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Meg Okura: Naima
by Dan Bilawsky
Chamber jazz is often a misunderstood label and balance is to blame for it. Classical-leaning projects bearing this descriptor often lack passion and strong improvisational elements, but jazz artists who try to play swinging takes on pieces by J.S. Bach also miss the mark. Fortunately, violinist Meg Okura avoids these potential pitfalls and manages to find balance where others have failed. Okura, and her Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, place strong solos within brilliantly written, formalized musical dwellings on Naima. ...
Continue ReadingMeg Okura: Naima
by Dan McClenaghan
Naima is the name of one of saxophonist John Coltrane's more famous compositions. It's also the name of Japanese violinist Meg Okura's CD release. Joined by her nine-piece Pan Asian Jazz Ensemble, Okura has honed a finely-crafted set of chamber jazz, with all players being equals, and all players getting their chances to play the melody, and to improvise.Coltrane might seem an unlikely vehicle for a string player, if you haven't heard the Turtle Island String Quartet dig ...
Continue ReadingTake Five with Meg Okura
by AAJ Staff
Meet Meg Okura:Hailed by The Guardian as “improvisational virtuosity," Meg Okura is “equally comfortable playing classical chamber music, rock and everything in between," (The New York Times). She is the founder and the leader of the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, and has won numerous grants and awards as a composer. A native of Japan, Meg toured as the concertmaster and the soloist with the Asian Youth Orchestra and made her Kennedy Center ...
Continue ReadingIrving Fields - Roberto Rodriguez: Oy Vey... Olé!!!
by AAJ Italy Staff
E’ ormai assodato che la cosiddetta “jewish-latin fusion” ha trovato nel percussionista Roberto Rodriguez il suo principale esponente. E’ altrettanto certo però che egli non ha inventato nulla. C’è stato un pianista ebreo, tal Irving Fields che già negli anni ’50 imperversava nelle scalette radiofoniche con il suo, allora davvero originale, crossover di “Bagels and Bongos” che divenne un hit non solo negli Stati Uniti ma anche in Europa e in Giappone, tanto da diventare un sequel con “More Bagels ...
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