Jazz Articles about Hiromi

Hiromi: Time Control

by C. Michael Bailey
March 20, 2007

Should one listen chronologically to Hiromi Uehara's still-young musical output, Another Mind, Brain, and Spiral, then Time Control should come as no surprise. Hiromi has been progressing toward the outer reaches of fusion with every release, and with the addition of Screaming Headless Torso guitarist David Fiuczynski to her lineup, she has achieved the synthetic Nirvana previously achieved only by Jeff Beck's historic mid-'70s Sony albums Wired (1976) and Blow by Blow (1975).

On Time Control, the pianist largely restricts ...

Hiromi Plays Blues Alley

by Franz A. Matzner
January 20, 2006

Celebrating the upcoming release of her third album, Spiral, international piano sensation Hiromi Uehara, together with British bassist Tony Grey and Slovakian drummer Martin Valihola, took command of Washington, D.C.'s Blues Alley this weekend for a three night pre-release party. Bringing to the stage an awesome display of ingenuity, enthusiasm, and power, all three musicians proved that in an era still too often dominated by genre-bound, cookie-cutter players (and audiences) nostalgic for jazz's “golden age , a generation of artists ...

Hiromi: Spiral

by Jim Santella
January 10, 2006

In a set of her own compositions, pianist Hiromi Uehara swings jazz's modern mainstream with a delightful mix of dramatic themes. Her trio drives with intensity one moment and relaxes quietly the next. Through its improvisational character, the trio melds jazz with rock and goes far beyond. A blues thread runs through nearly every piece, and Hiromi shows her deep love for the feelings that she effortlessly evokes. Her compositions run suite-like, with shifting moods and dynamic changes in emphasis.

Brain Food: A Conversation with Hiromi Uehara

by Kevin T. Cox
August 10, 2004

Two hours prior to taking the stage at the Ottawa Jazz Festival, pianist Hiromi Uehara is relaxed and confident as she sits down to chat about her current tour and her latest album Brain. She is clearly very pleased with the critical acclaim her sophomore release has gained, and with her current trio, which features bassist Tony Grey and drummer Martin Valhora.“I've been performing a lot on tour, pretty much every day. I'm just really trying to explore ...

Hiromi: Brain

by C. Michael Bailey
April 24, 2004

Japanese pianist Hiromi Uehara detonated on a major label with her debut release Another Mind . That recording was overwhelming in its power, technique, and intelligence. In short, it was like a swift kick in the privates, getting your attention while taking your breath away at the same time. While her new release, Brain , is no kick in the privates, it is an evocatively well dressed statement by a brashly intelligent young artist who has a lot to say ...

The Energy Is One: An Interview with Hiromi Uehara

by Wayne Zade
October 20, 2003

All About Jazz: Your earliest musical studies were at the Yamaha School of Music. Please describe your experience there. Was this in Tokyo?

Hiromi Uehara: It was in Shizuoka, where my home was. I first attended this school when I was five years old. I also attended a regular elementary school, and I was taking piano lessons with a local teacher. I began to study composition at the Yamaha school. And I continued to study there until the ...

Hiromi: Another Mind

by C. Michael Bailey
May 25, 2003

Listening to "XYZ," the opener on 23-year old pianist Hiromi’s debut, Another Mind, is like taking a sucker punch. You never see it coming and it knocks the breath out of you. "XYZ" is a cross between "Giant Steps" and "In America" taken at light speed. This diminutive young woman has anything but a diminutive sound or vision. About the time you catch your breath, Hiromi introduces the tour de force "Double Personality" with Dave Fiuczynski on guitar and Jim ...