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Satoko Fujii: Gen Himmel
by John Sharpe
A solo album tends almost inevitably to focus on instrumental chops rather than compositional skills. And that's the way it is on Japanese pianist Satoko Fujii's third unaccompanied outing, following Sketches (NatSat, 2004) and Indication (Libra, 1997), although she shows herself to be blessed with both. Compared to the exuberance and spirit of her group work with outfits as diverse as Ma-do and Kaze, she presents what a very intimate and introspective side of her personality. In the liners Fujii ...
Continue ReadingSatoko Fujii Ma-Do: Time Stands Still
by AAJ Italy Staff
Dopo Heat Wave e Desert Ship, questo Time Stands Still è il terzo CD del Satoko Fujii Ma-Do, quartetto tutto giapponese nato nell'ottobre 2007. Purtroppo sarà anche l'ultimo nella medesima formazione, in quanto il bassista Norikatsu Koreyasu è improvvisamente deceduto il 23 settembre 2011, esattamente tre mesi dopo che Time Stands Still fu inciso a New York. Il gruppo si era lentamente coeso e, soprattutto grazie a tour in Giappone, Australia e Stati Uniti nei primi sei mesi del 2011, ...
Continue ReadingSatoko Fujii Ma-Do: Time Stands Still
by Glenn Astarita
Several months after this recording, bassist Norikatsu Koeyasu died of a heart-attack in-between tours. Pianist Satoko Fujii decided that the band could not continue without his presence, citing his vital role and “telepathic connection." Hence, Ma-Do's third album will be its last. It's an unfortunate occurrence but a testament to the musicians' realization that a replacement was not feasible. The quartet's unique method of seamlessly fusing rich melodic content with asymmetrical pulses and stewing developments, saddled within the freer realm, ...
Continue ReadingSatoko Fujii: Gen Himmel
by Dan McClenaghan
Satoko Fujii's notoriety is based on her originality, energy, and an unmatchable sense of fearlessness and adventure in the creation of music. As a leader of numerous ensembles--duos, trios, quartets, and big bands--she is a gregarious and generous spirit. Her music ebbs and flows, a moment of captivating serenity followed by a burst of a clamorous, sometimes riotous action. A gentile and pretty interlude followed by a flailing riot, with each band member giving as good as he or she ...
Continue ReadingSatoko Fujii New Trio: Spring Storm
by John Sharpe
Back at the start of her career, Japanese pianist Satoko Fujii's reputation was considerably enhanced by her stellar trio with bassist Mark Dresser and drummer Jim Black. Together they waxed seven discs, with the last Trace A River (Libra) in 2008. Since then, the traditional piano trio hasn't appeared in her prodigious output, until the New Trio debuted here on Spring Storm. While perhaps not as virtuosic as their predecessors, bassist Todd Nicholson and drummer Takashi Itani bring open minds ...
Continue ReadingSatoko Fujii's Ma-Do and New Trio: Time Stands Still and Spring Storm
by Hrayr Attarian
Japanese pianist Satoko Fujii is a prolific and versatile musician whose fast pace and relatively large volume are never at the expense of quality. In fact her improvisation heavy records are innovative and cerebral yet they maintain a certain, surprising, accessibility. She has recorded in settings ranging from solo to large orchestra and always with a refreshing variety of instrumentations. Two of her 2013 releases are Time Stands Still with her Ma Do quartet and Spring Storm with her new ...
Continue ReadingSatoko Fujii ma-do: Time Stands Still
by John Sharpe
When asked why she has lead or co-lead so many different projects (23 at last count), pianist Satoko Fujii replied “It's like food. I don't like just Japanese food, but also Italian food, French food and so on, and I would soon get tired if I just ate Japanese food." If her ma-do quartet were to have a culinary equivalent it would certainly be tasty: something spicy with rich complex flavors. It's almost as if Fujii has so many ideas ...
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