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Art Hirahara: Libations & Meditations

by Dan Bilawsky
Pianist Art Hirahara's latest release on the Posi-Tone label is, as the title implies, music to drink in and think in. It's a collection of aural offerings tied to Hirahara's experiences coping with the loss of his father, but it's not a somber program. In fact, quite the opposite. The first three numbers--a brief, up-tempo display of pianistic agility ("With Two Ice Cubes"), a piece born with pulsation that travels to a joyous space ("Father's Song"), and a number that ...
Continue ReadingJoanna Wallfisch: Wild Swan

by Bruce Lindsay
After immersing herself in the New York jazz scene, English singer/songwriter Joanna Wallfisch decided to return to the city in December 2011 to record her debut album, Wild Swan. A great decisionWallfisch's soaring and expressive voice combines with superb playing from Big Apple musicians to create a fascinating and original set of songs. The young vocalist cites Joni Mitchell and Norma Winstone as inspirations. Winstone is the most obvious vocal inspiration of the two, but Mitchell's quirky approach ...
Continue ReadingArt Hirahara: Noble Path

by AAJ Italy Staff
Dalla Bay Area a New York, dal free alla musica più tradizionale: la carriera del pianista Art Hirahara non si lascia mettere in alcun steccato convenzonale. Ha lavorato con esponenti dell'avanguardia come il sassofonista Fred Ho, con Dave Douglas, Jim Black, ed allo stesso tempo affrontato con serietà professionale le coordinate del mainstream. Con il suo nuovo trio, insieme a Yoshi Waki e Dan Aran si muove in un contesto piú tradizionale, senza sconfinamenti in aree più libere, lavorando su ...
Continue ReadingArt Hirahara: Noble Path

by Dan Bilawsky
Art Hirahara has gained the most notice for his work on saxophonist Fred Ho's adventurous outings, but the pianist's own music, while occasionally outward bound, often has a more immediately accessible sound to it. Featuring eight pieces from Hirahara's pen and four newly arranged classics, Noble Path is a piano trio record that's both commonplace and unique. The album can seem like a standard trio affair because few pieces veer too far off the road and the material is delivered ...
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