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Keigo Hirakawa Trio: And Then There Were Three
ByHirakawa studied with a diverse group of jazz players, including Danilo Pérez, Stephen Scott (who contributes liner notes), and Ran Blake. He is currently on faculty at the University of Dayton in Ohio. Scott's liner notes draw comparisons to pianists Herbie Nichols, Herbie Hancock, and early Keith Jarrett. I hear a strong McCoy Tyner influence as well (especially on the opening "Myth of Poseidon"), probably due to his powerful left hand. So Hirakawa has a distinctive pianistic voice, coming out of a broad stylistic background.
The Powell cover appears towards the end of the set, bracketed by two other novel arrangements. "Daisy" features guest vocalist Wenbi Lai, singing the head as a vocalise: a refreshing addition to the trio sound. The closing selection is a solo performance of "Precious Lord," the famous gospel song written by Thomas A. Dorsey. Hirakawa's performance is remarkable for its dignity and restraint. He approaches the tune without any overt sentimentality or reverence, yet with obvious respect. It's a surprisingbut effectiveending to the album.
Track Listing
Myth of Poseidon; Minus Ten; Cat On the Fence; Unmarked Path; And Then There Were Three; Is This Seat Taken?; Sparks Plug; Daisy; Dance of the Infidels; Precious Lord.
Personnel
Keigo Hirakawa
pianoKeigo Hirakawa, piano; Eddie Brookshire, bass; Fenton Sparks, drums; Wenbi Lai, vocals (track 8).
Album information
Title: And Then There Were Three | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Self Produced
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