ayako Shirasaki: Some Other Time

5

Ayako Shirasaki: Some Other Time

By

Sign in to view read count
Ayako Shirasaki: Some Other Time
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but the creator also has a hell of a lot to do with it when it comes to the arts. Every musical performance leaves certain items open for debate for and from those on the receiving end, but some things remain irrefutable because of those on the giving side. In the case of pianist Ayako Shirasaki, the undeniable truth(s) surround her dexterous handiwork on the 88s, melodic clarity, and arranging ingenuity, all of which were evident on her stunner of a solo piano disc— Falling Leaves: Live In Hamburg (Jan Matthies Music, 2010).

With Some Other Time, Shirasaki returns to the piano trio format, an oh-so-familiar configuration that she used on her first two albums— Existence (What's New, 2003) and Musically Yours (What's New, 2005). That initially comes off as a bit of a let down, given the spectacular heights she reached as a solo act on Falling Leaves: Live In Hamburg, but it turns out to be a blessing; she may be an uber-talented solo pianist, but she also has a hell of a lot to offer in the trio realm and she makes that clear here for those that may have missed those early albums.

Shirasaki tackles reworked classics, originals and a couple of Japanese tunes on Some Other Time, but all of the material is arranged and delivered in such a fashion that it appears to be cut from the same cloth, despite obvious stylistic differences. Two originals—the album-opening, Brazilian inflected "Sunrise" and "3 Steps Forward," which hints at Bud Powell with a dash of Thelonious Monk and Jacky Terrasson—lead to "Yosuka," a Japanese country music song that has hard bop connections, and the title track, a gentle number that warms the soul. After those initial offerings, the surprises arrive with a brilliant reworking of "Oleo" and an "April In Paris" that's far far away from Count Basie's lauded version.

The second half of the album has just as many thrills, with a solo piano take on "Sophisticated Lady," a hip version of a Japanese folk song—"Antagata Dokosa"—and a charming take on Swedish pianist Lars Jansson's "Hope" topping the list. There's a lot to love here, from the easy three-way rapport between the woman in charge and her trio mates—bassist Noriko Ueda and drummer Quincy Davis—to the balance between the known and the unknown. Some Other Time succeeds on all fronts and will, hopefully, bring more attention to the work of Ayako Shirasaki, an artist who puts it all out there when she plays.

Track Listing

Sunrise; 3 Steps Forward; Yosaku; Some Other Time; Oleo; April In Paris; My Man’s Gone; Long Ago and Far Away; Sophisticated Lady; Antagata Dokosa; Peace of Mind; Hope

Personnel

Ayako Shirasaki: piano; Noriko Ueda: bass; Quincy Davis: drums

Album information

Title: Some Other Time | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Jan Matthies Records

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.
View events near New York City
Jazz Near New York City
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

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