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Sora Ichikawa: Straying in Alpacas

By Scott Lichtman
March 21, 2025
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The song "Straying in Alpacas" is an immensely satisfying and hard-driving tune, filled with melodic turns, alto peals, rhythmic stops, and thundering walking bass lines. While it sounds as if it could come from Steps Ahead or Yellowjackets in an earlier era, the piece is actually a concoction of rising Japanese pianist Sora Ichikawa. Ichikawa released his first album in 2023 and since has demonstrated his talents in jazz, R&B, and contemporary formations, as well as adding ear-bending electronic touches to songs via DAW production. The song title "Straying in Alpacas" stems from his experience being sick with COVID and feeling like he was "wandering amidst fluffy animals." The quartet on the piece—Takayuki Sato on alto saxophone, Makoto Togashi on bass, Kaito Nakamura on drums and Ichikawa—equally contribute musical proficiency to this nugget.

Also worth searching for: Ichikawa's emotional, vocoder-like version of "My Funny Valentine" on YouTube.

Contact Scott Lichtman on All About Jazz.
Jazz/fusion keyboardist & autograph collector in Stamford CT.

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