Junichiro Mataga: Landscape

Japanese pianist Junichiro Mataga made the move to the United States in 2019 to study jazz piano. He completed his Master of Music in Jazz Studies at the Aaron Copland School of Music in New York. With that background and a good deal of success in competitions—the Lennon Award in jazz for songwriting in the jazz category for his "Escher's Staircase," his future is bright.

"Escher's Staircase" is included in his second album, and the one at hand, Landscape, an enchanting piano trio outing featuring Yoshiki Yamada on bass and Yosuke Nagayama in the drummer's chair. Mataga lays down dark chords. Drummer Nagayama supplies the orchestral cymbal backdrop. Bassist Yamada centers the sound. On a disc of eight originals and two covers, Mataga proves from the beginning that he can write a lovely melody. This is pretty music, with a light touch at the piano and an assertiveness in the bass drum aspect of the sound.

"Reflection" sparkles. "Clockwork" dances in a carefree way, and "Body And Soul," the time-tested standard, comes in with a bounce in its step and a bunch of three-way interplay, arranged nicely in an energetic way that might make it unrecognizable for some. This is not the normal languid treatment the tune usually receives. It instead is ebullient, inviting us out to the dance floor, followed by "Zig-Zag," a tune that keeps the energy level high, with Mataga displaying some Red Garland-like chops.

"Escher's Staircase," the contest winner on the set, sounds like a spiral staircase, winding its way to the next level of musical expression.

Terrific albums by emerging artists are always a delight. Landscape is one of those.

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